Accolades for Tongans in Polynesian Football Hall of Fame [1]
Monday, February 1, 2016 - 18:56. Updated on Thursday, April 14, 2016 - 15:08.
Photos by Dan K. Aiono Sataraka.
Vai Sikahema and Ronnie Stanley received accolades for their talent and skills in American football at the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend held at the Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, in Oahu, Hawai'i on 29-30 January 2016.
Sikahema inducted to Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
Vai Sikahema, the first Tongan ever to play in American professional football, National Football League (NFL), was inducted to the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame in Oahu, as a member of the class of 2016 in Hawai’i on 29-30 January 2016.
Vai was one of five inductees selected from a list of 25 finalists. Joining him are Charles “Charlie’ Teetai Ane, Jr. (Samoan ancestry), Rockne Crowningburg Freitas (Hawaiian ancestry), Troy Polamalu (Samoan ancestry) and Albert “Al” Lolotai (Samoan ancestry).
Born in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, Vai played football in high school and went on to play for Brigham Young University. He then joined the NFL playing professionally between 1986 – 1993 in eight seasons including two Pro Bowl selections with the St. Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.
He currently works as a well-known television sports and news anchor for an NBC-TV affiliate in Philadelphia.
Polynesian College Football player of the year
Ronnie Stanley was awarded the Polynesian College Football player of the year 2015 for his impressive record playing offensive for the University of Notre Dame. He started in all 10 games and finished the season with a 97.3% pass block success rate. The 6-foot-6 native of Las Vegas, Nevada, is of Tongan descent through his mum Juli Stanley who was born in Tonga.