When Lance Williams was 10 years old, the Cartoon Network was his English instructor.
"Power Rangers," "Gargoyles," "Justice League" …
"I was fresh off the boat," said Williams, who moved from American Samoa to Kalihi to help take care of his grandfather. "Watching cartoons, playing games, learning at school — that’s how I caught onto the English language."
Williams also speaks in Samoan with his grandparents, attends a Samoan church and reads a Samoan-language Bible.
"That’s how I balance out the two languages," Williams said.
Williams is fluent in a third language — football.
It is a sport that two uncles — Manly Williams and Lucky Williams — played with success. It also is a game that kept him focused while growing up in the chaos that is Kuhio Park Terrace, a public housing complex in Kalihi.
Williams acknowledged that Kalihi in general and KPT in particular have rugged reputations.
"It’s the people who mess around," Williams said. "Kalihi can be a rough place to grow up."
Williams’ family made sure he kept busy. They enrolled him in youth sports leagues. They also pointed to Kalihi-raised football players — Jesse Sapolu, Vince Manuwai, Taase Faumui, the Noga brothers — who found direction through football.
"Sports always kept us away from those troubles," Williams said. "We loved to be active. When the sun goes down, that’s when we have to be careful about the choices we make at night. … When you say ‘KPT’ or ‘Kalihi’ or ‘Kam IV,’ it wasn’t scary. It was the choices you make. You make bad choices, bad things will happen."
Williams developed into a multi-sport athlete at Farrington High. In February 2011, he accepted a scholarship offer from UH with the intent to join the Warriors the following January.
He kept busy that fall semester by taking two classes at Honolulu Community College.
Two days after the 2011 season ended, Greg McMackin resigned as UH head coach. "I kept praying (the Rainbow Warriors) still wanted me," Williams said.
The answer came a few weeks later when Norm Chow, McMackin’s successor, called to insist he would honor the scholarship offer.
Although Williams had other offers, notably from San Diego State, he renewed his vow.
"I wanted to stay because my family, especially my grandfather, was here," Williams said. "That was my gift to them. They wanted me to travel the world. I could do that (with the Warriors) when we travel for road games."
The spring, teammates selected Williams as a co-captain. This summer, Williams, who will earn a degree in family resources in December, interned with the Boys & Girls Club of Honolulu.
"I wanted to give back to the kids who have been through the struggles," Williams said. "I want to help them make good choices."
