He was a high school star in Hawaii. His family moved 4,800 miles to help his college chances.

Sol-Jay Maiava (#9) has his Cadets undefeated and ranked #5 in the Country according to the USA Today.  (Photo by: Matt Seal: MSealPhoto)
Sol-Jay Maiava (#9) has his Cadets undefeated and ranked #5 in the Country according to the USA Today. (Photo by: Matt Seal: MSealPhoto)

Rosemary Maiava-Peters took out her cellphone, opened the Facebook app and started a live stream for family members back in Hawaii. She pointed it in the direction of her eldest son, Sol-Jay Maiava, the home team's starting quarterback.

Sitting on the metal bleachers at St. John's College High School during the last Saturday of August, Rosemary shifted between watching the Cadets' season opener and keeping tabs on her four youngest children, who were busy munching away on Hawaiian snacks. Rosemary's husband Luaao Peters sat beside them, smiling wide as he held a large cutout of Sol-Jay's head.

Suddenly, the piercing voice of the St. John's public address announcer cut through the crowd: "And heeeeeeere come the Cadets! This is the moment we've all been waiting for!"

"Yes it is," Luaao said quietly. 

 

Click HERE to read the rest of the story from The Washington Post.