 I'm Rusty Komori, and this is Beyond the Lines on Think Tech, Hawaii. I was the head coach of the Punahou School Boys Varsity Tennis Team for 22 years, and we were fortunate to win 22 consecutive state championships. This show is based on my books, Beyond the Lines and Beyond the Game, and it's about inspiration, leadership, and creating a superior culture of excellence. My special guest today is one of the star players on the Kahuku football team, who has won three consecutive state championships so far. He is Mana Carvalho, and today we are going beyond state championships. Hey, Mana, welcome to Beyond the Lines. Thank you, Coach Rusty. I mean, blessed to be interviewed here today with you. I'm trying to get to your record of 22 consecutive state championships. Mana, you have been such an incredible player and person, not just on the Kahuku team, but in the Kahuku community and in our Hawaii community. And Mana, you play every play. I mean, in a football game, you're on offense, you're on defense, you're on special teams. Can you share with our viewers all of the different positions that you play? Mainly, I played safety this past year. Also, wide receiver, played a little bit of quarterback and running back. Also, with the punter and the field goal holder. Yeah. And also adding the kick return and pump return. You see, Mana, I mean, it's incredible what you do. I mean, literally, you're on the field for every play. And I love it, because I'm always looking. Where's Mana? Where's that number two? Now, Mana, I want to ask you about Coach Sterling. He's your uncle. And Coach Sterling has really built a culture of excellence with the Kahuku team for some years now. And I want to ask you, if you can describe that culture of excellence that Coach Sterling is trying to instill with you and your teammates. The culture he's installing with us is more than just football, it's more life lessons. Especially starting with when we come into practice, attendance, for me being a leader, we get a position off and get our group and make sure everybody's here. And I mean, if you're not here, then you make consequences for it. Even if it was excused, you still have to make up for your absence. And just having good coaches around us too, culture is, I mean, beyond in just football. No, I love hearing that. And tell me about the accountability, how everyone has to be accountable for their action. Our accountability is basically our team captains. We get a position captains, they get to keep track of who's here and who's not in their position. And if you're not here and it was unexcused, then you'll kind of do more than what people would do if they're excused. But just knowing, like if one of our players were missing one or two days and they come to game day and saying, oh, why am I not playing? There is an example, you weren't here for one or two days. So why would we trust you to go in and work with all these other people who's working every day? Yeah, and Manna, I wanna ask you about the importance of fundamentals. Because for me as a coach, I would always try to instill fundamentals with my team because when the pressure is on, that's what holds up under pressure. You can tell when players or teams have weak fundamentals because when the pressure is on, they falter. What are your thoughts? I mean, fundamentals is everything. We have every day 10 to 15 minutes of EDDs, which is everyday drills, just making sure our techniques are good and we'll have some break time where it's like special teams is out. Everyone will, whoever's not in special teams will go to their position groups and keep working their fundamentals. No, I love it. That's what it's about. And that establishes consistency in performance. And Manna, I wanna ask you about your dad, Coach Stewart. Coach Stewart is the special teams coach. He's absolutely brilliant. He's an exceptional coach. And I wanna ask you, what's the biggest thing that you've learned from your dad? The biggest thing I'll say I learned from my dad was, especially not only being a football player, but who I am to people in the community and outside of the football pads and all the glorious stuff you happen on the field. It's what you are off the field than what you are on the field. Yeah, I love talking with your dad and Coach Sterling. I mean, we get into some really good deep talks. And Manna, Ryan Tanaka donated both of my books to your entire team last year and this past year because this past year, your team, you guys had over half of the team were new players. And Ryan Tanaka's like, they all need the books. What are three things that really stood out to you in the books? I mean, the first one has to be accountability is everything. Because the culture we're built into this program is accountability. Like I said, with taking roll call, being accountable for what you do. And I think the second thing that stood out for me was the four piece, the people you hang around, surround yourself with what you call mentors and then your process. I mean, you can't cheat your process. Everyone doesn't like doing that one because it sometimes take a long time. So that's one of the bigger ones and your purpose, why you're doing what you're doing. And then lastly, your performance. All the process you put in and the work you put in, how are you gonna perform? The last one is make everyone matter. Because we have people on our team that aren't as good as the good guys, but on our team, we make everyone matter. We're in it as one team and we have this thing all in or all out. So it's either you're all in or in the waste. And if you're in the way, then it's kind of a problem to our team. But usually every year we have everyone's all in. Mana, I love hearing those three things that you brought out from the books. I mean, those are so important, it's so impactful. And I was able to come out last year to do a keynote speaking for your team. I came out this past year again to do a keynote speaking. I love your team. I mean, the questions, once I'm done with the speaking and doing a Q and A, I mean, the questions that you guys ask are so insightful. How impactful was it for me to come out? I mean, you guys did the Haka for me as well. I mean, for us, every time it comes to Wednesday and it's a game week, everyone's excited because we have what we call coaches corner. We gotta pick off our coaches brain or whoever the guest speaker is. We just gotta pick off knowledge and get very impactful ideas or whatnot for our future, not only football, but our personal lives. And when you came in, everything was about superior excellence. And that's one of the biggest things that stood out for me because being better than just good or great, just being superior is different compared to other people. Yeah, Noman, I love that you said that. Because for me, I like knowing the players. I mean, I've watched every game that you guys have played on TV, and I was at the state championship game this past year, but I love knowing you and the other players just because, I mean, it's so much more meaningful when I'm able to really talk with you guys and I kinda know you guys now. And do you like conversing with me? Yes, of course, totally. I mean, it's always great to hear from other people, other like sports, especially for me playing four sports last year, which was football, basketball, volleyball and track. Just knowing ideas from outside of football and whatnot. And especially tennis, 22 consecutive championship is crazy to me. So hearing from you is totally an impactful thing for me. And, Manna, last year, you remember when I brought out Super Bowl champion Michael Bennett to have him talk to your team on a coach's corner, and what kind of impact did that have on you and your teammates? Just knowing that other people know of our team, especially like a Super Bowl champion who played with the Seahawks and the Legion of Boom. It's crazy, and it puts a good impact on, okay, we have things to do, we have work that needs to be done, and people are watching. So what are we gonna do to make people proud and excel over just not only the standard, but everyone else's standards, which are kind of crazy. Yeah, no, Michael Bennett, he's the Legion of Boom, and I mean, they've really dominated on defense when they had won that Super Bowl. And I'm really close with Michael because I've been training him in private tennis lessons since he retired from the NFL. So over three years now, and for him, he has that mindset in anything that he does, he wants to be the best. And I can see that in you, I mean, whether you're playing football, basketball, running track, tell me about the mindset that you have. For me, everything is considered competitive, even if it's just like a little card game or we're in class, then whoever gets, I just make everything competitive. For me, being a competitive person puts out the best of me. I'll say, like just being competitive is different from people just wanting to be there. Yeah, and Manna, for me, I feel like I just hate losing. Winning is okay, but when I lose, I'm like, ah, I just hate losing. And so I think I hate losing more than I like to win. Growing up, I had a Snoopy tennis poster and the thought that he had was, it doesn't matter if you win or lose until you lose. So what do you think about that? For me, the biggest one was when we lost to Milani in the OIH championship. That was my first loss to an in-state team since my freshman year. Everyone who we played in this state was a win. So losing that game was a win. So losing that game really impacted me to work even harder to beat them in the state championship. Yeah, let's talk more about that because Coach Rod York, I mean, he's such a great coach and he's been really doing such a great job building Milani. And I think that the more great teams there are in Hawaii, the better because it just makes everybody better when it's more competitive. Now, when you guys suffered that defeat in the OIH championship, what was the mindset like of your team keeping things in perspective that, okay, that's the OIH championship, but our goal is a state championship? I'll say what got to us was after beating St. John Boscoe, we're on a high ride and losing to Milani in the OIH championship was a good humbling experience. But like what happened when we played modern day, lost, and then came back that following week, that's the mindset we had going into the state playoffs. Just knowing we know what we're capable of and we only can control what we can do. So we can just excel on what we do. And Mana, I mean, I wanna ask you now, we all know that you've won three consecutive state championships so far. What do you feel are some of the reasons why your team has been successful for three years in a row now? I'll say just the mindset they have, especially coming with the cultural expectations from Coach Sterling, just not being able to brush it off and saying, oh, that doesn't really matter. Everyone actually sees it of the cultural stuff and applies it to our football game and outside of football. So having just not only one mindset of just football, we have another mindset of outside of football and being close together and having a good team chemistry. And Mana, what are some of the toughest parts of having your uncle being the head coach and then your dad being the special teams coach? I mean, what are some of the toughest parts that you deal with? For me, it's just every day, 24 hours. Some of our players, they don't have dads or uncles that are coaching on the coaching staff. But for me, have a dad and an uncle. So even when I get home, Coach Sterling comes and stop by and I just not stop here everything. Just making sure every little piece of my game is excelled. Yeah, that's so funny. You're like, it's 24 seven. You can't get away from them. I mean, but you know what I love about Coach Sterling and Coach Stewart is they are men of exceptional character. And you can feel their positive energy and they want to win the right way. And I can see that they care about every player that is on the team. I mean, like you said, everyone matters. And they feel that everyone matters. And Mana, I wanna ask you about the state championship game. I was there watching it in person. And from the very first play, the kickoff, your dad calls on doing a onsite kick and you guys recovered it. Tell me about that. For us, we knew when we go out there, we have to immediately impact the game. So I don't think they seen it coming. But we just ended up onsiting the kick and the results was great for us. I mean, especially leading to a touchdown drive and putting a big like shocky moment in the very beginning of the game. Well, Mana, I don't think anybody expected that. I mean, I don't know of any other football game where they started off the game with the onsite kick. That was incredible. But it showed just behind the scenes, just really studying some of these tapes and then trying to put you guys in a position to succeed. And Mana, you in the first quarter, you got injured through a targeting from one of the defensive guys, you caught the ball, you're running, boom, I mean, helmet to helmet. Tell me about that play and what was your thoughts afterwards? I mean, during that play, it's just a football hit. You can't really do anything about it, it's just football. But I'm not really mad about it, but at the end of the day, it's just football. And after I went out and knew I couldn't come back and play, I had a mentality of just being there for my teammates. If I can't be there on the field for them, I'll be there supporting them and helping them however I could. And Mana, when the TV cameras were going on the sidelines during the game, I saw you getting water for your teammates. I saw you encouraging them. I mean, I saw you doing all these things that a great team player does. And I mean, that's such a great example. Everybody knows that you're one of the star players, but to see you helping your team in that situation where the next man comes up and then you're doing whatever you can to encourage them. I mean, tell me more about that responsibility being a role model for your teammates. It's just going back to what my dad taught me, just being a better person and a bigger person off the field. I did as much as I could on the field that game, but when it actually needed to happen, I was there to support my teammates. Like if they needed water, I was there right away giving them water. And then Malai, he had a towel and he had sweaty arms. So every time he comes off the field or comes to the sideline, I was already ready to wipe his arms just so he couldn't fumble the ball. I noticed that too. I thought that was so cool. Now, Manna, that game was probably one of the best state championship football games I've ever seen. And I mean, towards the ending, when Diesel Kamoku is returning that kick and goes all the way down, scores a touchdown, what were you thinking and feeling at that moment? I already had a feeling once he broke through that first wave of Marilani players, he was gonna take it and score. Because we all know as a team, if one player goes down, next fan up. So I got a chance to live with Diesel. He lives here with me. So being able to talk with him every day, he really knows what he has to do. And I was telling him like theoretically, if I get hurt, you know, you have to take my role, right? In the returning game. And we'll just laugh about it. But during that play, I already knew he knew what he was supposed to do. And he looked confident in himself, which was exactly what we needed. And Mana, I mean, when the cameras went on you, I mean, you looked, I mean, just as happy as Diesel. I mean, you were so happy for him. And that just shows a lot about your character. And Mana, I wanna ask you, you mentioned briefly about Malai Fanoti. You guys running back. I mean, I love Malai Fanoti. I always say he's like a truck. I mean, it takes like three guys to bring him down. Tell me why Malai makes such a great impact on the field and off the field. For our team, he's just like another great leader. He motivates teammates, even like everyone, he motivates everyone to be a better player. And not just only a player, just a better person. And the work ethic he has is crazy. I mean, you could just see it in his body, his arms. I mean, everyone likes Jesus. Like we're the biggest people and whatnot. So that's how we got like really close to being like the bigger, bigger armed people, which is kind of funny. But just the amount he does, not only for our team, but around the community, helping with football leagues. And it's just something we are used to doing as Koku football players. Yeah, that's so great. I know that he helps little kids on their teams. And that's so incredible of him. And I wanna ask you about how special and how important teamwork is. And I mean, everybody knows, I mean, football, you need teamwork. And I mean, you gotta be in sync on offense. You gotta be in sync on defense. You gotta be rising to the occasion on special teams. And you're doing it all with your brothers. And I feel, I can feel that when I'm with you guys, with your team, I can feel that it's not just a team. It's like a brotherhood that you guys have, right? Yes, most definitely. I know some teams around the state, they're just very close during football times, but for us, off the field, that's where it really makes the impact. Just being able to hang out with each other regularly and not really forcing ourselves to go and hang out with our teammates. More just, oh, that's my brother. Of course, we're gonna go hang out. Just anything we do is usually together as a team. No, that's so great. I mean, that's what it's about. And that's why you guys can perform on the field because you're gonna give it that 100% because you know your brother's gonna give it 100%. And regardless of if we're winning, losing or tied, I mean, I want everyone that I coach to be relentless competitors from the first point or from the first play to the last play. And that's what you guys do. And that's, again, part of your culture. And Man, I wanna ask you, when you reflect back on your life so far, what's a big adversity that you have faced? Mine would probably be my freshman year. I broke my collarbone very first game. And I was really sad about it, especially knowing I can't play my freshman year and the expectations I had going into that season, being the freshman on varsity, and especially having my dad and uncle as a coach. But it was a good teaching moment for me, too, because my size and knowledge to the game wasn't really all there. So just learning from our team captains, picking knowledge from players like Leungale Fao, Leonard Ayu, Brock Vanuoy Moana and my brother, it was really impactful for me to learn from them to excel the next year. And you know what? Setbacks are always opportunities for comebacks. And man, I mean, did you come back strong right there? And Mano, what would you say is a valuable lesson that you've learned in life so far? I mean, the biggest one is becoming a leader, not only for our team, but I'm also a student body of government for my class. So just getting to know people and knowing how authority to help people get better and getting closer to each other. So that's one of my biggest things, trying to get everyone to be good friends to each other and not causing conflict with hating each other. Oh, I love hearing that too. And Mano, what would you say is the best advice that you've ever received? I mean, the best advice I've ever received was probably from my dad or uncle. Every time they come out, like come in, help me with my football game is just, they always put it in perspective of football. And then it goes on to bigger things and better things, such as being a better person in life, being there for a teammate, not when I want people to like hurry up and get in, not usually yelling at them, but kind of motivating them to get in and doing like better things without raising my voice and yelling, just being more motivating. And Mano, how important is Raider Nation? I mean, when you have your whole community there, the fans, I mean, they're known as Raider Nation. How much of an extra boost does that give you on the field? Just the cheering and stuff helps a lot, especially when we played in Chambosco. It was super loud coming from our crowd and it got us going. It got us motivated to know why we're playing this game and why it's so impactful to not only us, but our community, because everyone in our community, it feels like they're playing for Cocoa Football. Just how much they love the sport and love the Cocoa Football on me. And Mano, I want to ask you one more question before we wrap up. Out of all the NFL professional players, who's a professional NFL player that you admire and why? Ooh, this sounds kind of hard because I don't really analyze professional players, but I usually analyze more players coming out of Cocoa, which is kind of something all little kids from our community does. Yeah. But I'll say Alohi Gilman, he came out of Cocoa, so, and he is in the NFL now. So just watching him be undersized and making all these plays in the NFL is crazy. And it's just knowing what kind of football we bring from Hawaii. Well, Mano, I'm excited to see what's gonna happen for your senior year. Best of luck to you. I'm sure I'm gonna be out in Kohoku speaking to your team this coming season. And I really wanna thank you for taking time to share insights on the show today. Yes, of course. I mean, it's always a blessing to share knowledge of Cocoa Football and not only Cocoa Football, but me and my teammates and coaches. Perfect. Thanks, Mano. Thank you. And thank you for watching Beyond the Lines on Think Tech Hawaii. For more information, please visit RustyKomori.com and my books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I hope that Mano and I will inspire you to create your own superior culture of excellence and to find your greatness. And help others find theirs. Aloha.