ByGeorgeF. Lee, Star-Bulletin
University of North Carolina's James Hamilton received
a warm welcome from hula dancer Kamaile Kalama yesterday.
University of Colorado offensive lineman Chris Naeole, University of Washington linebacker Ink Aleaga and Brigham Young University wide receiver Kaipo McGuire arrived at Honolulu International Airport yesterday with 86 other invitees to Sunday's Hooters Hula Bowl.
Naeole, an Associated Press All-American who played for Kahuku High; Aleaga, a two-time All-Pac 10 pick who played for Pac-Five out of Maryknoll, and McGuire, a who was once a critical cog in St. Louis' run-and-shoot offense, were members of the Star-Bulletin All-State prep football team when they could only dream about being selected to the Hula Bowl.
As Polynesian drums pounded, hula dancers whirled and Hooters girls extended greetings to the Hula Bowl contingent in the lobby of Gate 8, the local heroes who went away to find fame and quite possibly tidy fortunes embraced family members and answered a seemingly endless barrage of media questions.
Naeole, a 6-4, 310-pound offensive guard who is the first consensus All-American from Hawaii in more than half a century, has the best chance of any local athlete to become a millionaire in April when the NFL draft is held.
Scouts project him to be a first-round selection and one of the first offensive linemen taken.
"Ain't no way nothing guaranteed," said Naeole, humbly playing down his chances. "This (the Hula Bowl) is just another day I have to go to work. That's (the draft) all going to take care of itself come April. I'll have a draft party and then take off to where I'm at."
Asked where his draft party will be, he said it will be somewhere on Oahu.
Naeole is married to the former Tara Keawe and has a 1-year-old daughter, Azure Ke'alohilani.
"You never can tell what will happen in the draft," he said.
"Strange things happen to people in the draft, so I'll try to focus on what I can do here. Whether I'm drafted or not, I hope I'll at least get a chance. That's all I want."
Aleaga, who was met by his mother and sister, was a football, basketball and track standout as a prep athlete.
He said he missed plate lunches and the opportunity to see his 6-2, 275-pound brother, Ing, a junior at Aiea High School, play line for Na Alii.
"I'm happy I'm home with my family," he said. "I always think of them. They were always there for me."
McGuire is seen as a late draft pick but could be passed by and become a free agent.
"I don't know much about the draft but I know I'm going to get a shot," said the 5-11, 180-pound receiver.
"I'll have a good opportunity to show what I can do against good competition," said McGuire. "I had a good career at BYU I'm just glad to be here and see family and friends."
McGuire caught 42 passes for 658 yards and scored five touchdowns last season for the No. 5 Cotton Bowl champion Cougars.
McGuire, who said he planned to stop by St. Louis and chat with Crusaders head coach Cal Lee, smiled broadly about being back in a tropical climate.
"When I left Provo, there was a blizzard - it was about 2 degrees - and it was snow up to my knees," he said. "So I'm really glad to be here."