Every year, the Kahuku football team roster is full of familiar last names.
That’s because this tight-knit North Shore community, in many ways, puts football first. And it’s a generational thing. Grandfathers, dads, uncles and brothers work to keep this process going by helping their grandsons, sons, nephews and brothers get involved, and — and moms, grandmoms, aunties and sisters lend super support in many other ways, especially by being vocal in the stands.
This year, there are four Red Raiders team leaders in the junior class who are a great example of Kahuku’s winning football culture being passed down. All four have been instrumental in the team’s 5-0 start and they’re all being recruited by Division I FBS colleges.
Going into the top-ranked Red Raiders’ big OIA Open Division game on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Campbell (4-1), this is a fine time to take a closer look at these four guys and their Kahuku family roots.
Linebacker and tight end Liona Lefau. (Image credit: Rivals.com).
Liona Lefau
At last count, Lefau had 15 D-I FBS college offers, including from top schools like Michigan, Washington and Wisconsin.
And he’s starring on both sides of the ball this season. If you don’t hear the crunching hits he’s been making, perhaps you’ve seen him catch a TD pass like he did to break open a close first half against Mililani and give the Red Raiders a 7-point, second quarter lead in what turned out to be a 55-20 romp.
At 6 feet 1, 210 pounds, Lefau plays linebacker and tight end. Defense is where he will likely play in college.
Lefau’s brother Pesa Lefau was a Kahuku linebacker on the 2015 top-tier state championship team. Another brother, Toalei Lefau, was a Red Raiders running back in recent years.
Malosi Lefau, a senior, is a Red Raiders safety this year.
“Liona has skills to play many places,” Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho told Bedrock Sports Hawaii in a phone interview Tuesday before a practice session to get ready for Saturday’s game against the Sabers. “If we wanted to, we could put him at safety. And if we really wanted to, we could put him at cornerback. He’s a linebacker, wide receiver and a tight end for us and he’s one of the blocking tight ends in our elephant package. Very versatile.”
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Linebacker Leonard Ah You. (Image credit: Twitter.com.)
Leonard Ah You
Ah You is the younger brother of two big stars of Kahuku football in recent years, linebackers Miki Ah You and Zion Ah You.
“Leonard is the tallest of them all (6-2),” coach Carvalho said. “They all play with a chip on their shoulder and that’s what you gotta love. For as young as Leonard is, he bows down to no one. He competes. He practices. He has a knack for the ball just like his brothers.”
Leonard’s cousin, Manulele Ah You, is a sophomore running back for the Red Raiders this season.
But the family ties don’t stop there. Junior Ah You, their grandfather, is a former Red Raider who went on to star in the Canadian Football League. Also, father Jun Boi Ah You and uncles Kingsley Ah You, Quin Ah You and Josh Ah You also played football for the Red Raiders.
And if that’s not enough of a Kahuku pedigree. Leonard Peters, a former star Kahuku and University of Hawaii safety, is his uncle as well as Leonard Ah You‘s namesake.
Leonard Ah You has offers from Arizona State, BYU, Hawaii and Oregon State.
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Safety Brock Fonoimoana.
Brock Fonoimoana
“Rangy” is the word coach Carvalho uses to describe Fonoimoana.
“He covers the field so well and because of that ability, we can play one high safety,” the coach said. “He covers from sideline to sideline and that’s a luxury. Most teams have two high safeties. With Brock back there, you can cover down and send more pressure on the quarterback.”
In recent years, his cousins Mana Fonoimoana0-Vaomu and Kana Fonoimoana-Vaomu patrolled the Red Raiders’ defensive backfield.
A sister — Mary Fonoimoana — recently starred for the Kahuku volleyball team. And Brock’s’ father, Vic Fonoimoana, is a Kahuku assistant strength coach. Also, a brother, Maximum Fonoimoana, is on the Kahuku JV team.
The 6-12, 190-pound Brock Fonoimoana, who had two interceptions in the Red Raiders’ big win over Mililani, has offers from BYU, Utah and Virginia.
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Cornerback Chansen Nicodemus-Garcia. (Image credit: New.BeRecruited.com).
Chansen Nicodemus-Garcia
Nicodemus-Garcia was only a freshman when he got an offer from Navy.
“He’s one of the fastest players on the team, a track guy,” coach Carvalho said about the 5-8, 162-pound cornerback.
A brother, Caiden Garcia-Casey, is a Red Raiders freshman wide receiver.
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