Author’s note: This story has been edited since it was first posted with new information about Lason and Garyn Napuunoa and their family.
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It was one of those fantastic moments one comes across in his or her career.
It was just a short interview on Saturday night, one of many through the years with athletes in all kinds of sports.
And this interview ranks at a the very top in my 40 years as a sportswriter. No, not the interviewing skills, but the raw emotion from the player.
Now, mind you, it’s just audio, but you can almost hear the joyful tears coming out. This guy, jersey No. 29, is all jazzed and razzed up!!
Saint Louis kicker Lason Napuunoa.
His name is Lason Napuunoa and he’s the one who kicked the winning 38-yard field goal for Saint Louis in a wild 27-25 victory over Mililani in the Open Division semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championships at Farrington’s Skippa Diaz Stadium.
You can listen to Napuunoa’s joyful and heartfelt words by clicking the graphic below.
Napuunoa can’t believe what he had done. He thanks God. He thanks his line. He foresees a possible future in which he might be called upon to make a big field goal or extra point attempt in the state final against Kahuku, and he mentions just how important that line blocking for him would be once again.
Along with Napuunoa’s happy roaring, his brother Garyn is nearby screaming “Ahhh, hahaaa, aaahhhh” loudly at the very start.
Bedrock Sports Hawaii’s video of Napuunoa’s winning kick is below.
For his kick (and for his sensational example of “overwhelming” happiness after an athletic achievement), Napuunoa is Bedrock Sports Hawaii’s “overwhelming” choice as Hawaii high school football player of the week.
Bedrock Sports Hawaii learned soon after this story posted that Lason and Garyn’s father — Gareth Napuunoa — passed away last year.
“Kicking that field goal had more emotion behind it besides winning the game,” Jody Yamamoto, a friend of the Napuunoa family, wrote to Bedrock Sports Hawaii. “Lason lost his father who was such a big part of his children’s lives. He also played football for Farrington, so what too place on that field was much more than a field goal for him. It was such an emotional moment for all of us. It’s been a really tough time, especially during these times for the family. I was a really emotional event that happened and it really uplifted our spirits.”
Gareth Napuunoa played offensive guard for the Governors and graduated in 1981.
Gareth Napuunoa, Farrington Class of 1981.
Bonus material: Below is video of Garyn’s video of Lason’s kick from the stands. Warning — the video contains language unsuitable for all ages. Garyn also wore No. 29 and made first-team All-ILH in 2018 as a Saint Louis kicker.
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