Nearly 3,000 miles away, Vai Sikahema's excitement, passion and raw emotion come through the telephone line loud and clear.
Sikahema, the former BYU football star, will be inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame on Saturday along with Charles Teetai Jr., Rockne Freitas, Troy Polamalu and Albert Lolotai.
Of course, Polamalu is the big name of the group, and is probably ticketed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, as well. But Sikahema also had a fine NFL career after playing on BYU's 1984 national championship team.
Born on Aug. 29, 1962 in Nuki'alofa, Tonga, Sikahema played in the NFL for eight seasons for the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.