Former University of Hawaii football players Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea and Makoa Camanse-Stevens have signed contracts to play professionally in the German Football League.
They were expected to arrive in Germany today. Their first games are Sunday.
Kema-Kaleiwahea will play for the Cologne Crocodiles. Camanse-Stevens is joining the Stuttgart Scorpions.
“I’m excited for this opportunity,” Kema-Kaleiwahea said.
He is projected to compete as a weakside linebacker and hand-in-the-dirt rush end. He also has been told he might be used as a running back, fullback or tight end.
Kema-Kaleiwahea started all 14 games last season, amassing 45 tackles. He was a tight end at Kamehameha Schools. He switched to defense during his second season at Arizona. He then moved back to Hawaii after he and his wife adopted two boys who used to be his foster brothers. Last week, Kema-Kaleiwahea was named winner of the the NCAA’s Division I hero of the year award for his work with the foster-family program.
Kema-Kaleiwahea earned a bachelor’s degree in December and completed his UH eligibility following the 2016 Hawaii Bowl. After a tryout with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, he was placed on their reserve list. Kema-Kaleiwahea has an escape clause that will allow him to leave Cologne if he is recalled by Winnipeg.
“I’m going to go over there (to Germany) and play for however long,” he said. “If I play the entire season, that’s absolutely fine. This is an awesome experience.”
Camanse-Stevens, also a Kamehameha graduate, earned his bachelor’s degree in May. He attended two tryouts with CFL teams. A football liaison who knew Camanse-Stevens when he played at Arizona Western College offered to arrange a meeting with GFL officials. After that, Camanse-Stevens was offered a contract.
“It’s a cool opportunity,” Camanse-Stevens said.
He was told he would be used at quarterback, a position he played at Kamehameha, or receiver. At UH, Camanse-Stevens was used as a wideout, motion tight end and option passer.
“Wherever I can help the team the most, I’ll play there,” Camanse-Stevens said.
