Inaugural Inductees
(Class of 2014)
HERMAN JOHN WEDEMEYER (Player)
Halfback … Saint Mary’s College … Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame … Consensus All-American … Finished Fourth in 1945 Heisman Trophy voting … First Polynesian to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (1979) … Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1948, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1949 … Two seasons … Selected by Dons in 1st round, 9th player overall (1947 AAFC Draft) … Led AAFC in punt return yardage (1948) … Later starred as Sergeant/Detective “Duke” Lakela in television series Hawaii Five-O … Nicknamed Squirmin’ Herman, Flyin’ Hawaiian & The Hula Hipped Hawaiian … Born May 20, 1924 in Hilo, HI … Died January 25, 1999.
JACK THOMPSON (Player)
Quarterback … Washington State University … Three times named All Pac-10 … Named First team, Second or Honorable Mention All-American three times … Finished Ninth in 1978 Heisman Trophy voting … Graduated as most prolific passer in NCAA History (7,818 yards) … Led NCAA in nine different offensive categories (1976) … Cincinnati Bengals (1979-1982), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1983-1984) … Six seasons … Selected by Bengals in 1st round, 3rd player overall (1979 NFL Draft), highest Polynesian ever selected … Number 14 is retired by WSU … Nicknamed The Throwin’ Samoan … Born May 19, 1956 in Tutuila, American Samoa.
KEN NIUMATALOLO (Coach)
Head Football Coach, United States Naval Academy (2007-present) … Seven seasons, 68 games … Regular season record: 42-26 … Five Bowl Appearances … First person of Samoan ancestry to be named a collegiate Head Coach and winningest Polynesian FBS Head Coach in history … 40 wins in first 5 years are most in Navy History … First Service Academy coach to win the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy in his first two years as Head Coach … Attended the University of Hawai’i … Born May 8, 1965 in Laie, HI.
KEVIN JAMES MAWAE (Player)
Center … Louisiana State University … LSU Sports Hall of Fame … Seattle Seahawks (1994-1997), New York Jets (1998-2005), Tennessee Titans (2006-2009) … 16 seasons … Selected by Seahawks in 2nd round, 36th player overall (1994 NFL Draft) … Eight Pro Bowls (1999-2004, 2008 & 2009)… Eight times named All-Pro (1998-2002, 2004, 2007 & 2008) … Ed Block Courage Award (2009) … 2000s NFL All-Decade Team … All-Time Jets Four Decade Team … First Polynesian to serve as NFLPA President (two terms) … Born January 23, 1971 in Savannah, GA.
KURT KEOLA GOUVEIA (Player)
Linebacker … Brigham Young University … Led his high school team to three consecutive State Titles and named Player of the Year (Offense & Defense), first in Hawai’i history … Hawai’i Sports Hall of Fame … 1984 NCAA Champion … Washington Redskins (1986-1994 & 1999), Philadelphia Eagles (1995), San Diego Chargers (1996-1998) … 13 seasons … Selected by Redskins in 8th Round, 213th player overall (1986 NFL Draft) … Two time Super Bowl Champion (1987, 1991) … Born September 14, 1964 in Honolulu, HI.
OLIN GEORGE KREUTZ (Player)
Center … University of Washington … All-State and SuperPrep All-American … Hawai’i Sports Hall of Fame … First Team All-Pac 10 … Morris Trophy winner (1997) … Consensus All-American (1997) … Chicago Bears (1998-2010), New Orleans Saints (2011) … 14 seasons … Selected by Bears in 3rd round, 64th player overall (1998 NFL Draft) … Six Pro Bowls (2001-2006) … Four times named All-Pro (2001, 2004-2006) … 2000s NFL All-Decade Team … Born June 9, 1977 in Honolulu, HI.
TIAINA BAUL “JUNIOR” SEAU, JR. (Player)
Linebacker … University of Southern California … Unanimous First Team All-American … San Diego Chargers (1990-2002), Miami Dolphins (2003-2005), New England Patriots (2006-2009) … 20 seasons … Selected by Chargers in 1st round, 5th player overall (1990 NFL Draft) … 12 Pro Bowls (1991-2002) … 10 times named All-Pro (1991-2000) … Walter Payton Man of the Year Award Winner & AFC Player of the Year (1994) … 1990s NFL All-Decade Team … Chargers 40th & 50th Anniversary Teams … Chargers Hall of Fame … Number 55 is retired by Chargers … Born January 19, 1969 in San Diego, CA … Died May 2, 2012.