My Cause My Cleats

Marcus Mariota reveals his passion beyond the game by wearing his heart on his feet for Hawai‘i's hungry keiki.

Photo by Michael Clemens / Las Vegas Raiders

When it comes to athletes from Hawai‘i, Marcus Mariota’s accolades are second to none. The Honolulu-born quarterback has been wowing crowds with his athleticism for decades, and it was clear from an early age that he was something special.

Marcus attended Saint Louis School and was a two-sport all-star in football and track. In his senior year, he led the Crusaders to a state title while being named the Interscholastic League of Honolulu’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Marcus went on to play football for the University of Oregon, where he would be rocket-strapped to a whole new level of stardom. After redshirting his first year, he became the first freshman quarterback to start a season opener for the Ducks in more than 20 seasons. With a 12-1 record, his freshman campaign earned him Pac-12 All-Conference first-team honors as well as the Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year award. The following season, he led the Ducks to 11 wins and was once again named Pac-12 All-Conference first-team.

In his junior year, Marcus achieved many more firsts. After leading the nation in touchdowns, passing efficiency and total offense, he was awarded the prestigious Heisman trophy award — recognizing him as the most outstanding college football player of the year. Marcus became the first Oregon Duck, the first Polynesian and the first Hawai‘i-born athlete to achieve this honor. By the time he finished his career at Oregon, he had become the most decorated player in school history.

Marcus entered the 2015 NFL Draft and was selected with the second overall pick. Since then, he has played a number of successful seasons with the Tennessee Titans and, currently, the Las Vegas Raiders.

Throughout his career, the versatile quarterback has become known for his speed and evasiveness on the field. Off the field, however, Marcus does not shy away from interacting with others — especially when it comes to taking care of his home. His compassion extends wide, and, just as he displayed signs of athletic prowess at an early age, he also flashed an early affinity for giving back.

“My dream of playing in the NFL began at an early age in elementary school. At the same time, I also began dreaming of giving back someday and helping young kids,” writes Marcus on his website. “This is why it was important to me to start the Motiv8 Foundation.”

In 2015, he established the Motiv8 Foundation along with his parents Alana and Toa. The organization works to provide athletic, educational and economic opportunities to local keiki while also offering safety and support to Hawai‘i's homeless populations.

"The goal and mission of Motiv8 is exactly what our name says — to motivate young people to dream big through education and athletics," explains Marcus. "Playing in the NFL is a privilege and has responsibilities. We, as professional athletes, have a platform to help our youth for a better tomorrow. The Motiv8 Foundation is a vehicle to give back and help others, and I have a lifetime commitment to that mission and helping as many young people as possible."

Marcus works steadfastly towards this ideal, and he finds a variety of ways to reach youth and cultivate their nourishment each year. His commitment is unwavering — even when COVID-19 changed everything last year.

When news spread that schools back home were closing down in response to the pandemic, he immediately jumped in to help make sure students received the nutrition they need. Marcus and the Motiv8 Foundation worked with the community to provide thousands of grab-and-go meals at Kauluwela and Pālolo Elementary Schools. They also provided more than 5,000 meals at shelters in May and an additional 3,500 meals during the holidays.

Marcus reflects, “I’ve been very blessed to be put in a position to help, and I think that is a responsibility of mine.”

It's a responsibility that goes deep. During the 2020 NFL season, Marcus decided to wear his heart on his feet by spotlighting Hawai‘i Foodbank through the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative — bringing national attention to the 1 in 4 keiki in Hawai‘i struggling with hunger during the pandemic.

“I was very pleased to partner with Hawai‘i Foodbank this year with the My Cause My Cleats game shoes,” says Marcus. “The Foodbank is meeting the needs of families that have been hit hard by this pandemic. Many of our local families are suffering during these tough times and are worried about their next meal. The Foodbank is doing a great job to help these families and meet their needs, and that is why they have my support.”

After the season, Marcus took it one step further by hosting an online auction to gather additional support for Hawai‘i's hungry keiki and families. The auction featured his game-worn cleats from the Raiders’ week 13 victory against the Jets. All money raised was donated directly to Hawai‘i Foodbank, and Marcus personally matched the winning bid — altogether providing food for more than 10,000 meals.

For years, Marcus has been wowing folks back home with a long list of accomplishments. State champion, All-Conference awardee, Offensive Player of the Year, Heisman Trophy winner, NFL starter — all accolades worth admiring. But to the people of Hawai‘i, there's one title that is second to none when it comes to Marcus Mariota: a true torchbearer for Hawai‘i's communities.

Feed Our Fighters, Nourish Our ‘Ohana

Despite being idled, UFC Gym in Waikele exercises their support for those in need during the pandemic.

Photo by Danny Schlag

Every January, gyms across the country begin to swell with crowds of new members — all eager to make good on their New Year’s resolutions. For gym owners, there’s no denying the financial importance of the first quarter of the year. Many can rest assured knowing they’re likely to see a bump in membership and attendance. Truly, it’s an annual highlight in the fitness industry.

In Hawai‘i, the beginning of 2020 was off to another good start.

“We were all gearing up for our biggest turn of the year. You got to think — the first quarter of the year is the most important time for anybody in the fitness industry. That sets the tone for the rest of the year. For our location, too, we were having fantastic months in January and February, and we were on track to kill it in March,” describes Cari Nishimura-Burnett, general manager at UFC Gym in Waikele.

“Then, everything changed.”

On March 23, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced a stay-at-home order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Two days later, the entire state of Hawai‘i shut down. Tourism shuttered. Businesses and schools were closed. And tens of thousands began to lose their jobs.

“You know, it was a lot of uncertainty at that time because no one really knew much about the virus,” remembers Cari. “They said, ‘Oh, it’ll be maybe two weeks, and we’ll evaluate and see how it goes.’ Then two weeks turned into a month. Then two months. Three months.”

The pandemic began to disrupt life for nearly every individual and business in Hawai‘i. For fitness professionals like Cari, COVID-19 was quickly proving to be the biggest disruption the industry had ever faced. The personal ramifications, though, made matters even worse.

“In my 23 years in fitness, it was the most emotional time I have ever experienced in the industry. And, not because I was experiencing the financial hardships,” Cari looks back. “My poor employees … We had to lay people off. That was the most heartbreaking thing we ever had to do. Just to see my employees — those are my friends and my family — go through that. It messed with a lot of us.”

Friends and family are what initially drew Cari to UFC Gym when it opened in 2014. Prior to that, the former soccer player from Maui moved to O‘ahu to study medicine at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. It was there that her personal fitness journey began, and she made the decision to switch focus from med school to exploring exercise as preventative medicine — all with the intent of helping others.

“I decided I wanted to help people prior to getting all the aches and pains and health problems. From there, I took the leap of faith and got certified in personal training and nutrition. I got hired and had a successful career at another gym for 16 years, and then one of my close friends came knocking on my door to get me over to UFC Gym,” recalls Cari. “It was a great family opportunity because I saw they offer a lot of programs and opportunities for kids, and that was more in line with what I envisioned fitness should be: family-oriented”

Cari flourished in her role as general manager at UFC Gym, and her sense of family laid the foundation for her business model. It’s not uncommon to see staff or gym members over at her house, sharing a meal or celebrating the holidays. Ultimately, her nurturing nature would also lift the gym through the hardships of the pandemic.

“That’s the way I run my gym. It is a family. We’re in this together,” says Cari. “I told the guys, I said, ‘Look — with this extra time on our hands – when are we going to have another opportunity like this to give back to the community that gives so much to us? If I leave anything when I leave this earth, I want to know I was able to help you guys understand what community service is and what it means to give back.’ Because, that’s the basis of humanity: being kind to others. It’s a core value of our gym.”

This sentiment set in motion the gym’s Feed Our Fighters program, an initiative that raised funds to purchase meals from restaurants and deliver them directly to healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic. It was a way for the gym to support local businesses struggling to survive while also honoring the doctors, nurses and other essential “fighters” battling COVID-19.

“Through Feed Our Fighters, we were able to see an immediate impact from buying food from local restaurants and directly taking it to the hospitals. And we thought, ‘You know, food is the one thing that everybody absolutely needs,’” asserts Cari. “So, we used this opportunity to get into other avenues of giving back, and that’s how we got involved with Hawai‘i Foodbank.”

As stay-at-home orders extended through May, Hawai‘i Foodbank announced the “Food for Hawai‘i’s ‘Ohana” initiative at the end of April. In partnership with the City and County of Honolulu, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Bank of Hawai‘i Foundation and other local stakeholders — the collaborative effort deployed a total of 11 large-scale food distributions at various locations across O‘ahu. The first distribution took place April 30 at Waipi‘o Soccer Complex. When Hawai‘i Foodbank put out the call for healthy volunteers to pack and distribute food to those in need, Cari and her crew were among the first to sign up.

“When you saw how big the pandemic was turning out and how much need there was — it was a no brainer. We wanted to volunteer with Hawai‘i Foodbank,” says Cari. “To us, it really wasn’t anything big. We had the time, and we felt we should be doing it.”

That day, Cari and her team worked tirelessly from sunrise to sunset, but the arduous labor is not what stands out.

Cari reflects, “I’ll never forget the appreciation from the people that were coming through. We saw a side of the community that we don’t normally get to see. It really made everybody more human. Then, when you saw someone you actually know — gym members or friends that you haven’t seen for a long time — going through the lines … That was when it really hit home and affected me the most.”

With a team of less than 20, UFC Gym continued to volunteer at the remainder of the “Food for Hawai‘i’s ‘Ohana” distributions. After these concluded in June, the group kept going, volunteering at various ‘Ohana Produce Plus and Pop-up Food Distribution sites across the island. Altogether, they worked nearly 210 volunteer shifts for more than 1,100 hours of service.

On Oct. 21, gyms and fitness facilities were approved to open with limited capacity. Even with staff now able to work again, Cari and her team never stopped volunteering and finding ways to give back. In addition to continuing to serve at food distributions, UFC Gym hosted multiple food drives in 2020. Gathering physical food and monetary donations, the gym provided Hawai‘i Foodbank with food for more than 10,000 meals.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this experience with so many other people. Seeing everything folks were going through, you mentally had to tell yourself every day that everything is going to be okay,” says Cari. “But this has all taught me – we are going to get through all of this. If we keep on doing for others, I know we are on the right path to creating a better Hawai‘i, a better O‘ahu, a better community around us.”

For those around her, there’s no denying Cari’s giving heart. Her community can rest assured knowing Cari and her team will “keep on doing for others.”

Hunger Is ...

September is Hunger Action Month, and it reminds us that hunger is complex and often misunderstood. In Hawai‘i, the face of hunger is not always what we think.

We’re all familiar with that feeling of being hungry — that clawing reminder that we should probably find something to eat. Our stomachs rumble, we feel tired and we may even have trouble concentrating. For most of us, though, hunger is a very temporary sensation. It’s a nuisance, sure, but it’s easily satisfied and quickly forgotten.

But, for the 1 in 8 people in Hawai‘i who live with food insecurity, hunger is anything but a temporary sensation. It isn’t easily satiated, and it certainly isn’t forgettable.

For them, hunger is persistent. It’s painful, paralyzing and, oftentimes, imperceptible.

Hunger is … more than meets the eye.

Close your eyes. Imagine someone who is hungry. Try and conceptualize hunger. What comes to mind?

For many of us, we might see a picture of a weathered, outreached hand on the side of the street. Maybe we see humble words scattered across a withered piece of cardboard. These are tragic images that come to mind, yet they quickly fade in our rearview.

As we’re given the green light, this image of hunger becomes distant. It turns abstract. It’s ambiguous.

Now, let’s open our eyes and take a look around us. You see, hunger is transforming.

Hunger is … the highest cost of living.

According to a recent 24/7 Wall St. study of what it costs to live in America’s most expensive cities, the cost of living in Hawai‘i is nearly 25 percent higher than the national average. With grocery prices here higher than anywhere else in the nation, it’s no surprise that the ripple effect of hunger is pervasive.

Accordingly, many are left making challenging food choices — and it’s not just the stranger on the street.

Hunger is growing. It’s no longer in the distance, and it’s not just an abstract horizon. In Hawai‘i, hunger is much more than a faceless figure passing by.

Hunger is … our sweet, old auntie.

Hunger in Hawai‘i has a face — and it’s a familiar one. It’s hidden, but it’s close.

Hunger is our gentle auntie across the street. You know, the one who’s known us since before we were born. Our auntie who fed us fresh mango from her tree. The one who always had butter mochi and crack seed for us. She’s now the same auntie who humbly lives on a fixed income. She foregoes food to pay for her medication. She’s struggling — but she’s worked too hard to ask for help now.

Hunger is our best friend. You know, the one who used to come over after school while her parents closed up the family restaurant. She’s now a first generation college student who’s always worked hard but couldn’t quite get that scholarship. She’s the one who attends class all day, waits tables at night and eats the same, tired package of ramen before bed. She’s the one who can’t possibly let her parents know she’s hungry — not after they’ve worked their hands raw to provide a better life for her.

Hunger is generation after generation sandwiched beneath a single roof. It’s a dad working multiple jobs to take care of his aging parents while still ensuring there’s enough food for his three keiki. It’s a single mom spending restless nights going to sleep on an empty stomach — making sure her son gets all the food in the house. It’s a shy kid who tells his classmates he “forgot” to bring his lunch to school again.

Hunger is … healable.

Hunger is so many things here in Hawai‘i. Hunger is shame. Hunger is pride. Hunger is quiet dignity masked behind a brave smile. Hunger is making sure no one else around you knows that you’re hungry.

Amidst all these things, let’s hold on to this: hunger is still healable.

September is Hunger Action Month, Feeding America’s annual campaign to bring attention to the reality of food insecurity. Its goal is to promote ways to get involved in the movement to end hunger. It reminds us that, together, we can heal hunger — one helping at a time.

One helpful hand. One helpful heart. One helping of food at a time. It all adds up to make a difference for our sweet auntie across the street, our childhood best friend and so many others in our hungry ‘ohana.

Whether you volunteer, donate or share on social media — our actions can help bring a hopeful smile to the face of hunger in Hawai‘i.

Good Food to Someone You Love

Food 4 Keiki School Pantries help hungry students feel proud to contribute by bringing food home.

Photo by Danny Schlag

Just take a drive through town, and it’s easy to see; we truly live in a melting pot of culture and cuisine. From fine dining and dim sum to potluck and plate lunch — so many things we do here in Hawai‘i are centered around food. Food connects us, and there may be no better feeling than feeding good food to someone you love.

But, what exactly is good food?

“Good food means something different to different people,” explains Alicia Higa, director of health promotion at Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. “For someone who has a lot of money, good food might mean organic or grass-fed. But, for someone who is starving, good food is just any food at all.”

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet up with Alicia and her co-worker Moulika Anna Hitchens, community food system manager at the Health Center. We planned a visit to Wai‘anae Elementary School, where Alicia and Moulika helped set up one of Hawai‘i Foodbank’s Food 4 Keiki School Pantries.

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I met them on a warm Tuesday afternoon next to a lone, portable classroom on the edge of campus. As we waited for the 2 o’clock bell to ring, we took refuge beneath a large monkeypod tree that gently hugged the classroom beneath it. It was fitting. Just as that tree provided us refuge from the sun that afternoon — that small, modest classroom was about to provide nourishment to dozens of keiki and their families.

As I looked up at that sunlight peering through the leaves, Alicia and Moulika described the ensuing parade of children we were about to witness.

“The need is great, especially on the Leeward Coast,” said Moulika. “Our whole coast is eligible for free or reduce-priced meals. The percentage of kids who can actually pay for lunch is so small that they just decided to have the whole coast receive free breakfast and lunch. Wai‘anae Elementary School is no different. Here, more than 90 percent of the student population has need.”

“It’s really eye-opening,” added Alicia, “Before starting the School Pantry, I’ve driven past food distributions on our coast and just thought, ‘Ah, they got it.’ But — to hear so many kids are still going hungry — you realize there’s a whole new layer of people who are not getting food.”

Wai‘anae Elementary School serves students from three public housing complexes, as well as several homeless shelters in the area.

“You see,” emphasized Alicia. “A lot of the kids come to school with sore tummies, or they’re really tired, or they have trouble concentrating. We need to be a part of the solution. We need to get the food directly in the hands of the kids.”

This touching affirmation was interrupted by the ring of the school bell, and a flood of keiki raced out of their classrooms. Filled with anticipation, the majority lined up outside the School Pantry. Each student received after-school snacks along with one or two bags of food to take home to their families. Emblazed with smiles, the keiki tore into their snacks and carried away their bags of food.

As we watched, Moulika leaned over and whispered, “These kids are so awesome. They are so appreciative for anything that we can provide. I feel like they’re proud to go home with food and contribute. Kids don’t always get the chance to feel like they can contribute — especially in a stressful environment.”

She paused. “It makes them feel good … Proud.”

I was blown away by how quickly everything was happening. In less than 30 minutes, the School Pantry efficiently served the entire school. As I watched the commotion settle, I noticed a lone, small girl timidly make her way towards the School Pantry. She inched her way up the portable’s stairs, where she was warmly greeted with a smile and a handful of snacks.

Her shyness vanished and was quickly replaced with a smile bigger than her backpack. With a humble “thank you” — she put her snacks in her bag, rushed down the stairs and eagerly ran towards a different monkeypod tree in the distance.

Once there, she pulled out two fruit snacks – one for herself and one for her older brother. He was waiting quietly at the tree to walk her home.

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I’ll never forget the image of this young girl — maybe only five or six years old — as she looked up at her brother. Her arm was extended, ready to feed good food to someone she loves.

We are grateful for our partners like Alicia, Moulika and Wai‘anae Elementary School, who are helping us get food directly in the hands of vulnerable keiki. Your support can make a significant impact, too. If you’d like to help our Food 4 Keiki programs, please consider making a donation or volunteering to pack School Pantry bags at our warehouse.