The Pacific Ocean seems to get smaller as the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame gets larger. And the ties between the "many islands" and football continue to grow stronger, connecting not just Polynesia to the sport but the inductees to their ancestry.

Wednesday’s announcement of the Class of 2016 includes players with Hawaiian, Samoan and Tongan heritage. The class also is tinged with a bit of Honolulu Blue — one of the colors of the Detroit Lions — with former NFL players Rockne Freitas and the late Charle Ane among those to be enshrined in January.

Joining Freitas (Hawaiian ancestry) and Ane (Samoan) as inducted players are the newly retired Troy Polamalu (Samoan) and Vai Sikahema (Tongan). Being inducted as a contributor is the late Al Lolotai, the first Polynesian to play in the NFL, starting with the Washington Redskins in 1945.

That three inductees are linemen — Ane, Freitas and Lolotai — makes it all the more special for Jesse Sapolu, the organization’s chair, co-founder and 2015 inductee.

"It just shows you how strong the tradition of linemen has been," said Sapolu, former University of Hawaii center and guard, and four-time Super Bowl champion. "Last year, there were three linemen as well with Mark Tuinei, Luther Elliss and myself.

"But now, with Troy (defensive back Polamalu) and Marcus (quarterback Mariota), we’re not only known for big, strong guys but it’s transitioning to skill players."

Mariota, Tennessee Titans rookie out of Oregon, was inducted last January as the hall’s inaugural college football player of the year. This year, the hall is adding a new award to its enshrinement weekend’s agenda: pro football player of the year.

Approximately 70 players of Polynesian ancestry are playing in the NFL, including five of the first 66 picked in this year’s draft. It means the hall will continue to add quality while also being selective. The selection committee started with 200 nominees, then whittled it down to 20 finalists before choosing the five.

"It goes without saying that the classes are small to keep it special," said KITV sports director Robert Kekaula, a member of the selection committee. "The hardest thing is trying to separate yourself from being a fan and from knowing only players from your era, the ones you watched.

"I didn’t know stuff about these guys, especially pioneers like Al Lolotai. First is first. The fun part for me is reading and learning about them. You look at someone like Polamalu, a Polynesian Ronnie Lott. Lott was maybe the greatest safety ever and then comes along Polamalu. Wow. "

This year’s class holds a special place in the heart of former UH football coach June Jones, one of the hall’s board members.

"I’m so honored to see Rockne and Charlie in, I knew them when I was playing and coaching here," Jones said. "It makes it very special for me.

"What is really neat is the (enshrinement) celebrations. It’s off the charts. I’ve been to them (hall of fame) all and this is one of the nicest I’ve ever been to. I’m blown away by the emotion and the spiritualness of it. The Polynesian pride really comes through."

The enshrinement weekend begins Friday, Jan. 29, with dinner at the Hawaii Convention Center. The enshrinement ceremony is Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Polynesian Cultural Center starting with the Class of 2016 gallery dedication at 10:30 a.m. and concludes with the inductee canoe parade at 2:30 p.m.