Feature on "quarter" Kamalani Alo

About playing their "quarter" position (hybrid safety and LB) with the first team defense this spring, Kamalani Alo said:
"It's a big change. Last year I was coming off a redshirt year and I wasn't really looking at reps. This year it's a big change. You have to pick it up fast, you have to learn fast, you have to talk to the coaches extra." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Former UH safety Spencer Smith played the quarter position last season before injuring his arm and John Hardy-Tuliau later emerged as a playmaker as a fifth defensive back as a true freshman."


About using Alo at their "quarter" position, Mack said:
"He's got a good feel for the game and he's an excellent hitter. He's a physical guy. ... So if it's second and 8, if they run we're sitting good because he'll be a good force guy. If they pass, we can run all of our coverages because he's a DB." (HSA)


Happy to be playing closer to the line of scrimmage, Alo (who played OLB in high school but has been a safety at UH) said:
"I have to remember that I'm playing linebacker and safety. So I have to remember to play run before I play pass, whereas when I was at safety it was just backpedal all the time.  I love being more in the action, being able to hit big O-linemen. I love the challenge." (HSA)


About how he looks to Richard Torres for leadership, Alo said:
"I've been trying to work out with Richard just because he's a guy I look up to and he's one of the captains of the defense. I worked out with him and just tried to keep up with his pace. He works out at the quick pace, just like he plays on the field." (HSA)


About how Alo's excellent play on special teams last year (he'll be on all of the special teams units this year) resulted in him getting a role on defense this spring, Rich Miano said:
"Kamalani has the speed and the toughness, he's very conscientious and he's made a lot of improvement. He's also going to be in the running at safety. He's probably our most improved player throughout the spring. He came on so strong on special teams at the end of last year, he earned his stripes to play defense." (HSA)


HSA Note: "While listening and learning is among Alo's main objectives this spring, he took some time to teach at the end of practice yesterday. Alo, Torres and fellow Kahuku alums Paipai Falemalu, Aulola Tonga and Alema Tachibana spent a few moments teaching the haka to the Honolulu Bulls soccer club's 98 boys team. The Bulls plan to perform it prior to their matches in Germany and Denmark this summer."


About how he was happy to teach the haka to the Honolulu bulls soccer club's 98 boys team, Alo said:
"That was fun. I always like working with the kids. It always good to give back to the community any way we can." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110405_Hawaiis_Alo_all_over_the_place.html