Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors 2023 Football Team Name Pronunciation Guide
BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED AUG 25, 2023
The 2023-24 College Football Season is finally here and we’ve got you covered with figuring out how to scream and shout your favorite Rainbow Warriors names correctly with the pronunciation guide for the 2023 Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors football roster, organized alphabetically.
| Player # | Name | Pronunciation |
| #86 | Pofele Ashlock | po-fey-lay |
| #59 | Demarii Blanks | deh-MAR-ee |
| #22 | Nasjzaé Bryant-LeLei | nah-shay, luh-lay |
| # | Carlito Capanang Jr | ka-puh-nang |
| #3 | Nick Cenacle | sen-uh-cull |
| #38 | Kamalu DeBlake | kah-mah-loo |
| #78 | Ka’ena Decambra | ka-eh-nah |
| #89 | Nick Delgadillo | del-gah-dee-yo |
| #11 | Nalu Emerson | NAH-loo |
| #52 | Ezra Evaimalo | eh-vie-mah-low |
| #68 | Jojo Falo | fah-low |
| #72 | Luke Felix-Fualalo | foo-ah-la-low |
| #48 | Malachi Finau | fee-now |
| #9 | Steven Fiso | fee-so |
| #26 | Deliyon Freeman | del-e-yawn |
| #33 | Brock Hedani | heh-don-ee |
| #84 | Chuuky Hines | choo-key |
| #10 | Patrick Hisatake | hee-sah-tah-key |
| #47 | Kimo Holt-Mossman | key-mo |
| #12 | Wynden Ho’ohuli | ho-oh-HOO-lee |
| #43 | Tariq Jones | tah-REEK |
| #6 | Jonah Kahahawai-Welch | ka-ha-ha-why |
| #46 | Kalanikau Kamakawiwo’ole | kah-lah-knee-cow / ka-ma-ka-WEE-vo-oh-lay |
| #45 | Kila Kamakawiwo’ole | KEY-lah / ka-ma-ka-WEE-vo-oh-lay |
| #97 | Micah Kaonohi-Kaihenui | cow-ah-no-he / kye-hay-new-e |
| #18 | Noah Kema | keh-mah |
| #51 | Lesterlaisene Lagafuaina | lester-lie-she-knee / long-ah-FOO-ah-EE-nah |
| #56 | Tevita Loketi | tah-VEE-tah / low-KEH-tee |
| #19 | Kalauna Makaula | cow-LAWN-uh / muh-cow-luh |
| #35 | Isaiah Malloe | muh-loy (rhymes with toy) |
| #68 | Patrick Mamami | muh-mye-uh |
| #1 | Peter Manuma | mah-new-mah |
| #74 | Micah Mariteragi | mah-<r>ee-teh-<r>ong-ee |
| #12 | Kansel Matsuzawa | con-say / maht-soo-ZAH-wah |
| #29 | Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen | key-lee-nah-hey |
| #27 | Makana Meyer | mah-kuh-nah |
| #70 | James Milovale | me-lo-VAH-lay |
| #53 | Etuate Moala | eh-too-ah-tay / moh-ah-lah |
| #99 | Tali Moe | tah-lee / moh-E |
| #8 | Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala | ta-mah-TOE-ah / mo-kee-OW ah-tee-mah-la-la |
| #19 | Dalen Morris | day-len |
| #77 | Arasi Mose | ah-rah-see / moh-say |
| #66 | Sergio Muasau | moo-uh-sow (like cow) |
| #23 | Koali Nishigaya | ko-AH-lee / nee-she-GAH-yah |
| #80 | Eddie Osei-Nketia | AW-say / en-KAY-tee-uh |
| #54 | Jamih Otis | juh-my |
| #1 | Jonah Panoke | pa-NO-kay |
| #7 | Meki Pei | meh-key / pay |
| #58 | Kuao Peihopa | koo-OW / pay-ho-pah |
| #55 | Zoram Petelo | zo-rum / pay-tell-oh |
| #83 | Karsyn Pupunu | poo-POO-new |
| #95 | Anthony Sagapolutele | saw-ga-po-loo-teh-lee |
| #16 | John-Keawe Sagapolutele | kay-ah-vay / saw-ga-po-loo-teh-lee |
| #91 | Josh Sagapolutele | saw-ga-po-loo-teh-lee |
| #85 | Oakie Salave’a | sah-lah-VAY-ah |
| #13 | Brayden Schager | SHAY-ger |
| #98 | Fo’i Shaw | fo-EE |
| #58 | Zhen Sotelo | so-teh-low |
| #51 | Maurice Ta’ala | ta-AH-la |
| #49 | Tasi Tadio | tah-see / tah-dee-oh |
| #61 | Eliki Tanuvasa | e-LEE-kee / tah-new-VAH-sah |
| #63 | Naasir Tatum-Asiata | naw-sear / ah-see-ah-tah |
| #87 | Devon Tauaefa | tow (like cow)-uh-ef-uh |
| #45 | Malaki Te’o | mah-lock-ee / tay-oh |
| #25 | Matagi Thompson | muh-TONG-ee |
| #17 | Isaiah Tufaga | too-FAWN-gah |
| #90 | John Tuitupou | tui-too-po |
| #64 | Kauka Umiamaka | cow-ka / oo-me-ah-MAH-ka |
| #40 | D.J. Utu | OO-too |
| #52 | Solo Vaipulu | vie-POO-loo |
| #4 | Jalen Walthall | wall-thawl |
Campbell champion Brayden Medeiros begins next chapter at Valley City State
Brayden Medeiros' final two passes in a Campbell uniform could hardly have scripted a better ending. Both were touchdowns. The first, a 55-yard strike to Lathaniel Teleaai, gave the Sabers breathing room in the Open Division state championship game. The second, a...
Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Begins New Era as Joshua Walker Leads First Official Practice
HONOLULU – A new chapter officially began for the University of Hawaiʻi women's volleyball program on Thursday as first-year head coach Joshua Walker led the Rainbow Wahine through their first official practice of the 2026 season. Just weeks after...
Moanalua Football looking to turn continuity into playoff berth in 2026
SALT LAKE — A year ago, Keone Batoon inherited Moanalua's football program just weeks before the start of the season. The late-June hiring left little time to install systems or establish the culture he envisioned, but the Na Menehune still...
Hawaii football training camp Day 1 notes, quotes and observations
HONOLULU – Off and running in the sun. Day 1 of the University of Hawai’i football team’s training camp brought plenty of juice, getting active on Wednesday as the Rainbow Warriors open a season with championship aspirations and big expectations...
Three questions as Hawaii football opens up training camp
HONOLULU – Welcome to Year 5 of the Timmy Chang era. After the best season since the 2019 run to the Mountain West championship game, the University of Hawai’i football program enters the 2026 campaign with expectations to compete for a conference...
Damien Monarchs chasing elusive state football title despite challenges
KALIHI — Few football programs in Hawaiʻi have been more consistent in recent years than Damien, but the Monarchs are still searching for the one accomplishment that has eluded them. Damien has captured three consecutive ILH Division I...
Former Sydney Kings wing Lueth Awan finds home with Hawai’i
HONOLULU – Going down under to fill up the seats. The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball dipped into the NBL to continue finishing out the 2026-27 roster, gaining the commitment of former Sydney Kings G Lueth Awan on Tuesday morning. The...
Five players to watch for on fresh-faced HPU squad
HONOLULU – Success and the winds of change. The Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball team claimed a spot in the NCAA Tournament (Division II) for the third time in program history last season, capping off a thrilling campaign that began with...
Waipahu Marauders ready for another Division I title chase
WAIPAHU — The end of the 2025 season for the Waipahu football team was not something to be proud of. The Marauders looked every bit like a championship contender after racing to a 6-1 start, but injuries and inconsistency derailed the second half...
Campbell embraces championship expectations after breakthrough title run
EWA BEACH — For the first time in program history, Campbell enters a football season as the team everyone else is chasing. The Sabers' improbable run to the 2025 Open Division state championship transformed Campbell from a postseason Cinderella...



