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Oakie Salave’a transfers to UH — his “home away from home”

Oakie Salave’a
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Oakie Salave’a has taken to Twitter to announce he is transferring to the University of Hawaii.

“Hawaii is Home! I want to thank @CoachTimmyChang and the whole entire UH staff for believing in me to be a part of this Braddahhood. All Glory to God, Jesus 1st Place #NEWCHAP7ER," he tweeted on Saturday.

Salave'a has secured a scholarship release from Colorado, and filled the paperwork needed to complete his transfer to UH. He is expected to join the Rainbow Warriors in June.

According to Honolulu Star-Advertiser sports writer, Stephen Tsai, Salave‘a completed a recruiting visit to UH on Thursday. After consulting with his parents and brother, he opted to join the Warriors.

“When I first got there, I automatically felt the love and braddahhood Coach Timmy (Chang) was talking about,” Salave‘a said in a telephone interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “It just felt like home. I figured out when I got there, it was the spot for me. That’s where the Lord chose me to go. And my parents and brother came to the decision it was the new home for me. It’s closer to home, which makes it feel like a home away from home.”

He was viewed as a defensive back for the Buffaloes, but is projected to compete at receiver or tight end for the Warriors.

“It’s exciting,” Salave‘a said of playing in the Warriors’ newly implemented run-and-shoot offense. “I told Coach Timmy I felt comfortable with the ball in my hands.”

The Tafuna High School graduate from Leone who is 6 feet 2 and 210 pounds, was a standout quarterback and safety at Tafuna High, where his father Okland Salave‘a is the head coach. The elder Salave‘a was a defensive tackle for Colorado.

He said his son is a “difference maker” in football.

“He’s been around the game so long that it seems natural when he plays, it’s fluid,” the elder Salave‘a said. “He’s very talented. I’m not just saying that because he’s my son. He’s a good athlete.”