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The son of a missionary, Ben Dew has traveled the world.
But his plan for the next few years is to find a home on the Hawaii football team’s offensive line.
"It’s a good fit for me," said Dew, who has accepted a football scholarship from the Warriors.
Dew, who lives in Auckland, New Zealand, will be reunited with his sister, Rebecca Dew, a member of the Rainbow Wahine basketball team.
Ben Dew said he will take UH classes beginning in January, then go on scholarship in July.
"I’m excited to play for the Warriors," Dew said.
Dew was born in Gainesville, Fla., and has lived in Tennessee, New Zealand and, for one year, in Hawaii.
In July 2009, he caught the UH coaches’ attention when he attended the Warriors’ Big Man’s Camp for football linemen.
The coaches kept Dew’s name in the Rolodex as he went on to play the 2009 football season for Word of Life Academy. It was his only semester at that school, and his first year playing organized football.
"He caught on so quickly," said Joe Onosai, a former Warrior and the head football coach of the Kakaako school that no longer exists. "I was pretty amazed at how he progressed. I was most impressed he was such a mature young man. I felt like we had a 25-year-old on the offensive line."
After the 2009 fall semester ended, the Dew family moved to New Zealand. Dew said he was home-schooled there, although he competed in rugby leagues.
Arizona, UCLA and Wyoming expressed interest in Dew, but he was set with his decision.
"I planned to go to Hawaii," Dew said.
He learned to adapt to different cultures traveling with his family. Every Nation Church has bases throughout the world. He said he has been on mission trips to Australia and Asia.
But Dew said he enjoys Hawaii’s lifestyle, as well as the school’s relative proximity, in comparison to other American schools, to New Zealand.
"I like (Hawaii’s) beaches, but most of all, I like the people," Dew said. "They’re very family-oriented. They are — what’s the saying? — ohana."
Dew said he is 6 feet 4 and 300 pounds. He can bench press 355 pounds. He also is skilled in rugby and basketball.
"He’s a beast," Onosai said. "He’s a big boy. He’s a very feisty competitor. He’s going to be a great addition to Hawaii’s offensive line."
Onosai said Dew is comparable to Colin Scotts, a former Warrior who reportedly was the first Australian to be drafted by the National Football League. Scotts played tight end and defensive end for the St. Louis Cardinals.
"He’s a reserved Colin Scotts," Onosai said. "He’s a good athlete. He’s a rugby player. He’s very quick for his size. He can play both sides of the ball, but I think his future is on the offensive line. He’s big, strong and fast. And he’s maturing."
