BERKELEY, Calif. - Which state, other than California, is most represented on Cal's football roster? If you said Hawaii, you are right. Of the 14 out-of-state players on Cal's roster, three are from Hawaii. That represents a concerted effort made by coach Jeff Tedford to target an area rich in football talent. That pipeline had better stay busy in the future if Tedford expects to make Hawaii a regular, successful stop on his recruiting trail.
"My first year here, I felt like I was by myself," said senior defensive end Abu Ma'afala, who sat out the 2004 season after transferring from the University of Hawaii. "Now Mika Kane and Tyson Alualu have come and that has been good. "I can talk pidgin with them and be normal. People aren't making fun of the things I say." Substantial cultural differences make Cal's Hawaiian connection yearn for home. "There are times when you feel like putting all your money in and flying home," said Kane, a sophomore defensive tackle. "I miss my friends and family, and especially my grandma, so much." Following a practice this week at Memorial Stadium, Ma'afala, Kane and Alualu, a freshman defensive tackle, talked about the things they miss from their home.
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