Ideal team leaders are real, strong, and inspirational. They show up, they get the job done, and they make good decisions.

Real: They are consistent in their actions--you can count on them to take charge and you can feel their presence.

Strong: They are confident, open, receptive and expanding: they want to learn, improve their skills, and accept new challenges.

Inspirational: They have heart--they have passion for the game; they play with fire; and they create excitement and make big plays. 

Show Up: They are focused and committed--they know what they need to do and they do it; they keep the dream alive and being around them feels good.

Get the Job Done: They are competitive and they execute--they set the standard for hard work; they manage their downtime and give their best effort every moment.

Make Good Decisions: They do the inner work, establish a healthy lifestyle, and they debrief regularly--they reflect on creating good outcomes; they build strength; and learn from everything they do.

Vai Notoa #30

The outline above could easily have been written for Vai Notoa.  Vai is the ideal team leader for the Islanders.  In his second season, he has earned the respect of everyone in the organization through hard work and outstanding play.

Vai is a "Laie Boy" and another in a long line of great running backs from Kahuku.  At 6 foot 270 pounds, he is thick and very agile.  As a FB/LB he runs with speed and strength, and he hits with power and authority.  As a player, he is fueled by his passion for the game.  As a person, he is devoted to his family and inspired by his faith in the teachings of the Mormon Church.   

I met recently with Vai to discuss his role as the leader.  We sat on the beach at Hukilau Park, surrounded by his wife Niusina, their five children ranging in age from 3 to 10 and several cousins and friends. 

Vai on being the leader:  Early in our conversation, I discovered that his humility would not let him take credit for being the team leader.  “The guys on our team are all grown up, we all have very different backgrounds but we know what we have to do to play well.  We fool around in practice but when the game starts, we are focused, we have bonded as a team, and we have become family.  We all have one goal in common… we just want to keep playing this game.”

Vai on home:  Looking out at the Ocean and using his hands to include all of his family, Vai said, “This is home, this is family.  I’m comfortable here, and I want my kids to grow up here.  I just want to get away to play at the next level.  This will always be my home.”

Vai on family: “My wife is the best thing that ever happened to me.  We have been together since I was in the eight grade and she was a freshman.  Niusina is pregnant, expecting our 6th child in December.  Born and raised in Kahuku, she understands the importance of football and supports me in reaching my highest level.”

Vai on football: “I was born in Samoa; I came to Laie in 1986 when I was 9 years old.  I didn’t speak a word of English.  I attended Hauula Elementary and then Kahuku Intermediate.  I started playing football in the 10th grade.  My idols were Mark Atuaia and Itula Mili, they led and I followed.  They taught me how to be a player.  I feel like this is my mission (football), I will do anything to keep running with the football.”

Vai on college: “I was a Prop 48 candidate at UH.  I attended classes for two weeks and quickly found out that going to school so that I could eventually play football wasn’t for me.  Niusina and I moved to California to live with family so I could walk-on at the College of the Sequoias.  We already had two children.  I played for two seasons before we came home to Laie to raise our family.  We had four children by then.”

Vai on playing for the Islanders: “I’m grateful to Coach Cal and the Islanders Organization for giving me the opportunity to play football again.  Playing for this team has been a dream come true.  I came back this season determined to be the ‘guy’ and I’m grateful that I’ve been given the chance to run with the ball and play as much I have.” 

Vai on training: “In the off season, I gained 20 pounds by training in my friend’s home-made gym and running on the beach.  I was inspired by Zeus’s (White) success at playing large.  I figured the extra weight would improve my performance and help get me a shot.”  At the beginning of the season, Vai weighed 270, after a 22 week season, he weighs 268 pounds… a real credit to his training regimen and his present level of fitness.

Vai on work: “I maintain the grounds of the Laie Shopping Center.  At times, I work in the day and sometimes like now (he smiles) I work at night.  My challenge is to balance work, sleep, practice, training and spending time with my family. I use some of the time at work to set my focus.  I’ll be doing something routine like painting, and I get myself real calm, and then I go over my assignments on certain plays or see myself running with the ball or making the tackle.  It seems to help keep me focused during a game.” Indeed it does!

Chauncey Ako #24: “I can’t say enough about him, Vai is a true leader on and off the field, he out works everyone, he plays with incredible heart and he is dedicated to everything he does. I love him like a brother.”

Kealii Aguiar #55: “Vai is as steady as they come.  He is always ready to practice or play.  Quiet and laid back… he lets his actions on the field do the talking. Just the kind of leader we need.”

Niusina Notoa: "When Vai was playing football in college lots of people questioned the logic of playing when you have four kids.  I told him to forget about it… and play, hey, they don’t have our bills; we will work it out.  Supporting Vai has always been easy, plus if I was as passionate about doing something as he is about playing football he would support me!”

Darren Hernandez , Defensive Line and Linebackers Coach:  “What I admire most about Vai is his ability to lead by example.  He is quiet and unassuming, and yet he carries himself with so much dignity and he has such high standards of integrity.  The other players look up to him because of who he is and what he represents. His dedication to football is complete, and his work ethic is un-matched… he is always in great shape.  Vai is the product of hard work.”

Summary: Vai has become a very good player and a fine leader.  My sense is that he has always been a really good guy. To see him interact with his wife and children and friends, is to experience the compassion and fun that makes him such a good husband, father and friend.  And those qualities serve him and his team well as he leads the Islanders.