Kaimuki High senior Brandan Mafua’s athletic pedigree is one of excellence at an elite level. The lineman’s father, Daniel Mafua, was an all-star for the Bulldogs in football, basketball and track in the mid-1980s, and has been enshrined in the Nissan Hawaii High School Hall of Honor. Formerly head football coach at his alma mater, the elder Mafua is now an assistant coach.
Brandan Mafua’s sister, Dani, was an honorable-mention All-America setter for the University of Hawaii volleyball team; this week she flies overseas to begin a professional career playing for a Swiss club.
Mafua is determined to also leave his mark on the playing field. But he firmly believes he can leave a greater imprint in the performing arts, and build a professional career as an actor-singer able to play the guitar and ukulele, too.
WHILE MAFUA primarily sees himself as a thespian, his artistic mentor, Dane Ison, the creative director of the New Hope Oahu Youth Performing Arts Center, gushes over his singing.
"He has a beautiful voice," Ison said of Mafua, who has a range that can go from tenor to bass. "He’s developing into a great singer and actor. I can only see him excelling."
With his easy smile, Mafua brushes off his teammates’ humorous pleas to be selected as his stage career manager. Instead, he wants them to join him in focusing on an immediate goal: helping Kaimuki repeat as champion of the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s White Division and again reach the final of the state Division II tournament.
"I believe we can achieve a goal that we will cherish for life," Mafua said. "We have a good team. We got good coaches. With hard work and dedication, I believe we will make it."
MAFUA WASN’T A PART of Kaimuki’s championship squad last season because he voluntarily sat out after transferring from Word of Life Academy following its closure. Nonetheless, he knows what it is like to be a contender. As a freshman, he was the starting tight end for Word of Life in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu’s intermediate championship game that ‘Iolani won.
"I want to be fighting for a championship again," Mafua said. "I want to make the most of this season."
A hip injury sidelined Mafua for his entire sophomore season, and that same injury has slowed his start this year. Kaimuki head coach Clint Onigama said he hopes Mafua will be ready to start at center when Kaimuki begins the regular season Saturday against McKinley.
"He’ll be in the mix at some point," Onigama said, explaining that Mafua might also be called upon to play other offensive and defensive line positions.
Onigama also wants Mafua to join linebackers Siaosi Hala’api’api and Brandon Kekoa, defensive back Nick Motellang, quarterback Nahoa Spencer, and offensive linemen Brandon Heu and T.J. Faimealelei in providing the team with senior leadership.
Onigama says Mafua "is a nice guy by nature. But in football he is tough. We want to bring that intensity out of him."
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Mafua, who is of Tongan and Hawaiian ancestry, is getting the message.
"On the football field, I have to be a monster — like the Hulk," he said. "On stage, I express myself differently.
"I prefer the stage more (than the field). I feel comfortable up there. I know a lot of people feel it is hard to get up on stage before an audience. For me, it’s not a challenge."
AS A FRESHMAN, Mafua sang with Word of Life’s Praise and Worship Team during chapel sessions. At the end of his sophomore year, he auditioned for his first musical, New Hope Youth Performing Arts Center’s production of "Beauty and the Beast." He was selected as a cast member, and sang in the chorus.
His breakout came last year when he was selected for his first lead role and sang three solos as Zoser in the Sacred Hearts Academy presentation of the musical "Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida" at Mamiya Theatre. This past summer, Mafua was cast in two lead roles — as Reuben and as the butler — in New Hope’s production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
"Many have commented on how much he has developed in such a short time," Ison said.
Seven months ago, Mafua led a four-student group to victory in the Kaimuki Most Talented 2011 contest when they performed the song "Sweetest Sound."
"It was a big adrenaline rush," said Mafua, who sang and played the guitar. "It’s a good feeling when people cheer."
Senior Amelia Sakisi, who sang lead vocals for the talent performance, said Mafua is special because he breaks stereotypes.
"Brandan is able to say, ‘I play football, and I also act and sing,’ " Sakisi said. "His personality is so amazing."
Mafua noted that many talented performing artists have been students at Kaimuki, including ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and Kelly Boy De Lima of Kapena.
"Hopefully, I will be part of that legacy," he said.
In many ways, the performing arts and football are similar, he added.
"Both require hard work, dedication and teamwork. And never giving up," Mafua said. "Two different worlds with the same values that can build your character."
