Kaonohi Kaniho has had this one circled for a while.
“Oh about a year now – ever since we heard about it,” Kaniho said.
The Kahuku, Hawai’i, native is back home to play in front of dozens of family and friends – including his two young kids – when Boise State plays at Hawaii at 9 p.m. MT on CBS Sports Network.
“It means everything,” Kaniho said. “It’s where I started playing football. And I went to UH games and stuff too, so it will be great to be back in front of all my family back on the island where it all started.”
After playing in front of a small crowd at Hawaii during his freshman season in 2020 due to COVID, Kaniho is back as a redshirt senior to experience a full cheering section of friends, former teammates, coaches, teachers, family and others in his final college game back home on the island.
Kaniho was greeted by his family at the team hotel when the Broncos arrived on Thursday evening, and he’ll get extra time to be with them leading into Saturday’s game.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Kaniho said. “I have a ton of people coming so I’m super excited. It will be a fun game.”
That includes his girlfriend Raita, daughter Teavana and son Temaurinui who live on the island. They made the trip to Boise for the Portland State game two weeks ago, but rarely get to see Kaniho play in person.
“It’s been tough for sure,” Kaniho said. “Especially being away from the kids and knowing what my girlfriend has to go through with two now. She’s on her own, so I thank her for all the sacrifice she’s made allowing me to come up here and meet my best fiends.
“It’s crazy to think if she said ‘I need you here’, I wouldn’t have met anybody here and wouldn’t have got my degree or been able to better my kids’ future, not just mine. It’s been tough but it’s coming to an end and it’s been worth it I feel like.”
Kaniho had an offer to play at the University of Hawaii out of Kahuku High School but elected to follow his older brother to Boise State. Kekaula played for the Broncos from 2017-2021.
The two played together during the 2020 and 2021 seasons and achieved college football rarity when both brothers had interceptions in the same game at Fresno State on Nov. 20, 2021.
The younger Kaniho has played in 45 career games for the Broncos and has three interceptions, six tackles-for-loss, 11 passes defended, a fumble recovery and 79 tackles.
“It’s been a great experience to come to Boise State,” Kaniho said. “I wanted to get off the island and experience the outside world.”
But he’s back home and ready for maybe the highlight of his football career to date on Saturday when he takes the field with the 17th ranked Broncos. He’ll look up and see his kids, girlfriend, parents and hundreds of other familiar faces in the stands.
“I’m definitely an emotional guy,” Kaniho said. “And with my family in the stands and me being back on the rock, I’m going to take it all in. It’s extra motivation at the end of the day.
“It’s going to be great. I can’t wait.”
