Feature on Andrew Faaumu

MN = Maui News

MN Note: "Feeling his first live football hits since he finished playing at Lahainaluna High School in 2005, Faaumu was back in the stadium where he learned the game on Saturday. Wearing No. 69, in white, for the University of Hawaii. On his third school since graduating from Lahainaluna, Faaumu has found a home."

About how he watched his brother (William Faaumu) play for UH as a walk-on and now got to play for UH in their scrimmage on his home island of Maui, Andrew Faaumu said:
''It was real emotional, you know, because I grew up watching my older brother play. I grew up since I was a little kid playing football on the side. When I got into high school, it was a great feeling, and then getting a chance to put on this Hawaii uniform and come out again, it is a real blessing.'' (MN)

About how his brother lost the ability to hear in the 6th grade, but regained some hearing when he got a cochlear implant when he was a senior in high school, Faaumu said:
''He is one of my big inspirations because he is deaf. He was able to play at Maui High School and then even got on the team at UH and was a participant in the Hawaii Bowl against the University of Houston (a 54-48, three-overtime Hawaii win in 2003). He was a big role model for me growing up.'' (MN)

About being one of the 12 players from Maui playing D-IA football this season, Faaumu said:
''I feel like God has blessed me to come out and help the community and just show the community even though Maui is so big, the community is small. The kids can make it. There is Kaluka Maiava (Southern California), Kaluka's younger brother, Kai Maiava (UCLA), and my cousin Kaniela Tuipulotu at Arizona. So, there's all kinds of MIL guys out there. I'm really happy we're here - it helps promote Maui, bringing football to Maui and making it bigger, because there is talent here.'' (MN)

About how he couldn't try out for the team last year because he needed to get his academics in order, Faaumu said:
''I enrolled at UH last year, just taking care of my schooling and getting all that straight. Now, I came back out, and I plan on graduating in a couple semesters. I had a lot of things I had to take care of off the field, but I talked to the coaches and they gave me the opportunity.'' (MN)

About how his brother has been successful after leaving UH, Faaumu said:
''Now, he is doing bigger things off the field - he got to work at the White House. He got a chance to work with the Department of the Treasury. He is about to graduate in international business. He is working on that right now.'' (MN)

MN Note: "Rego's father, Jayson Rego Sr., and Faaumu's father, Tivoli Faaumu, are both 20-year veterans and lieutenants in the Maui Police Department."

About how Faaumu did well during the scrimmage, Jayson Rego said:
''He was doing good, he was doing all the right things, he was doing really well out there. I definitely hope he gets his chance to show what he can do on the field. I think he will.'' (MN)

About being able to play with Rego now instead of competing against each other like they did in high school, Faaumu saiad:
''It's kind of weird because I grew up watching him play and me and him played against each other in the (state) semifinals. It is so funny we ended up at the same place, and the good thing is now I am with him. I'm not playing against him, I am blocking for him, so it has been a journey.'' (MN)

About how he knew Jayson Rego and his family since he was a kid, Faaumu said:
''I remember growing up when I was a little kid going to the police parties. I would find Rego and his little brother and I would always cruise around with them. Now, we talk story, cruise. It is like every time I see him, he is my little bridge to Maui. He just reminds me of all the Maui guys. It is real good because right now there is nobody from Lahainaluna, so Rego - he didn't graduate from Maui, but he is a Maui boy - so I can always just count on him.'' (MN)

http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/517210.html?nav=11