Johnson-Kuhao Hookano-Pelekai '22 Recruiting Profile

           Aloha, my name is Johnson-Kuhao Nuʻuanu Hoʻokano-Pelekai, my family and friends call me Nuʻuanu, Nuʻu for short. I reside on the island of Oahu in Hawaiʻi. I am the eldest child in my family who consists of three younger siblings. The most important value I hold dear to my heart is my family and my upbringing in my Hawaiian culture. I am self-driven and family motivated to succeed in life. My passion for volleyball is a key tool for me to succeed in my future. 

               It all starts with my ʻOhana. My parents instilled good values in me such as integrity, perseverance, and courage. Being the oldest of three children, I have developed excellent life skills and the ability to be independent. Through my family, I am driven to complete the task at hand to my best ability. My parents are my biggest supporters; they never let me get complacent, always encouraging, and keeping myself humble. I believe this is how a true Hawaiian should live their life. As a young boy, I have always been active in sports. By the age of eight, I narrowed my sports down to football and baseball. By the age of ten, I've had been selected to numerous all-star teams including two trips to Cooperstown, New York. Two years ago, I was looking into a new sport; something different but challenging. This is when I fell in love with volleyball. Since then I have been constantly working on improving my all-around skills. As I’ve learned through my other experiences in sports, there is no substitution for hard work. I firmly believe that hard work is not enough. I've dedicated myself by seeking my strength and conditioning coach on my own time, instilling a jump routine regimen which I usually conduct after practice. It is an eight-week plyometrics workout created by the Lost Breed. I also attend all extra volleyball workouts and clinics outside of my club. I am proud to let you know for the past two years, I've been the starting middle blocker for my Pure Aloha Volleyball team and Kamehameha Kapalama High school. 

My mission on the court is; protect my teammates by dominating the net. I want to block and deter any and all attempts by my opponents. This is what I love most about the sport. As a student-athlete, I want to use my passion for volleyball to reach higher education while still enjoying the game. My short term goal is to achieve a college education through a volleyball scholarship. My life goal is to become a good man and to be able to support myself and someday a family. I plan to major in computer technology. 

Ultimately, I am from a rock in the middle of the pacific, which I believe is the most beautiful place on earth. I want to showcase all it has given me; my pride, determination, and dedication to excellence as I continue to grow as a Hawaiian. 

Mahalo for your review,

Johnson-Kuhao Hookano-Pelekai