KAPA‘A — Kapa‘a High School teacher David Morales double-checked the paperwork on Wednesday before Kapa‘a High School senior Solomone Malafu signed his Letter of Intent to play football for the UCLA Bruins.
“This is huge,” Morales, a UCLA graduate, said. “I’ve got chicken skin all over after checking over his paperwork and making sure everything is proper. He used to be part of the Warrior family, and with this signing, he’s now a part of the Bruin family. I’m so proud.”
Solomone, with his extended ‘ohana on hand to witness the signing at Bernice Hundley Gym, was soft-spoken, expressing his gratitude to God, his family, and high school for getting him to where he was, ready to ink the letter of commitment.
“I’ll be proud to represent not only my family,” Solomone said. “I’ll be proud to represent our island, and the rest of the state.”
Solomone’s football career was highlighted during the 2021 First Hawaiian Bank Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division II championship when Kapa‘a soundly defeated Kamehameha-Maui, 61-7 in driving rain at Farrington High School on O‘ahu.
During that contest, Solomone was credited with four touchdowns, three successful point-after scores, picking up honors for a 98-yard opening touchdown among highlights. He led the championship Warriors with 158 yards on the ground. He was also credited with five unassisted stops on defense.
Solomone is also part of the Kapa‘a High School boys basketball where he is out on injury, trying to rehabilitate a knee injury suffered during the game against St. Louis.
“He played against Kaua‘i High School,” said Kapa‘a Athletic Director Greg Gonsalves. “But now, we can look forward to greater things in the future.”
