After growing up in Hawaii before moving to Las Vegas before high school, Bishop Gorman safety Cody DeCambra made a name for himself as a college prospect. get more than 10 offers before signing with the University of Oregon last December.
This week, Decambra is back home to compete in the 2023 Polynesian Bowl, which takes place at Kamehameha’s Kunuikia Stadium. The sixth edition of the game will again feature the best players from the nation and the state of Hawaii.
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“It’s a dream come true. It’s a bowl game I’ve really wanted to be in since I was a little kid,” he said after bowl practice. “It means being back home, being able to play my last game in my home state.”
DeCambra was born on Oahu and raised at Ala Napunani St. near Monalua High School. was raised in He attended St. Elizabeth Elementary School and St. Louis for middle school before moving to Ninth Island with his family.
“I miss home a little bit, miss the weather, miss the beach,” he said.
DeCambra will be joined on team occasion by receiver Trech Kekhuna, who will carry the team corn as per Polynesian Bowl tradition.
A signee from Kekahuna, Wisconsin, who played his senior year for Gorman, spent his first three years of high school football suing for St. Louis.
Kekahuna said, “We always looked forward to playing in this bowl game, so for me to be a part of it, it’s a great blessing from God.” “I’m going to finish it because it’s my last game for high school, so I’m going to have fun with it and enjoy it.
โThe transition was a little tough because the weather and schooling is different from St. Louis but it was a great experience. Bishop Gorman teaches you how to approach college and academically, it was a great experience.
It is a privilege for me to play my last match in front of my family. โฆ It’s nice to play on this new ground that they’ve just built and it should be fun on Friday.
Kekahuna was part of a Gorman squad that last came to Oahu and beat St. Louis 56โ14.
“They weren’t really talking to me during the game because they were focused and I was focused too, but after the game we hung up and it was cool,” Kekahuna said of his former teammates.
Kick-off for the 2023 Polynesian Bowl will be Friday at 4 p.m.
