Heritage senior Kahai Umiamaka had already expressed disappointment to his mom that his older brother wouldn’t be able to make it to his game Friday at Kelso.
Kalani Umiamaka, who is three years older, but shares an inseparable bond with Kahai, was scheduled to return home Sunday for the first time since he joined the Air Force in February 2017.
But as the Timberwolves varsity football team gathered for its Thursday team dinner, Kalani pulled off the surprise of a lifetime. With their parents in tow capturing it on video, the former Heritage standout returned days early, walked into the team gathering and almost immediately caught the eye of his little brother, who shot out of his seat for a tearful embrace.
— Asia Scott (@_mrsscott_) September 14, 2018
“Total shock,” Kahai said, describing the moment he saw his brother. “He’s the only guy that can really make me cry my eyes out. When I saw him, he started crying, I started crying. It was just crazy.”
Initially, there were no plans to record the moment until the brothers’ stepdad John Scott urged them to.
As he, his mother, Asia Scott, and John Scott and were driving to Heritage, the moment began to hit Kalani. As they passed the Shari’s on 76th street, a landmark near the high school, he began to tear up. Team dinners the day before each game are a tradition that preceded even Kalani’s time at Heritage.
“It was very overwhelming,” Kalani said. “Once I walked in the room, I spotted him pretty quick. I know where the captains sit. He looked at me in shock for a couple seconds.”
Now Kalani will be in attendance on Friday night to watch his brother, a starting defensive back and receiver for the Timberwolves (2-0) in person.
Kalani had been stationed at the Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, where he worked in security forces for the last two years. He joined the military after deciding against playing football for Southern Oregon University, went to basic training at the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and was assigned to Alabama. From there, he got married, and has taken a lot away from his experience.
“There’s so many things I’ve learned,” Kalani said. “The Air Force treats me well.”
At Heritage, he was a first team all-4A Greater St. Helens League defensive back his senior season and a second team all-league running back as a junior.
The two talk every day, Kahai says, especially during football season.
“He’s my biggest supporter, and he’s also my biggest critic,” Kahai said. “He wants me to do good. My overall goal is to be better than him.”
Kahai hopes to play football in college and tries to emulate his brother in every way — especially on the football field and in the weight room. Kalani said he can tell just by watching film and game replays that Kahai carries himself with more confidence on the field.
“When I first saw him yesterday, I could just see how big he’s gotten,” Kalani said.
Through two games Kahai has eight catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Last week he returned an interception for touchdown that garnered him The Columbian’s fan voted top play of week 2.
For the next three weeks, he’ll be able to look up to the stands and see his older brother, his biggest role model, watching.
“He’s a person I look up to, a lot,” Kahai said. “I want to be as good as him, even better. He’s a role model. He’s also a guy I just love being around.”
Heritage travels up I-5 to take on Kelso Friday in a nonleague game at Kelso High School. For info and notes on the matchup, go here.
