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 |
CSUN steals Senior Night win in Hawai’i behind Christopher’s complete game
HONOLULU – On a night meant to celebrate 17 seniors from the University of Hawai’i, it was a CSUN senior that stole the show. Matadors’ senior right-hander Adam Christopher (4-3) spun a gem in his final collegiate outing, dealing out 120 pitches...
High-flying wing Franciz Wai finds new home with Hawaii Pacific
HONOLULU – The Sharks found their Wai. The Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball team picked up a commitment from 6-foot-7 wing Franciz Wai on Thursday, adding a high-motor, athletic forward to the program’s recruiting reload. The former...
Hawai’i accelerates to national title over UC Irvine, completes climb to coronation
The journey connects back to July 2022. The University of Hawai’i just wrapped up back-to-back national championship victories behind all-time program great Jakob Thelle, and head coach Charlie Wade had secured the heir to the star setter’s throne...
Beach Closed: ‘Bows bounce Long Beach State to advance to national championship
Shakas up. Two weeks after falling in the Big West tournament final and watching LBSU freshman star Wojciech Gajek hit the “double shakas down” emote at the Rainbow Warrior fans in attendance, the University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team exacted...
UH Athletics NIL Bill Fails Final Senate Vote
Updated May 13, 2026Just one week after conference committee members described SB 3263 as a “win-win situation” for University of Hawai‘i student-athletes, the measure failed to pass final reading in the Hawai‘i State Senate on Friday in a dramatic reversal that...
Power, persistent bats lead Mililani to third straight HHSAA D1 softball state crown
HONOLULU – The Trojans have morphed Millville into “Title Town” – three times in a row. For the third consecutive year, the Mililani softball team saw themselves standing alone atop the Hawai’i high school softball ranks on as the Trojans...
Gibson Johnson elevated to associate HC role among handful of Hawai’i coaching moves
HONOLULU – Stop the music, the chairs are filled. The University of Hawai’i announced a smattering of men’s basketball coaching moves on Friday, headlined by the elevation of current assistant coach Gibson Johnson to associate head coach. After the...
Irimata’s gem helps Hawai’i hold off UC Santa Barbara in Big West quarterfinal
After waiting a day to get active in the 2026 Big West Softball Championship tournament, the No. 2-seeded University of Hawai’i softball team took care of business on Thursday with a 2-0 victory over No. 3 UC Santa Barbara at Anderson Family Field...
Waiʻanae Stuns Moanalua in Overtime to Capture OIA Division I Flag Football Title
Waiʻanae waited nearly three decades for another football championship. On Wednesday night, the Seariders finally brought one home. Behind a resilient comeback effort and a dominant defensive performance led by Fun Factory VIP of the Game Cadence...
Kalaheo Captures OIA Division II Girls Flag Football Title in Thriller Over Kapolei
In a game that felt fitting for a championship stage, Kalaheo rallied late to defeat previously unbeaten Kapolei, 28-25, to capture the OIA Division II Girls Flag Football championship on Tuesday night. The Mustangs outscored the Hurricanes 13-7 in...