But with big money comes big expectations.

These days, it might be easier for Tagovailoa to avoid a dominating pass rush than escape his skeptics. “Can he stay healthy?” (Tagovailoa has missed games due to injury in four of his five NFL seasons.) “Is he the right QB for the team?” (He has yet to lead the Dolphins to a playoff win.) And, ultimately, “Is he worth the money?” (If the Dolphins wind up having buyer’s remorse, they could cut ties with Tagovailoa either via trade or by releasing him outright.)

Meanwhile, Tagovailoa’s predecessor at Saint Louis, Marcus Mariota, has embraced his role with the Washington Commanders, serving as the team’s top backup QB and a mentor to rising star Jayden Daniels, who is in his second NFL season this year. Mariota will make $8 million with the Commanders in 2025. Less money, less scrutiny.

“I’m just kind of having fun with it, rolling with the punches,” he told Spectrum News in early July. “Whatever comes, if they need me, I’m ready to play. Otherwise, I’m here for [Daniels], just making sure he’s playing to the best of his ability.”

Here is our list of best-paid athletes with Hawaiʻi ties and their 2025 salaries. Our primary source is Spotrac.com, a website that tracks the contracts of athletes in major professional sports leagues. This year’s list includes former Kahuku High School star Tolu Smith, who in April became only the second Hawaiʻi high school graduate to play an NBA game. The first was Hilo High’s Ephraim “Red” Rocha, who last played in the league in 1957.

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS

Allisen Corpuz has yet to win an LPGA Tour event in 2025, but the Honolulu native and Punahou School graduate has still pocketed $474,835 through 15 starts so far. The 27-year-old has posted two Top 10 finishes, including a third-place result at the Ford Championship in March that earned her $150,372.

As individual performances go, however, Waiʻanae’s Max Holloway is the big winner. The UFC lightweight has fought just once this year, but his unanimous decision win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 earned him $1.54 million. Since his UFC debut in 2012, the 33-year-old striker has earned an estimated $6.2 million in fight payouts.

1. TUA TAGOVAILOA

QUARTERBACK, MIAMI DOLPHINS
ʻEwa Beach, Saint Louis School
2025 SALARY: $50,296,000*
FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT (2025-2028): $212.4 MILLION
**INCLUDES $25 MILLION SIGNING BONUS AND $250,000 WORKOUT BONUS**

2. DEFOREST BUCKNER

DEFENSIVE TACKLE, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Wai‘anae, Punahou School
2025 SALARY: $23 MILLION*
TWO-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION (2025-2026): $46 MILLION 
*INCLUDES $10 MILLION ROSTER BONUS

3. TETAIROA MCMILLAN

WIDE RECEIVER, CAROLINA PANTHERS 
Waimānalo 
2025 SALARY: $17,793,012*
FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT (2025-2028): $27,930,390 
WAS SELECTED 8TH OVERALL IN THE 2025 NFL DRAFT 
*INCLUDES $16,953,012 SIGNING BONUS

4. KIRBY YATES

RELIEF PITCHER, LOS ANGELES DODGERS 
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i High School 
2025 SALARY: $13 MILLION 
ONE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025): $13 MILLION

5. MARCUS MARIOTA

QUARTERBACK, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 
Honolulu, Saint Louis School 
2025 SALARY: $8 MILLION* 
ONE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025): $8 MILLION 
*INCLUDES $5.5 MILLION SIGNING BONUS AND $100,000 WORKOUT BONUS

6. ISAAC SEUMALO

GUARD, PITTSBURGH STEELERS 
Born in Honolulu 
2025 SALARY: $7,875,000* 
THREE-YEAR CONTRACT (2023-2025): $24 MILLION 
*INCLUDES $1 MILLION ROSTER BONUS

7. ISIAH KINER-FALEFA

INFIELDER, PITTSBURGH PIRATES 
Honolulu, Mid-Pacific Institute 
2025 SALARY: $7.5 MILLION 
TWO-YEAR CONTRACT (2024-2025): $15 MILLION

8. JONAH SAVAIINAEA

GUARD, MIAMI DOLPHINS
Saint Louis School
2025 SALARY: $5,714,528* 
Details: Four-year contract: (2025-2028): $11,322,475

9. KA‘IMI FAIRBAIRN

PLACEKICKER, HOUSTON TEXANS 
Kailua, Punahou School 
2025 SALARY: $4.73 MILLION 
THREE-YEAR CONTRACT (2024-2026): $15.9 MILLION

10. ALOHI GILMAN

SAFETY, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 
Lā‘ie, Kahuku High School 
2025 SALARY: $4.5 MILLION* 
TW0-YEAR CONTRACT (2024- 2025): $10,125,000 
*INCLUDES $1 MILLION ROSTER BONUS

11. JOSH ROJAS

SHORTSTOP, CHICAGO WHITE SOX 
University of Hawai‘i 
2025 SALARY: $3.5 MILLION 
ONE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025): $3.5 MILLION

12. RIGOBERTO SANCHEZ

PUNTER, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 
University of Hawai‘i 
2025 SALARY: $2.5 MILLION 
THREE-YEAR CONTRACT (2024-2026): $7.5 MILLION

13. DILLON GABRIEL

QUARTERBACK, CLEVELAND BROWNS 
Mililani, Mililani High School 
2025 SALARY: $2,008,232* 
FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT (2025-2028): $6,226,322 
*INCLUDES $1,168,232 SIGNING BONUS

14. JAHLANI TAVAI

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 
University of Hawai‘i 
2025 SALARY: $1.75 MILLION* 
THREE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025-2027): $16 MILLION 
*INCLUDES $250,000 WORKOUT BONUS

15. JAMIN DAVIS

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER, NEW YORK JETS 
Born in Honolulu 
2025 SALARY: $1,337,500 
ONE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025): $1,337

16. NETANE MUTI

GUARD, DETROIT LIONS
Leilehua High School
2025 SALARY: $1.1 MILLION
ONE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025): $1.1 MILLION

17. ROMAN WILSON

WIDE RECEIVER, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Kīhei, Saint Louis School
2025 SALARY: $1,056,144
FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT (2024-2027): $5,745,168

18. MARIST LIUFAU

LINEBACKER, DALLAS COWBOYS
Honolulu, Punahou School
2025 SALARY: $1,053,705
FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT (2024-2027): $5,691,514

19. NICK HERBIG

LINEBACKER, PITTSBURGH STEELERS 
Kalāheo (Kaua‘i), Saint Louis School 
2025 SALARY: $1.03 MILLION
FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT (2023-2026): $4,512,920

20. ANDREI IOSIVAS

WIDE RECEIVER, CINCINNATI BENGALS
Honolulu, Punahou School
2025 SALARY: $1.03 MILLION 
FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT (2023-2026): $3,999,384

21. KANA‘I MAUGA

INSIDE LINEBACKER, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Wai‘anae, Wai‘anae High School
2025 SALARY: $1.03 MILLION
ONE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025): $1.03 MILLION

22. TOLU SMITH

POWER FORWARD, DETROIT PISTONS 
Kahuku High School
2025-26 SALARY: $977,689
TWO-YEAR CONTRACT (2025-2026): $1,303,554

23. JONAH LAULU

DEFENSIVE TACKLE, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS 
University of Hawai‘i
2025 SALARY: $960,000 
FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT (2024-2027): $4,124,520

24. DARIUS MUASAU

LINEBACKER, NEW YORK GIANTS
Mililani High School, UH
2025 SALARY: $960,000 
FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT (2024-2027): $4,220,912

25. TREVEN MA‘AE

DEFENSIVE TACKLE, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Kapolei
2025 SALARY: $865,000*
THREE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025-2027): $2.99 MILLION
*INCLUDES $25,000 SIGNING BONUS

26. BEN SCOTT

CENTER, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Honolulu, Saint Louis School
2025 SALARY: $855,000*
THREE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025-2027): $2.98 MILLION
*INCLUDES $15,000 SIGNING BONUS

27. KOHL LEVAO

GUARD, NEW YORK JETS 
University of Hawai‘i 
2025 SALARY: $840,000 
ONE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025): $840,000

28. LUKE FELIX-FUALALO

OFFENSIVE TACKLE, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 
University of Hawai‘i 
2025 SALARY: $840,000
THREE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025-2027): $2,965,000

29. JORDAN MURRAY

TIGHT END, CHICAGO BEARS 
University of Hawai‘i 
2025 SALARY: $840,000 
ONE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025): $840,000

30. CADE SMITH

RELIEF PITCHER, CLEVELAND GUARDIANS 
University of Hawai‘i 
2025 SALARY: $785,100
ONE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025): $785,100

31. JOEY CANTILLO

PITCHER, CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Honolulu, Kailua High School
2025 SALARY: $762,800
ONE-YEAR CONTRACT (2025): $762,800

Editor’s Note: The following football players have been cut from their NFL teams:

Jamin Davis (cut by Commanders and N.Y. Jets)
Netane Muti (cut by Lions)
Kana’i Mauga (cut by Raiders)
Treven Ma’ael (cut by Raiders)
Ben Scott (cut by Buccaneers)
Kohl Levao (cut by Jets)
Luke Felix-Fualalo (cut by Seahawks)
Jordan Murray (cut by Bears)

UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE

While the UFL does not release individual player salaries, the minimum salary for the 2025 season, which ran from March to June, was $62,005. That minimum will increase to $64,000 in 2026. Alphabetically, here are UFL players with Hawai’i ties:

BRADLEE ANAE

LINEBACKER, BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS
Lā‘ie, Kahuku High School

DAE DAE HUNTER

RUNNING BACK, ARLINGTON RENEGADES 
University of Hawai‘i 

JORDAN TA‘AMU

QUARTERBACK, DC DEFENDERS 
Pearl City, Pearl City High School

CHEVAN CORDEIRO

QUARTERBACK, ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS
Honolulu, Saint Louis School, University of Hawai‘i

Dan Quinn has enjoyed remarkable success and suffered heartbreaking defeats during 23 years as an NFL coach.

The part-time Hawai‘i resident is now starting his second season as head coach of the Washington Commanders after an impressive first season there: His team won 14 games in 2024 following a 4-13 finish the year before.

The NFL Players Association surveys players each year and its latest report card names Quinn the highest-ranked head coach in the league based on player feedback. He received a perfect score on efficiency – how effectively he uses his players’ time – and the top score for receptiveness to feedback.

I interviewed Quinn to learn how he leads, why he changed part of his coaching style four years ago, how being vulnerable can be a virtue and much more. Here is a condensed version of our conversation.

In the players union’s annual survey, your players said you are very receptive to their suggestions. How do you effectively listen and act on what you hear?

You have to provide spaces for them to communicate with you. I’ve been in the NFL since 2001, and I’ve learned as much from players as I have from other coaches.

What are you learning from them?

All of it, including a lot of tactics, because what may work really well for one person may not work as well for the next. You learn something different from each. [A player suggests something, and I] might say, “Let’s give that a shot. I think that could work.” That’s part of listening, as a leader, to make sure you say, “That’s a good thought.” It may work this week, or maybe we’ll keep working that for a while and try it a few weeks down the road. But having the space to communicate with players is important.

That sounds like you’re not always following what they say.

Definitely not. And I don’t think they would want that either. [There’s] not a lot of discussion during the game – then it’s about the execution. But leading up to that is for exploring and being curious about other ideas. But on game day, that’s not the time to try something for the first time.

How do you ensure you’re listening to every key person, not just the extroverts and loudest voices?

Part of listening has to come from the assistant coaches. I know I’ve done a good job when I hear something coming back from a player that I said only to the assistant coaches in a meeting. I think to myself, “That coach did a good job of passing the message of what we want to do.”

Another part of listening is getting to know the man before the ballplayer. Maybe who they’re playing for: “It’s for money.” “It’s for my child.” “I love competing.” If you can find out the why and you know the man, it makes a big difference, because then you know what they’re fighting for. It takes a while. It doesn’t happen in one week. Some players take longer to get to know.

When you came to Washington, you added some players who had played for you in the past, on other teams. Why was that important?

Yeah, sometimes [they’re] people who can see around the corners or be in the rooms that you’re not. They understand [and explain to the other players], “Here’s what Dan’s trying to say,” or “Here’s what he means,” because then it’s not just one voice of leadership, it’s multiple.

Early in my career, I thought leadership was me. How do I lead them? As I got further along, I realized it’s really as much about developing the leadership in others and bringing it out of them. Now, leadership is about them, what they stand for. That’s been a big shift for me.

I have to be the voice of direction, and at times be the hammer. I also know I have to develop the next group of leaders.

Using players’ time effectively is key for any NFL coach, and the players survey suggests you do that especially well. What are your guiding thoughts?

Players make a lot of sacrifices. Their families make a lot of sacrifices too. So I want to make sure that on their breaks, they get away from football and find their own balance, and that the times when they are away from their families are productive and meaningful. The times we’re together are really intense – all their focus, all their energy and intensity.

We have families come for Saturday morning walk-through practices before Sunday home games. It’s a way for the families of players and coaches to connect. A food truck or ice cream truck comes after practice. There’s nothing like it: 100 kids on the field together, yelling and full of energy, and kind of growing up together.

When you assess players for a football team, their physical characteristics are most important. What else do you value?

First and foremost, what’s behind the rib cage? Why is playing here, competing for us, so important? Is this person really committed to doing it?

The other thing I want to find out is what kind of resilience they have. Most people, whether it’s in football or in life, they’re going to go through things, so they better have some resiliency. So finding out what they’ve been doing, where they’re at, how they’ve dealt with that – I think that’s a pretty good indicator of how they’re going to respond when it gets hard. Because let’s face it, whether it’s in sports or business or in life, there’s going to be hard moments, and how you’re going to respond and react and behave in those moments tells a lot about the type of teammate you are and [whether you] can be counted on.

But even resilient people can get discouraged by hard times. How do you help pull people out of that?

It’s customized per person. The youngest players may need to hear, “You can do it. You belong in this league.” Assuring them you have their back, you have a vision for what they can do, even if they can’t see it. Tell them, “Here are the things you need to keep working on.”

That’s different from a player in the middle of their football career. For that player, it may be, “This time we do this and this, these two things.” And for the older player, maybe this is their last go of it. “Take care of your body because you’ve been playing for a long time.”

It’s being able to respond to what the individual needs at that time. But in the end, the connection between everyone is really what pulls you out, because you’re not going at it alone. Not everybody has the same energy every day: “If you pull me up today, I’ll feed you tomorrow.”

Photo courtesy: Dan Quinn and Washington Commanders

That requires trust in each other. How do you build that trust?

It takes a while and it does require honesty. At times, you must have hard conversations – you don’t have to be a jerk to do it – whether it’s performance-based behavior or whatever. Pro ballplayers have been BSed at some point – you know during recruiting [by colleges], etc, so we need to shoot it straight. “This is what we expect. This is what we need.” And more times than not, I felt they responded best.

If they aren’t aware that they’re not hitting their marks, that’s a real problem. So having the self-awareness, knowing where they’re at and then we can say, “These are the things I think we need to do over the next couple of weeks to fix those things. If you can do those, then I think it’s not going to stay at that space.”

After you were fired as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons midseason in 2020, you did something out of the ordinary: You asked a TV sideline reporter to collect confidential feedback from 30 to 40 people who had worked with you – some were supporters, but others were people you had cut or fired. When you got the anonymous feedback, you focused on the negatives, not the positives. What did you learn and how did you correct those shortcomings?

I followed a format similar to a business 360 review. In Atlanta, I worked for Arthur Blank [owner of the Falcons and co-founder of Home Depot], so I was familiar with what a 360 was in business. I wanted to do it from a football perspective. Questions like, “What went well?” “What could have been done differently?” But it wasn’t just people at the organization; there’s some players from a previous team, coaching staff, front office. I wanted to find out if I had any blind spots, and the purpose behind it was my next lap. In the next shot, I wasn’t going to repeat the same mistakes.

I got the feedback while I was in Hawai‘i, and, wow, it was insightful. I went past the good things quickly down to the bottom. It didn’t matter to me who it came from. In fact, I didn’t want any names attached. Some people called me – “Do you know this is happening?” and [I’d respond,] “Yeah, I want you to answer.”

It was helpful, because going into my next stop, I was able to apply some of those things that I specifically wanted to do better. At the time I was let go, I thought it was the worst thing that could happen professionally – early in a season [after an 0-5 start]. Looking back on it now, it was the best thing, because I don’t know if I would have had the same reflection time had I been let go in January and then started somewhere else soon after. That space, on vacation, although uncomfortable, gave me the time to find out what I could do.

Great leaders often say you don’t learn from success so much as failure.

Yeah, I didn’t want to repeat anything that potentially I could change. But you don’t have to wait until you’re let go or wait for the numbers to fall. You just have to be reflective enough. Even when it’s going good, you can ask: How can it go better?

What was the main thing you learned from that 360?

Like a lot of business leaders, I like solving problems, so I was probably spreading myself too thin. “How can I get the most out of this person?” “I can help with that.” “That’s interesting, I can help with that too.” Before long, I was working harder than I ever had but having fewer results.

So it was important to delegate. [Now it’s,] “This is the project we need to get done. See me on Thursday at 3 o’clock.” That way my focus could be on the really important decisions that we have each week, game plan-wise, team-wise. I really took that feedback to heart. My previous way of doing things came from a good place – of wanting to help – but it wasn’t the right thing to do. Now I want to make sure I keep the main thing at the very front of the line.

Today, the follow-through has become so much more important to me than just the idea. Is it going to be applied? If we have done all the preparation and made the right call, then even if it doesn’t go your way, I can live with the results.

Who are your leadership role models, inside and outside of football?

Mostly coaches that I worked with. My first job in the NFL was for the 49ers, and Steve Mariucci was the head coach. Another was Nick Saban [when he was head coach of the Miami Dolphins], and after that, the Seattle Seahawks with Pete Carroll. Those three guys, all of them were different, but, man, watching them build an organization, getting everyone on the same page – in college, you didn’t have that as much.

By going to those NFL teams, when you walked into the building, everybody knew this is how you do things. And with those three, Mariucci, Saban and Carroll, you felt that players knew it, staff knew it, it really clicked.

Outside football, the NBA has done such a great job of developing players. So I enjoy visiting with NBA coaches, although it’s not schematically the same, there’s a lot you can learn about taking a player from point A to point B and then taking them from being very good to becoming great.

You’re a very open person. What role does vulnerability play in building trust?

Great topic. There has to be vulnerable spots, so others know, “I can count on this person.” They’ve been through an experience that they’ve shared [with staff and players] on why it went well or why it hasn’t.

Being able to help somebody become their very best is what I love about coaching most. First see if we can help the coaches elevate, that helps the players. You can’t ask the players to improve and not ask the coaches to improve.

It takes vulnerability to say, “I’ve screwed this up with a player before. I’m not going to make those same mistakes.” Those things make a big impact. Our time together is short, so make sure you use the time well. If you do that right, it multiplies in the locker room. Then they can start trusting and being vulnerable with the next group of players.

For the people who are not super football fans, please explain how many people you lead?

You have 53 players on the team, 16 on the taxi squad [reserve players], 20 to 25 coaches. There are 90 that come to training camp; you cut the roster down to 53, then you can add practice squad players.

It’s always changing. No team is the same from year to year. There’s a draft [by all NFL teams of college players] and injuries. That’s why I think having a culture and a standard that you must meet as a teammate, as a coach, is really important.

You plan for everything, but things can go wrong. How do you know when it’s time to change the plan?

Early in my career, I thought, “This is how it’s going to go.” Now I’ve become much more accustomed to saying, “Adversity is coming. Things are going to have to change.” So we practice a lot of the situations – being behind, being ahead – so we can react to those each week. Every practice, from training camp through the regular season, will include some of those situations: 8 seconds left, 15 seconds; with a timeout, with no timeout; you’re down two scores, you’re down by one; you’re ahead by one, you’re ahead two. If we do those over and over, those situations in the game will feel normal for everybody. Games are super tight and intense, but the more we’ve done them in practice, we have something to go back on.

The situations don’t come up every week: Sometimes we practice something in September and we don’t do it again until November, but we have done it. I want the players to really feel ready for those spots.

Sometimes on a dry day, I’ll make the football wet – spray it, dunk it in a bucket – so we’re able to play in the rain. Some practices we were under 30 degrees, and the players were not happy, but that’s what January football is like in Washington, D.C.

Last question: How do you handle egos? Your people are getting paid millions of dollars.

It’s not just players; it’s coaches, ownership, all of it. I think it still comes back to the relationships. And if you have a good relationship, [you can say], “Hey, what’s going on? You’re not yourself right now.” And if you’ve built that relationship over time, “I’ve got you.” If you don’t have that, it’s much more difficult.

I’m much more one to go directly at it to say, “Hey man, that doesn’t sound like you. Are you pressing? Are you over-trying here? What’s the cause of this because you’re a great teammate and that doesn’t sound like you.” Those are things that can kill a team.

Pride, performing well, being excellent – love that. But if I feel like it gets in the way of the team, that’s different. So I allow some space. But if I feel like you’re going over the line into it’s more about me, I say, “Hey man, come over here and stand next to me for a while.”

We’re not going to allow one person’s ego to disrupt the team, because we’re playing for something much bigger than ourselves. Once it crosses the line into “It’s more about me,” then [I’ll say,] “If you’re not going to get back on board with the program, then next week you’re going to sit over there.”

Beginnings: Diana Bertsch now oversees the very races she once watched from the sidelines. She says her journey from passionate spectator to event leader speaks to her love of the Ironman triathlon and what it stands for.

In 1990, Bertsch was vacationing on Hawai‘i Island. On the final day of her stay, she woke early and made her way to the Kailua-Kona seawall to watch as Ironman contestants splashed into the ocean on the first leg of the grueling three-part competition. And she promised herself, “I’m going to do this one day.”

Two years later, she moved to the island to work on that goal.

“I’d always been so passionate about Ironman and just how it changes lives and how this community … gives to make this event possible.”

She volunteered for the event in all kinds of capacities for three years, then participated in a qualifying race, where she earned a coveted spot in the Ironman World Championship.

A few years later, she joined the Ironman organization, at the urging of its race director. Then in 2003, after three years working for Kona resorts, she became the Ironman race director herself. Today, she’s the Ironman’s senior VP of world championship events.

“Each year, we’ve worked to be better than the year before, to grow the success of the event, and to continue expanding on what’s made us our most successful. And that all starts with the foundation of who we are – Hawai‘i,” Bertsch says. “It starts with our culture and the people who have always believed in the event to make it possible.”

Lucy Charles-Barclay won the 2023 Ironman Championship in Kona. Below, the finish line in Kailua-Kona | Photo courtesy: Ironman

Then and Now: The event began on O‘ahu in 1978 with just 15 athletes; it moved to Kona in 1981. In a typical year, 94,000 athletes from around the world participate in Ironman World Championship qualifying events. The organization manages 40 such events worldwide.

Since 2023, the annual Ironman World Championship competitions for men and women have been held separately: in Kona during October and Nice, France, during September. Last year, the men competed in Kona; this year, it’s the women’s turn in Kona. Organizers expect the 2025 Kona triathlon will have 2,500 competitors, 5,500 volunteers and 11,000 spectators, in addition to exhibitors, medical support, media members and staff.

Men and women follow the same three-part course in Kona: a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike course and 26.2-mile marathon.

“The spirit of Ironman is the spirit of Hawai‘i,” says Bertsch. “To me, it’s about never losing sight of the beauty of what Hawai‘i has given us – the culture and everything that’s come with it. The most important thing we can do when we plan a new year is never forget where we came from.”

The start of the triathlon: the 2.4-mile ocean swim | Photo courtesy: Ironman

Fulfillment: “I thrive on planning, execution and attention to detail. When everything comes together with the team, that’s where the reward lies. Events are stressful, but incredibly rewarding,” she says.

“I have the greatest team in the world, and we have this incredible community that supports us. Our 5,000-plus volunteers play a critical role in making it all happen.”

The Hawai‘i Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open, presented by HMSA, will feature over 33 indoor courts, tournaments for players of various ages and playing levels, corporate team challenges, and a competitive ProAm tournament with prize money.

The event will also include free pickleball clinics, exhibitions and an expansive expo.

“By providing pickleball players and enthusiasts with a premier venue to play, we’ll be able to attract players from around the state and world to compete in this rapidly growing sport,” says Matt Apana, GM of ESPN Honolulu. “Our goal is to grow this into a world-class pickleball event for both participants and spectators to enjoy.”

The event is supported by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and is intended to be an annual destination event. Tournament partners include the O‘ahu Pickleball Association, Pickleball Japan and tournament management company Pickleball is Great.

A portion of proceeds from the event will support Hui Mahi‘ai ‘Āina, a nonprofit that provides resources, education, and opportunities for self-sufficiency for the houseless population in Waimānalo and others in need.

“Staying active provides so many benefits for our health and well-being, from reducing the risks of chronic health conditions to improving mental health and enhancing overall quality of life,” says Ray Vara, president and CEO of Hawai‘i Pacific Health. “Pickleball is a great way for people of all ages and athletic abilities to stay active and have fun.”

ESPN Honolulu also launched a new pickleball program airing on Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m., on 92.7 FM and 1420 AM, hosted by Chris Hart. The first show aired Jan. 29.

Visit honoluluopen.com for more information or to register.

Team leaders have said they are committed to him for the long haul, but the two sides (as of press time) have yet to reach agreement. Tagovailoa has said he expects to be paid his market value, which likely means something comparable to the four-year, $212-million contract recently signed by the Detroit Lions’ QB Jared Goff.

Even if a new deal is not reached, Tagovailoa still tops Hawaii Business Magazine’s 2024 list of Hawai‘i’s highest-paid professional athletes – and he will earn the highest annual salary ever for a Hawai‘i athlete.

As a reminder that the window of opportunity for even top athletes is brief, consider Kolten Wong. The former UH baseball standout and two-time Gold Glove winner, who turns 34 on Oct. 10, ranked third on our 2023 survey of Hawai‘i athletes with a salary of $10 million. Today, Wong is out of the major leagues.

Here is our list of athletes with Hawai‘i ties and their 2024 salaries. We list their hometowns and schools if they are in Hawai‘i. Our primary source is Spotrac.com, a website that tracks the contracts of athletes in the major professional sports leagues.

1. Tua Tagovailoa

Quarterback, Miami Dolphins
‘Ewa Beach, Saint Louis School
2024 Salary: $23,171,000
Details: Team exercised fifth-year option on his rookie contract signed in 2020.

2. Deforest Buckner

Defensive Tackle, Indianapolis Colts
Wai‘anae, Punahou School
2024 Salary: $20.25 million*
Details: Part of a four-year, $84-million contract signed in 2021. In April 2024, he signed a two-year extension totaling $46 million
*Includes an $18-million signing bonus

3. Isaac Suemalo

Guard, Pittsburgh Steelers
Born in Honolulu
2024 Salary: $7,875,000
Details: Three-year contract (2023-2025): $24 million

4. Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Shortstop, Toronto Blue Jays
Honolulu, Mid-Pacific Institute
2024 Salary: $7.5 MILLION
Details: Two-year contract (2024-2025): $15 million

5. Ka‘imi Fairbairn

Placekicker, Houston Texans
Kailua, Punahou School
2024 Salary: $6.33 million*
Details: Three-year contract (2024-2026): $15.9 million
*Includes $4.3-million signing bonus

6. Marcus Mariota

Quarterback, Washington Commanders
Honolulu, Saint Louis School
2024 Salary: $6 million*
Details: One-year contract
*Includes a $3-million signing bonus

7. Alohi Gilman

Safety, Los Angeles Chargers
Lā‘ie, Kahuku H.S.
2024 Salary: $5,625,000*
Details: Two-year contract (2024-2025): $10,125,000
*Includes a $4.5-million signing bonus

8. Kirby Yates

Relief Pitcher, Texas Rangers
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i H.S.
2024 Salary: $4.5 million
Details: One-year contract

9. Nate Herbig

Guard, Pittsburgh Steelers
Līhu‘e, Saint Louis School
2024 Salary: $4 million
Details: Two-year contract (2023-2024): $8 million

10. Josh Rojas

Third Baseman, Seattle Mariners
UH
2024 Salary: $3.1 million
Details: One-year contract

11. Jahlani Tavai

Linebacker, New England Patriots
UH
2024 Salary: $2,875,000*
Details: Three-year contract (2022-2024): $4.4 million
*Includes a $510,000 roster bonus, $100,000 workout bonus and $1-million incentives bonus

12. Jamin Davis

Linebacker, Washington Commanders
Born in Honolulu
2024 Salary: $2,541,024
Details: Four-year contract (2021-2024): $13,794,176

13. Rigoberto Sanchez

Punter, Indianapolis Colts
UH
2024 Salary: $2.5 million*
Details: Three-year contract (2024-2026): $7.5 million
*Includes $1.25-million roster bonus

14. Roman Wilson

Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kīhei, Saint Louis School
2024 Salary: $1,793,304*
Details: Four-year contract (2024-2027): $5,745,168
*Includes a $998,304 signing bonus

15. Marist Liufau

Linebacker, Dallas Cowboys
Honolulu, Punahou School
2024 Salary: $1,754,284*
Details: Four-year contract (2024-2027): $5,691,514
*Includes a $959,284 signing bonus

16. Kamu Grugier-Hill

Linebacker, Minnesota Vikings
Honolulu, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama
2024 Salary: $1,377,500*
Details: One-year contract
*Includes $142,500 signing bonus

17. Netane Muti

Guard, Detroit Lions
Leilehua H.S.
2024 Salary: $1,055,000
Details: One-year contract

18. Breiden Fehoko

Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers
Honolulu, Farrington H.S.
2024 Salary: $1,055,000
Details: One-year contract

19. Darius Muasau

Linebacker, New York Giants
Mililani H.S., UH
2024 Salary: $995,912*
Details: Four-year contract (2024-2027): $4,220,912
*Includes a $200,912 signing bonus

20. Bradlee Anae

Defensive End, Atlanta Falcons
Lā‘ie, Kahuku H.S.
2024 Salary: $985,000
Details: One-year contract

21. Nick Herbig

Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kalaheo (Kaua‘i), Saint Louis School
2024 Salary: $915,000
Details: Four-year contract (2023-2026): $4,512,920

22. Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu

Tackle, Baltimore Ravens
Kea‘au H.S.
2024 Salary: $915,000
Details: Four-year contract (2023-2026) $4,013,192

23. Andrei Iosivas

Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals
Honolulu, Punahou School
2024 Salary: $915,000
Details: Four-year contract (2023-2026): $3,999,384

24. Kana‘i Mauga

Linebacker, Las Vegas Raiders
Wai‘anae, Wai‘anae H.S.
2024 Salary: $915,000
Details: One-year contract

25. Jonah Laulu

Defensive Tackle, Indianapolis Colts
UH
2024 Salary: $899,520*
Details: Four-year contract (2024-2027): $4,124,520
*Includes a $104,520 signing bonus

26. Jordan Murray

Tight End, Indianapolis Colts
UH
2024 Salary: $795,000
Details: One-year contract

27. Cade Smith

Pitcher, Cleveland Guardians
UH
2024 Salary: $740,000
Details: One-year contract

United Football League

In late 2023, the United States Football League and XFL merged to form the United Football League. Co-owned by one-time Hawai‘i resident Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (McKinley H.S.), the eight-team league debuted in March 2024, with each team playing 10 regular-season games and the top four teams advancing to the playoffs.

While the UFL does not release individual player salaries, the stated goal is to pay players equally, regardless of position. Minimum salaries are $5,500 per week ($2,500 for inactive players), plus additional money for housing $400 per week), training camp ($850 per week). There are also performance bonuses. (For example, former UH offensive lineman Kohl Levao received $2,500 for earning All-UFL Team honors.)

Here are UFL players with Hawai‘i ties:

1. Dae Dae Hunter

Running Back, Arlington Renegades
UH

2. Kohl Levao

Guard, San Antonio Brahmas
UH

3. Jordan Ta‘amu

Quarterback, DC Defenders
Pearl City, Pearl City H.S.

4. Mika Tafua

Defensive End, Michigan Panthers
Lā‘ie, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama

5. Calvin Turner

Wide Receiver, San Antonio Brahmas
UH

LPGA

1. Allisen Corpuz

Pro Golfer, LPGA Tour
Honolulu, Punahou School
Earnings so far in 2024: $167,383

Want another example of how sports salaries have changed? Jay Berwanger, the first recipient of the Heisman Trophy, was also the first pick in the inaugural NFL Draft in 1936. When the Chicago Bears balked at his salary demand – $15,000 per season – Berwanger abandoned his pro football career and took a job at a rubber company.

One thing hasn’t changed: While a pro athlete’s first contract is primarily based on potential, everything after that is about results. Mariota, for example, made $20.9 million in that 2019 season. In 2023, after being plagued by injuries and inconsistent play, the nine-year veteran is on his fourth NFL team and will “only” make $5 million as a backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Below is our list of athletes with Hawai‘i ties and their 2023 salaries. Our primary source is Spotrac.com, a website that tracks the contracts of athletes in the major professional sports leagues.

1. Deforest Buckner

Defensive Tackle, Indianapolis Colts
Wai‘anae, Punahou School
2023 Salary: $17.25 million*
Four-year Contract (2021-2024): $84 million
*Includes a $1 million roster bonus and a $2.5 million restructure bonus

2. Kolten Wong

Second Baseman, Seattle Mariners
Hilo, Kamehameha-Hawai‘i, UH
2023 Salary: $10 million
Two-year Contract (2022-2023): $18 million

3. Tua Tagovailoa

Quarterback, Miami Dolphins
‘Ewa Beach, Saint Louis School
2023 Salary: $9,633,094*
Four-year Contract (2020-2023): $30,275,438
*Includes a $4,894,625 signing bonus and $3,728,469 roster bonus

4. Kirby Yates

Relief Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i High
2023 Salary: $6 million
Two-year Contract (2022-2023): $8.25 million

5. Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Shortstop, New York Yankees
Honolulu, Mid-Pacific Institute
2023 Salary: $6 million
One-year Contract: $6 million

6. Ka‘imi Fairbairn

Placekicker, Houston Texans
Kailua, Punahou School
2023 Salary: $5,657,500*
Four Year Contract (2020-2023): $17.65 million
*Includes a $750,000 signing bonus and $1,257,500 restructure bonus

7. Marcus Mariota

Quarterback, Atlanta Falcons
Honolulu, Saint Louis School
2023 Salary: $5 million*
Two-year Contract (2023): $5 million
*Includes a $3,835,000 signing bonus

8. Jamin Davis

Linebacker, Washington Commanders
Born in Honolulu
2023 Salary: $3,762,048*
Four-year Contract (2021-2024): $13,794,176
*Includes a $1,848,032 signing bonus

9. Isaac Suemalo

Guard, Pittsburgh Steelers
Born in Honolulu
2023 Salary: : $3,616,667*
Three-year Contract (2023-2025):$24 million
*Includes a $2,316,667 signing bonus

10. Rigoberto Sanchez

Punter, Indianapolis Colts
UH
2023 Salary: $2.9 million
Four-year Contract (2020-2023): $11.6 million

11. Josh Rojas

Third Baseman, Arizona Diamondbacks
UH
2023 Salary: $2,575,000
One-year Contract (2023): $2,575,000

12. Nate Herbig

Guard, Pittsburgh Steelers
Līhu‘e, Saint Louis School
2023 Salary: $2,540,000*
Two-year Contract (2023-2024): $8 million
*Includes a $1.46-million signing bonus

13. Jahlani Tavai

Linebacker, New England Patriots
UH
2023 Salary: $2,258,333*
Two-year Contract (2022-2023): $4.4 million
*Includes a $283,333 signing bonus, $425,000 roster bonus and $100,000 workout bonus

14. Kamu Grugier-Hill

Linebacker, Carolina Panthers
Honolulu, Kamehameha-Kapālama
2023 Salary: $1,317,500*
One-year Contract (2023): $1,317,500
*Includes a $152,000 signing bonus

15. Marcus Kemp

Wide Receiver, Washington Commanders
UH
2023 Salary: $1,155,000*
One-year Contract (2023): $1,155,000
*Includes a $50,000 signing bonus and $25,000 workout bonus

16. Netane Muti

Guard, Las Vegas Raiders
Leilehua H.S.
2023 Salary: $1,145,000*
One-year Contract (2023): $1,145,000
*Includes a $62,500 signing bonus, $22,500 roster bonus and $50,000 workout bonus

17. Alohi Gilman

Safety, Los Angeles Chargers
Born in Lā‘ie
2023 Salary: $1,056,969*
Four-year Contract (20220-2023): $3,483,204
*Includes a $46,969 signing bonus

18. Breiden Fehoko

Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers
Honolulu, Farrington H.S.
2023 Salary: $940,000
One-year Contract (2023): $940,000

19. Bradlee Anae

Defensive End, New York Jets
Lā‘ie, Kahuku H.S.
2023 Salary: Y: $940,000
One-year Contract (2023): $940,000

20. Nick Herbig

Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kalaheo (Kaua‘i), Saint Louis School
2023 Salary: $918,230*
Four-year Contract (2023-2026): $4,512,920
*Includes a $168,230 signing bonus

21. Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu

Tackle, Baltimore Ravens
Kea‘au H.S.
2023 Salary: $793,298*
Four-year Contract (2023-2026): $4,013,192
*Includes a $43,298 signing bonus

22. Andrei Iosivas

Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals
Honolulu, Punahou School
2023 Salary: $789,846*
Four-year Contract (2023-2026): $3,999,384
*Includes a $39,846 signing bonus

23. Ilm Manning

Tackle, San Francisco 49ers
UH
2023 Salary: : $755,000*
Three-year Contract (2023-2025): $2,710,000
*Includes a $5,000 signing bonus

24. Alama Uluave

Center, Miami Dolphins
Honolulu, Punahou School
2023 Salary: $753,333*
Three-year Contract (2023-2025): $2,507,000 million
*Includes a $3,333 signing bonus

25. Zion Bowens

Wide Receiver, Washington Commanders
UH
2023 Salary: : $750,833*
Three-year Contract (2023-2025): $2,697,500
*Includes an $833 signing bonus

26. Kana‘i Mauga

Linebacker, Las Vegas Raiders
Wai‘anae, Wai‘anae H.S.
2023 Salary: $750,000**
One-year Contract (2023): $750,000
**NFL minimum salary

27. Justus Tavai

Defensive Tackle, New England Patriots
UH
2023 Salary: : $750,000
One-year Contract (2023): $750,000

28. Jordan Murray

Tight End, Houston Texans
UH
2023 Salary: $750,000
One-year Contract (2023): $750,000

29. Rico Garcia

Pitcher, Oakland Athletics
Honolulu, Saint Louis School, Hawai‘i Pacific University
2023 Salary: : $720,000
One-year Contract (2023): $720,000

Winter/Spring Football

The United States Football League (USFL) and XFL each provides a proving ground for players who hope to earn roster spots in the NFL. USFL and XFL players with Hawai‘i ties include:

XFL

1. Jordan Ta‘amu

Quarterback, DC Defenders
Pearl City, Pearl City H.S.
2023 Salary: $74,000

2. Cole Mcdonald

Quarterback, Houston Roughnecks
UH
2023 Salary: $66,000

3. Rojesterman Farris

Cornerback, Seattle Sea Dragons
UH
2023 Salary: $66,000

4. Sama Paama

Defensive Tackle, Seattle Sea Dragons
Waipahu, Kaimukī H.S.
2023 Salary: $66,000

5. Kohl Levao

Guard, San Antonio Brahmas
UH
2023 Salary: $37,000

6. Cedric Byrd

Wide Receiver, Houston Roughnecks
UH
2023 Salary: $27,000

7. Calvin Turner

Running back, San Antonio Brahmas
UH
2023 Salary: $4,000

8. Cortez Davis

Cornerback, DC Defenders
UH
2023 Salary: $3,200

USFL

1. Gene Pryor

Tackle, Michigan Panthers
UH
2023 Salary: $53,500

2. Hercules Mata‘afa

Defensive End, New Jersey Generals
Lahaina, Lahainaluna H.S.
2023 Salary: $53,500

PGA

1. Brent Grant

Pro Golfer, PGA Tour
Moanalua H.S., BYU-Hawaii
Earnings so far in 2023: $361,396

LPGA

1. Allisen Corpuz

Pro Golfer, LPGA Tour
Honolulu, Punahou School
Earnings so far in 2023: $355,778

Beginnings: Ben Devine’s first skydive was at the age of 18. He has since jumped from an airplane about 5,000 times.

“I knew I wanted to skydive from the very first time I found out about it.”

On his 18th birthday, he made his first jump: a tandem one with a group of friends.

He was 23 when his skydiving career officially began. “It took a few years until the timing worked out that I had enough money and time to get certified and get my license.”

Misconceptions: Devine refers to skydiving as a “shortcut to meditation.”

Rather than an adrenaline rush, he says, “People are surprised to hear that it actually happens to have more of a calming effect on you.”

He says that skydiving helps to create a “flow space” where the stresses of everyday life become nonexistent.

“All of the problems sort of melt away when all you’re focused on is the next 60 seconds of falling through the air.”

Dangers: “The desire to push one’s abilities and skills along with a certain margin of error is what exists, especially when you are achieving a velocity of about 158 miles per hour on pretty much every skydive,” he says.

The U.S. Parachute Association says that in 2021, it recorded 10 fatal skydiving accidents nationwide – the lowest annual number on record – a rate of 0.28 fatalities per 100,000 jumps. The USPA recorded 11 fatalities in 2020.

“Statistically speaking, it’s safer than getting on a motorcycle,” Devine says.

Key Skills: Skydivers must be able to gauge the weather. “Definitely being able to intelligently perceive the conditions is important.

“To most people the wind is invisible, but to a skydiver, an aviator or sailboat captain for that matter, being able to see how the wind interacts with the world around you – whether that’s clouds or trees or just how you are moving through the wind – is something that you must learn to do.”

His Family: “The very best thing about my job is the people.” He considers his co-workers as family. “Skydiving is a sport where everyone looks out for each other because safety is certainly a communal enterprise.

“I also enjoy the people I get to meet who come out to do skydives. You meet people when it’s their birthday and they never thought they’d do it before, to people who are maybe going through something in life and want a chance to self-actualize by letting themselves do the impossible.”

Skydiving brings together people from “all walks of life” and from around the world, Devine says, adding, “A plumber could be jumping with a millionaire.”

This interview has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

Former Punahou standout DeForest Buckner heads this year’s list of highest-paid professional athletes with Hawai‘i ties. Now entering his seventh NFL season – his third with the Indianapolis Colts – Buckner owns the second-most lucrative contract for a defensive tackle, behind only Aaron Donald of the reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.

Buckner’s former Buffanblu teammate, Ka‘imi Fairbairn, also ranks high on our list. The Houston Texans placekicker, who led all NFL players in scoring in 2018, sports the eighth-highest contract among kickers.

No fewer than 15 Hawai‘i athletes are scheduled to make $1 million or more in 2022.

Here is our list of athletes with Hawai‘i ties and their 2022 salaries. Our source is Spotrac.com, a website that tracks the contracts of athletes in the major professional sports leagues. Spotrac does not track the earnings of professional surfers and MMA fighters.

1. Deforest Buckner

Defensive Tackle, Indianapolis Colts
Wai‘anae, Punahou School
2022 Salary: $16 million*
Four-year Contract (2021-2024): $84 million
*Includes a $5 million roster bonus

2. Tua Tagovailoa

Quarterback, Miami Dolphins
‘Ewa Beach, Saint Louis School
2022 Salary: $9,633,094*
Four-year Contract (2020-2023): $30,275,438*
Includes a $4,894,625 signing bonus and $2,467,313 roster bonus

3. Kolten Wong

Second Baseman, Milwaukee Brewers
Hilo, Kamehameha-Hawai‘i, UH
2022 Salary: $8.5 million*
Two-year Contract (2021-2022): $18 million
*Includes a $500,000 signing bonus

4. Isaac Suemalo

Offensive Guard, Philadelphia Eagles
Born in Honolulu
2022 Salary: $7,668,000*
Three-year Contract (2020-2022): $15,918,000
*Includes an $800,000 signing bonus

5. Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Shortstop, New York Yankees
Honolulu, Mid-Pacific Institute
2022 Salary: $4.7 million
One-year Contract: $4.7 million

6. Ka‘imi Fairbairn

Placekicker, Houston Texans
Kailua, Punahou School
2022 Salary: $4.3 million*
Four Year Contract (2020-2023): $17.65 million
*Includes a $750,000 signing bonus

7. Marcus Mariota

Quarterback, Atlanta Falcons
Honolulu, Saint Louis School
2022 Salary: $4.25 million*
Two-year Contract (2022-2023): $18.75 million
*Includes $2.5 million sign-ing bonus

8. Kamu Grugier-Hill

Linebacker, Houston Texans
Honolulu, Kamehameha-Kapālama
2022 Salary: $4 million*
One-year Contract:$4 million
*Includes a $1.5 million signing bonus and $411,754 roster bonus

9. Tyson Alualu

Defensive End, Pittsburgh Steelers
Honolulu, Saint Louis School
2022 Salary: $3,462,500*
Two-year Contract (2021-2022): $5.5 million
*Includes a $962,500 signing bonus

10. Jamin DavisLinebacker

Washington Commanders Born in Honolulu
2022 Salary: $3,135,040*
Four-year Contract (2021-2024): $13,794,176
*Includes a $1,848,032 signing bonus

11. Nate Herbig

Offensive Guard, New York Jets
Līhu‘e, Saint Louis School
2022 Salary: $2,433,000
One-year Contract: $2,433,000

12. Rigoberto Sanchez

Punter, Indianapolis Colts
UH
2022 Salary: $2,345,000
Four-year Contract (2020-2023): $11.6 million

13. Kurt Suzuki Catcher

Los Angeles Angels
Wailuku, Baldwin High
2022 Salary: $1.75 million
One-year Contract: $1.75 million

14. Jahlani Tavai

Linebacker, New England Patriots
UH
2022 Salary: $1.22 million*
Two-year Contract (2021-2022): $1,858,886
*Includes a $25,000 signing bonus, $180,000 roster bonus and $50,000 workout bonus

15. Kirby Yates

Relief Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i High
2022 Salary: $1 million
Two-year Contract (2022-2023): $8.25 million

16. Alohi Gilman

Safety, Los Angeles Chargers
Born in Lā‘ie
2022 Salary: $942,051*
Four-year Contract (2020-2023): $3,483,204
*Includes a $47,051 signing bonus

17. Bradlee Anae

Defensive End, New York Jets
Lā‘ie, Kahuku High
2022 Salary: $905,000*
One-year Contract (2022): $905,000
*Includes a $10,000 signing bonus

18. Trayvon Henderson

Safety, Cincinnati Bengals
UH
2022 Salary: $895,000
One-year Contract: $895,000

19. Breiden Fehoko

Defensive Tackle, Los Angeles Chargers
Honolulu, Farrington High
2022 Salary: $825,000
Two-year Contract (2021-2022): $1,485,000

20. Josh Rojas

Outfielder, Arizona Diamondbacks
UH
2022 Salary: $730,900
One-year Contract: $730,900

21. Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa

Defensive Tackle, Las Vegas Raiders
‘Ewa Beach, Kapolei High
2022 Salary: $708,333*
Three-year Contract (2022-2024): $2.57 million
*Includes a $3,333 signing bonus

22. JaredSmartWide

Receiver, Arizona Cardinals
UH
2022 Salary: $705,000
Three-year Contract (2022-2024): $2.56 million

23. Rico Garcia

Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles
Honolulu, Hawai‘i Pacific University
2022 Salary: $700,000
One-year Contract: $700,000

United States Football League

A new version of the USFL was launched in spring 2022. The eight-team league is primarily viewed as a proving ground for players who hope to earn (or regain) roster spots in the NFL. USFL players with Hawai‘i ties include:

1. Jordan Ta‘amu

Quarterback, Tampa Bay Bandits
Pearl City, Pearl City High
2022 Salary: $36,450

2. Nick Rose

Placekicker, New Jersey Generals
Born in Honolulu
2022 Salary: $36,000

3. Kalani Vakameilalo

Defensive Tackle, New Jersey Generals
Kapolei, Kapolei High
2022 Salary: $27,000

4. Jojo WardWide

Receiver, Houston Gamblers
UH
2022 Salary: $23,600

5. Hercules Mata‘afa

Defensive End, New Jersey Generals
Lahaina, Lahainaluna High
2022 Salary: $2,350

“Belay on!” replies the other.

The pair, both equipped with harnesses and red helmets and small bags of chalk attached to their hips, call out their safety cues before ascending the Mokulē‘ia Wall on O‘ahu’s North Shore.

Dozens of people gather at this crag, a permitted rock-climbing area, every week to scale the tall basalt wall. Ropes are looped through permanent bolts at the top of the wall, then tied into the harness of the climber. This style, also known as “top rope” climbing, allows people of all experience levels to safely ascend and descend the rock.

Fearful of lawsuits after deeming it unsafe, the state closed the Mokulē‘ia crag in 2012, says Mike Richardson, founder of Climb Aloha and a leader in Hawai‘i’s climbing community. Richardson says he, Deborah Halbert and Mike Bishop lobbied for two years with the help of Access Fund, a national climbing advocacy group, and got the site reopened.

“I was frustrated that our sport was singled out for closure for two years. There is a misperception that rock climbing is dangerous and that climbers are reckless, when actually the opposite is true,” Richardson says.

Olympic debut in 2021

Climbing has gained popularity in Hawai‘i and around the world in recent years, culminating in the sport’s debut at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In 2018, Climbing Business Journal reported about a 12% increase in the commercial climbing gym industry, marking an especially successful year. That was the year the popular movie “Free Solo,” which later won an Academy Award, depicted the first unroped ascent of Yosemite National Park’s 900-meter El Capitan.

There are two indoor climbing gyms on O‘ahu, including HiClimb, which opened this summer in a former warehouse in Kaka‘ako. Co-owners Devin Tryan and Steven Dauck say all of the gym’s climbing walls were shipped from manufacturers in Utah and Bulgaria, then assembled locally.

Tryan says each wall in the 14,000-square-foot space, about the size of three basketball courts, is named after a Hawaiian monument, such as the Lē‘ahi wall.

A nonprofit called Kānaka Climbers named the walls, says Skye Kolealani Razon-Olds, a founder and board member of the organization.

“HiClimb is the first company I have worked for who has included ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i as a way to encourage conversation, inclusion, while honoring the culture within the space, versus asking to name a product for financial gain,” Razon-Olds says.

She says Native Hawaiians climbed for centuries to reach fishing ponds and burial caves or to perform rituals. She says that climbing pōhaku, or stones, was a tradition passed down to her and it wasn’t until recent years that she learned to enjoy climbing as a sport.

“I think of it as my church. Where other people need to go to a building with four walls, I can go and commune with the pōhaku and with my ancestors,” Razon-Olds says.

How to begin climbing

Richardson says first-time recreational climbers only need a harness, climbing shoes and a chalk bag. Recommended but not required are your own rope, belay device – the tool that keeps your partner safe while they climb – and a few carabiners to clip everything together.

 

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“The most important techniques to learn are safety for outdoor climbing and good belaying. Getting good at the actual climbing skills happens over time and with practice,” Richardson says.

“However, it is a matter of life and death to know right from the beginning how to belay properly and how to set up and evaluate one’s climbing anchors.”

Climb Aloha offers a four-hour course that covers these skills.

Indigenous perspective

The group Kānaka Climbers seeks to educate the outdoor recreation community on ethical access to land, Razon-Olds says. Through conversations and by hosting cleanups, it wants to create an inclusive space to help people understand climbing from an Indigenous perspective.

In March 2020, archaeologists found unpreserved petroglyphs on two large rocks at Town Boulders, a well-known climbing site at Kapena Falls State Park in Nu‘uanu.

The rocks with the petroglyphs are now marked by signs created by community members that prevent hikers and climbers from accidentally destroying the art.

“This is not an effort to ‘gate keep’ or limit climbing access to the community, but an opportunity to educate and preserve ancient Hawaiian history,” Razon-Olds says on the Kānaka Climbers blog.