Maiava, Rosa Key Members of Pac-12 Teams

By Fred Guzman

There was a time when it was a rare for a player from Maui to play on a Division-I football team.  How things have changed in recent years. Four players from Maui are currently on Pac-12 rosters and several others are members of Division-I teams.

Leading the list is 318-pound senior Kai Maiava, who starred at Baldwin High and returns from an ankle injury to again take over the starting center duties at UCLA.

Another ex-Baldwin player, 268-pound Mana Rosa, is in the rotation on the defensive line for Oregon State as a redshirt sophomore.

Kamehameha alum Keloni Kamalani is a sophomore backup linebacker and special teams player at Oregon, which opens the season on Saturday with a high-profile game against LSU at Cowboy Stadium in Dallas.

Senior defensive lineman Tevita Finau is a returning starter at Utah and freshman linebacker Tevita Malafu is also on the squad.

Four MIL products are on the most recent roster at UNLV, which opens its season on Thursday at Wisconsin.

Ex-Baldwin standout Sean Tesoro, a 310-pound sophomore, is the starting right guard for the Rebels.  Also on the team are linebacker John Lotulelei of Baldwin and Merced College, long-snapperTroy Aoki of Baldwin and defensive back Keahi Raikes of Kamehameha via Orange Coast College.

Kamehameha graduate Walter Kahaialii has completed his LDS church mission and has returned as an offensive lineman at BYU.

Two players from the Valley Isle are on the UH roster – starting senior defensive tackle Kaniela Tuipulotu and senior reserve offensive lineman Andrew Faaumu.