HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – For the last three and a half years, if St. Louis won a state title, it’s more than likely Pupu Sepulona was on the team.
The Crusaders senior is a true athletic marvel who has collected five state championships in three different sports.
The product of hard work and discipline developed at an early age while growing up in Kalihi.
“Sometimes, I wake up early in the morning before school, go out running. I do my training right in front of my house because I have dumbbells, kettlebells,” Sepulona said. “I do sprints in the parking lot. I even do jump rope too. That’s my favorite, doing jump ropes, sprinting. That really works my body, keeps me in good condition and gets me stronger and faster.”
Before attending St. Louis as a freshman, Sepulona was already known on Hawaii’s youth basketball circuit.
“He was a man child back then,” said St. Louis athletic director and head basketball coach Dan Hale. “When he hit high school, he was, I mean physically, he was ready to go. The footwork, you can work on that all you want, but at the end of the day, it’s a gift to have that.”
Height and athleticism works in most any sport, so after winning a state basketball title in his freshman year, he decided to give volleyball a try.
“First couple games, he almost broke the net,” said St. Louis head volleyball coach Keenan Paulos. “He kind of took some kids out underneath the net. But after a while, he figured it out and started dominating as a freshman.”
As a sophomore, Sepulona helped lead the Crusaders to their first boys volleyball championship.
Eventually, he turned his attention to football, which he didn’t begin playing until high school.
He starts as a defensive lineman, but coaches knew he was capable of much more.
“I think he can play any position,” said St. Louis head football coach Tupu Alualu. “I think he can play tight end. I think he can be a great fullback… Kamoi White (St. Louis offensive lineman) got hurt and he asked me, ‘Coach, where you need me?’ I’m like sheesh, we gonna move you there too? That’s the kind of attitude that boy has.”
Sepulona’s senior year marked his first full season as a starter, which ended with a state title and a scholarship offer from Utah.
If the Crusaders basketball team goes all the way this month, he’ll likely be the first in Hawaii state history to win six team championships.
While hoops is his passion, he views football as his best route to collegiate success and possibly a pro career — aspirations fueled by his faith and love of family.
“My dad, he’s always working two jobs every single day I barely see him throughout the week, even my mom,” Sepulona said. “For me, I want to work hard too, to meet them halfway, because in the future, I want to take care of them and for them to not work another day.”
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