In Hawaiian language, "ho'okahi" translates "to make one."
On Mondays and Thursdays this summer, GoSwords.com will talk to select returning student-athletes from all 10 Chaminade University sports on how they are coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Featured here is
Salamasina Te`i of women's tennis. The two-time Academic All-Pacific West Conference honoree from Hau'ula, O'ahu, Hawai'i won seven total matches during her last playing season in 2019 including four consecutive singles wins that March. Te`i was not with the team during 2019-20, taking the year off to due to training commitments with the United States Air Force but will rejoin the team for the 2021 season.
Q (GS.com): What are you missing the most about Chaminade?
A (ES): What I am missing most about Chaminade is the people. I would always look forward to going on campus because everyone is such a close-knitted family and community. Our campus is just the right size because it's not too big and not too small, it is just right. I miss being able to socialize with not only my friends but with the kind faces I see in the hallways, at the student center and in the classroom. I miss Chaminade.
Q: What are you doing to keep your spirits up during the situation?
A: By keeping my spirits up during this whole situation I am staying active by training and preparing myself for the next tennis season, working on base and at Romy's Shrimp Truck in Kahuku, watching Netflix shows, reading, staying in touch with family and friends and continuously improving my intelligence any way possible so I'm not just doing nothing.
Q: How are you staying connected with your coaches and teammates?
A: I am staying connected with my coaches and teammates simply through social media. Checking on them seeing how they're doing, waiting for the time where we can all reconnect again in person and catch up.
Q: Have you learned any new skills or picked up new hobbies that you otherwise would not have if not for the current situation?
A: Some new skills/hobbies that I picked up if it wasn't for this current situation are learning to play some guitar, cook some traditional Samoan foods and changing the oil from a car. I am still learning new things along the way since there is plenty of time for it.
Q: What is your favorite on-the-field or on-court memory from this past 2019-20 year?
A: My favorite on-court memory from this past 2019-20 year would be that I was able to support our tennis team from afar since I was away for military training. Being able to see our Chaminade tennis team improve each year is awesome and I can't wait to return this coming semester and continue to contribute as well as improve myself.
Q: What is the first thing you will do after we return to a sense of "normalcy?"
A: The first thing I will do after we return to a sense of "normalcy" would be to hit the movie theatres! I miss going to the theatres with my family/friends, eating popcorn and being able to recline back and watch a great movie. I'm a big movie buff and I just miss being able to go to the theatres.
