Kahuku’s Ah-Hoy pledges to UH

Growing up on the North Shore, two traditions are to play football and jump off Laie Point.

On Sunday, Kahuku High’s Kesi Ah-Hoy made a symbolic plunge, accepting a scholarship offer from the University of Hawaii football team. Ah-Hoy will put his pledge in writing on Feb. 1, the first day 2017 recruits may sign national letters of intent.

“Hawaii just fits,” Ah-Hoy said.

Ah-Hoy, who is 6 feet and 205 pounds, was a running back and wildcat quarterback during his first three seasons at Kahuku. He was named to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s 2015 all-state first team as an offensive utility player. This season, he played safety.

“Our team needed a safety so I accepted the challenge,” Ah-Hoy said. “I wanted to join the dark side.”

Prior to that switch, he had not played defensive back since intermediate school.

“It was a bit of an adjustment,” Ah-Hoy said. “But our coaches are so good, they showed me simple basics.”

Ah-Hoy is projected to play a hybrid position with the Rainbow Warriors. “I can kind of play safety and linebacker at the same time,” Ah-Hoy said.

Ah-Hoy had received scholarship offers from Oregon State and Brigham Young. But he confirmed his UH decision following an official recruiting trip that ended Sunday morning.

“All I’ve got to say is we ate a lot,” Ah-Hoy said. “I ate at a lot of places I’ve never been to. I like to stay on my side of the taro. I don’t really come to Waikiki a lot. It was a good experience. It was like I was a tourist.”

But Ah-Hoy said he felt at home on the Manoa campus. “I really like the coaches,” Ah-Hoy said. “I like Coach (Nick) Rolovich. He’s really down to earth.”

Ah-Hoy said Hawaii was “best for his future.” He said he plans to live here after he graduates from college.

Ah-Hoy was born in Kahuku Hospital, and then lived in Hauula and Laie. He said he began playing organized football in the sixth grade.

“What made me start?” he said. “It’s Kahuku. That’s what everybody’s into. Every kid is bound to play football at Kahuku. We’ve had so many great players before, you just want to be like them.”

One of those role models is his cousin, Al Afalava, a Kahuku graduate who was drafted by the Chicago Bears and also played for the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans.