Farrington’s Abel Hoopii ready for bigger ventures; commits to SMU
BY MICHAEL LASQUERO
PUBLISHED JULY 10, 2024
Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 330 pounds, Abel Hoopii will be a seamless fit in the state where everything is bigger.
The Farrington offensive lineman will be playing his collegiate career in the state of Texas after making a commitment to play for Southern Methodist University next year in a live-streamed event at Skippa Diaz Stadium at Kusunoki Field before a crowd of about 50 Monday afternoon.
“It’s feeling real good,” Hoopii said. “Me and my family, we’ve been stressing every single day on where I think I will go, but it’s been a good journey, God is good.”
The SMU Mustangs earned Hoopii’s commitment over a list of top four schools that included Hawai’i, San Jose State and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
“I think it was the coaching staff. We went down to pros and cons. We did all those stuff and it felt like home over there,” Hoopii said of the Dallas-based university. “They’re trying to get a Polynesian starting five (on the offensive line), so let’s do it.”
Hoopii added that his decision wasn’t made until the day of his commitment event.
“I was up till 5 a.m. last night because I couldn’t sleep and I had to go to summer school,” he said. “It went down till today actually, because I really wanted to… I had a vision of me staying home (and play for Hawai’i) and all that stuff, but I know if I moved out there to SMU, I would have better opportunities and hopefully make it to the NFL if that’s what God has for me.
“The place is so beautiful and Dallas, Texas… everything is bigger in Texas and being from such a small island, more bigger places and bigger things to do out there.”
It’s been a whirlwind journey for Hoopii, who helped Kahuku win a state title last fall before transferring to Farrington in the offseason. Hoopii also boosted his recruiting stock in the offseason through hard work at various national events.
Being able to provide a better life for his family has been a driving motivator for Hoopii.
“Getting to this moment, the hard work and that I just kept thinking and thinking that I have to get my family off this island. My mom, she’s always been with me. Since my dad left us when I was younger, my mom, she’s always been working hard trying to feed me and my brothers. I’m just trying to make sure she’s good nowadays. Retire her hopefully.”
Lake Erie (OH) holds off Hawaii Pacific to take third in Hoops in Hawaii Tip-Off Classic
HONOLULU – Close but no cigar. For the second consecutive night, the Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball team took a tough opponent down to the wire before falling short in regulation as Lake Erie (OH) used a high-pressure defense and clutch...
Hawaii Pacific falls to St. Mary’s (TX) in Hoops in Hawaii Tip-Off third-place game
HONOLULU – Fought hard, fell short but found plenty of positives. Playing for the third time in three days, the Hawaii Pacific University women’s basketball team ran out of energy in the Hoops in Hawaii Tip-Off Classic third-place game as they fell...
Hawai’i clinches playoff spot with Senior Day draw against New Mexico
HONOLULU – They certainly didn’t make it easy. The University of Hawai’i women’s soccer team clinched a spot in the Mountain West tournament on Sunday, playing New Mexico (8-4-4, 5-2-2 Mountain West) to a 2-2 draw at the Lower Campus Field on...
Mililani Knocks Off Defending Champion Kahuku, Advances to OIA Open Division Final
Mililani's Bless Cabrera-Hopkins (6) celebrates after getting a first down during a High School Football Game against Kahuku on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Mililani High School in Mililani, Hawaii. | Photo Credit: Andrew Lee, Special to...
Sizzling shooting display helps Hawaii Pacific to blowout win over St. Edwards
HONOLULU – Welcome to the Splash Zone. Behind a blistering first half of long-range shooting and suffocating defensive showing, the Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball team cruised to an 88-64 victory over St. Edwards (TX) on Friday morning...
Humble off the field, Waipahu’s Braun lets his play do the talking
There isn't much about Jayse Braun's demeanor that would suggest he's one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in Hawai‘i high school football — until he leaves defenders chasing after him in the end zone. At 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, the...
UH Athletics Generates $753 Million in Economic Impact, $1.73 Billion in Media Exposure Value
Photo courtesy of the Office of Governor Josh GreenNew study highlights the university's economic contributions as state and business leaders call for continued investment in Hawai‘i Athletics.HONOLULU — The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa...
Hawaii Pacific hopes to take next step despite plethora of new players
HONOLULU – Progress is not always linear, but it can be. Coming off the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament in nearly a decade, the Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball team enters 2026-27 with a roster filled with fresh faces. After...
Football World Remembers June Jones: Tributes Pour In for Legendary Hawai‘i Coach
The football community is mourning the loss of legendary coach June Jones, whose impact on the University of Hawai‘i and the game of football extended far beyond the sidelines. Jones, who died at the age of 73, transformed the Rainbow Warrior...
Molokai’s Jordyn McCutcheon went Rogue and became a record-setter
HONOLULU – College decisions can be hard, especially in Hawai’i. Plenty of students think they want to leave the islands after high school. Tons of others want nothing more than to attend one of the prestigious colleges located in their home state...