When Leo Koloamatangi is on the football field, he’s far from the center of attention, but as a center on the offensive line, he is in the vortex of where the battle is fought. Instead of pausing during this COVID-19 world health crisis, Koloamatangi is putting himself front and center in a different kind of struggle. Now, he’s using his time and energy to ensure that Hawaii’s kupuna (defined as grandparent or ancestor with a common meaning of older folks/senior citizens) are getting the food and other necessary household items and services during this threat.
Koloamatangi, the 6-foot-5, 305-pound former University of Hawaii and current New York Jets player, is a co-founder of GRAMMI, which is an online grocery delivery platform here in Hawaii.
“The risk factor for our kupuna is high,” Koloamatangi said. “And the need to provide aid and support is great. Many kupuna are looking for contactless and safe grocery delivery because they are not able to shop. And there is a second wave of COVID-19 projected in the fall so we want to be there for them until there’s an end to the threat.”
For kupuna to sign up to be on the wait list for grocery delivery or to volunteer, go to Grammi.io. There will be a call center up and running soon. The organization has 20 volunteers so far and about 50 kupuna are on the wait list after only a week of existence.
After signing up, kupuna can order food and other goods (which will come from Foodland and Times supermarkets) on the Grammi site. They can pay using credit or debit cards or electronically through banks accounts. There is also curbside pickup available.
“We are a secure website and we also don’t have any ads on our site … no marketing, not even our own ads,” Koloamatangi said. “We want it to be as easy as possible (online). We don’t want our kupuna wandering off on some scam. We want them to have peace of mind.”
The categories of groceries and other needed items available for kupuna to order are dairy, water/beverages, meat, starches, grains, paper products, hygienic supplies and medications.
Grammi is also working closely with other non-profits in Hawaii, including Our Kupuna and Kupuna Kokoa. And the Rotary Club has also been instrumental in helping Grammi. According to Koloamatangi, there will be a willingness for Grammi volunteers to go the extra mile in their communication with kupuna.
“There will be a hospitality approach,” he said. “They will check in on them and see what’s going on in their lives. See what’s new in their quarantine life. It will mean a lot to people, especially if they’re living alone.”
Two other NFL players — Detroit Lions linebacker Miles Killebrew and free agent defensive lineman Eric Lee — and Koloamatangi were about to launch a completely different endeavor in March, but COVID-19 put a temporary halt to it. In the future, though, under the Grammi, name, they plan to launch a food delivery service to passengers at airports.
“Many people, including professional athletes, live out of their suitcases, traveling all across America and the world,” he said. “We want to get the food from restaurants to those travelers, so they can eat what they want, when they want. That’s the hardest part for me when I’m traveling is eating the food that I want to eat.”
Koloamatangi’s NFL Journey Still In Beginning Stages
When his college career with the Rainbow Warriors ended, Koloamatangi went undrafted in 2017.
After that, he was signed as a free agent by Detroit and bounced back and forth between the practice squad and active roster. While injured (sprained knee) during his third NFL season, he was waived by the Lions and signed by the Jets in October 2019. In April 2020, he was resigned by the Jets.
“I’m still at the very introductory stage of my career,” Koloamatangi said. “The biggest learning lessons I’ve had is about how to become a true pro. It’s an art and I say that because everyone has their own rendition of it. I have an understanding of what that is and I’m getting to that point where I understand the body in its fullest extent, how to train, how to eat and how to study. Those are the true things on how to last in the league and how to be consistent. Unlike in college everybody is already he biggest, fastest and strongest and so it’s up to you to manage the intangibles.”
Koloamatangi remembers his first training camp as a time when he started learning that he belonged in the NFL.
“I was proud to be able to go in and set the tone early after being undrafted,” he said. “That first week, we hosted joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts and those practices were intense. You’re representing your team and I’m trying to make it. Then the coaches are throwing the wide-eyed rookie in the rotation during preseason games, and you’re like, ‘Oh crap, this is for real.’ You find yourself playing the entire second quarter or second half. That’s when I got the sense that I belonged. Those experiences really drove me. It made me feel like I was going to do what I can to stay here”
Even though he has not played in an NFL regular season game, Koloamatangi’s latest triumph toward his dream was making the Jets’ active roster late (Nov. 16) in 2019 and staying there until the season’s end. He was coming off a knee (sprained MCL) injury.
“I had just done seven weeks of rehabbing — no running and upper-body workouts only,” he said. “The first day back you’re in full-padded practice and going against one of the top nose guards in the NFL (Steve McLendon) and you have to prove yourself. I flew in at 7 a.m., was in pads at 11 and it was a live scrimmage after that. Those are the types of little things spectators don’t see. It was Week 8 or 9 and I made a speedy enough impact to be on the active roster and play a role. I was very happy to recover from that injury. It eats away at you, watching the weeks go by.
“I’m lucky I haven’t had any devastating injuries, and I’m really looking forward to the upside of my career and it’s about time for me to take a big step. We ended the year on a positive note (wins against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the playoff-bound Buffalo Bills). It wasn’t good enough, but we can build on it.”
