By: Annaliese Gumboc

When Malakai Lee came into the world in April 2007, he was destined for a future on the gridiron.

“Football kind of found me,” said Malakai. “I didn’t stumble upon it.” 

Malakai’s parents, Amber and Keola, were devoted Steelers fans. Amber hailed from the Ma’afala family, known for their football legacy. Her uncle, Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala, a former NFL fullback, was famously dubbed “one bad Ma’afala” by ESPN’s Chris Berman. Many other Ma’afalas had impressive high school and college careers, earning the family a strong reputation in Hawaii’s football community. As a Ma’afala, football ran in Malakai’s blood.

Under the hospital lights, newborn Malakai already looked like a future football player. According to his mother, he was two feet long and weighed ten pounds at birth.

“My husband and I looked at him,” Amber recalled. “We were like, ‘You’re gonna be our left tackle, our blind side.’”

But it didn’t turn out as easily as they had hoped.

As a little kid, Malakai was big for his age but entirely uninterested in football. Keola and Amber tried everything they could to change his mind, but nothing worked. He was apathetic toward the NFL, and when they brought him to his first football practice at age six, he cried.

“I wasn’t the most active kid out there,” said Malakai. “I played a little bit of basketball, but I was just super big for such a young age and I was very uncoordinated.”

For Malakai, football wasn’t fun—it was something he was forced to do. He soon stopped playing, growing up mostly without the sport despite his Ma’afala heritage. Instead, he spent much of his time with his paternal grandfather, Toby Lee.

“His grandfather was his best friend,” said Amber. 

Until his passing in 2014, Grandpa Toby took Malakai to school every morning. After school, they would go to Costco for hot dogs or watch movies together. Grandpa Toby always had a bag filled with candies.

“I remember him a lot,” said Malakai. “It was never a bad memory.”

It took years for Malakai to return to the football field, but he eventually did, joining the youth league Metro Tigers as a sixth-grader. This time, it was his choice.

“That was the first time I played football when I wanted to play football,” said Malakai. 

However, he continued to struggle on the team.

“My confidence when playing the game wasn’t always the best,” said Malakai. “I was always getting corrected and I just had a lot of mistakes that I was making, and I wasn’t the most in shape. I was kind of just going out there and doing whatever.”

“He was kind of getting overlooked,” said Amber. “And my husband was just looking for a way for his son to prove that he’s better than what he is and to improve.”

That’s when a coworker referred the Lee family to Coach Matt Faga.

Following the coworker’s suggestion, Malakai and his family went to Palolo Valley, where Matt spent his evenings coaching football for free.

“I had never been to Palolo Valley in my life, and I was scared,” said Malakai. “It was all dark…there was no lights, kids just training on the field…and they’re all high school kids.” 

There, Malakai met Coach Matt. Despite the intimidating scene, Matt encouraged him to “just come here and train,” Malakai recalled. So he did.

Every weekday, Malakai practiced with the Metro Tigers from 4 to 6 p.m., then his mom would rush them to Palolo for his 7 p.m. to nearly 9 p.m. training session with Coach Matt.

Coach Matt believed in Malakai, gave him confidence, and pushed him to succeed. Under his guidance, Malakai lost weight, sharpened his technique, and intensified his game. Matt helped him grow as both a player and a person, and he did it all for free.

“He was like a second father figure to me,” Malakai said.

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic halted training camps and football games in Hawaii. For Malakai and his family, this quiet period offered a chance for reflection. Malakai had improved dramatically since he’d begun training with Coach Matt. Now a teenager, he faced the uncertainty of the future.

“I realized, during Covid, that I could definitely have a shot at making a name for myself,” Malakai said.

Then, in 2021, Coach Matt contracted the coronavirus. While many recovered quickly, Matt did not. One morning, Malakai woke up to find his mom on the phone in tears with Coach Matt’s wife. Matt had passed away at age 39.

“My first thought was, ‘This can’t be real,’” said Malakai. “It hurt so much…he was one of the strongest people I knew, and he practically raised me in football. It hurts that I’m not gonna hear his voice coaching again.”

Malakai had a basketball game that morning but couldn’t focus—his thoughts were solely on the coach who had changed his life.

“I was just crying the entire day,” he said.

After Coach Matt’s passing, Amber and Keola worried that Malakai’s passion for football might fade.

“We knew we needed to spark that fire again,” Amber said.

The perfect opportunity arose when Malakai was offered a scholarship to attend California’s Future Elite Academy, a private middle school for athletes. After careful consideration, the Lee family decided to send Malakai to the mainland for his eighth-grade year.

Living away from home for the first time, Malakai stayed with a host family in Hawthorne, California. He commuted two hours each way to the academy and practiced with the Harbor Area Pilots, a top American Youth Football team.

The competition in California was fierce. As an offensive lineman, Malakai found himself up against some of the best young athletes in the country. Initially hoping to play left tackle, he was moved to guard due to the presence of a talented player in his preferred position.

“I remember watching him play against kids his own size, which hardly happens in Hawaii,” Amber said. “He was getting worked badly. I told him, ‘If you keep playing like that, you’re coming home because you’re going to get hurt.’”

Undeterred, Malakai embraced the challenge. He adapted, learned from his experiences, and improved significantly, becoming one of the best in the nation.

But as the year went on, being away from his family became increasingly difficult.

“I really missed my family,” Malakai said. “Football kept my mind off it, but when football stopped, I felt lost.”

Then Malakai received an acceptance letter from Kamehameha Kapalama. Eager to play for the Warriors and their head coach, his uncle Abu Ma’afala, Malakai decided to return home for high school.

Unfortunately, an injury during a basketball tournament fractured his right foot, keeping him sidelined for his freshman year. By the time he was ready to return, Abu had been fired following a winless season.

With Abu out, transferring to Saint Louis seemed like an obvious choice. Many of Malakai’s cousins were Crusaders, and the Warriors had struggled recently. But Malakai wanted to carve his own path.

“He said, ‘I’m not going to Saint Louis just because my cousins are there,’” Amber said.

At Kamehameha, Malakai returned to left tackle, the position he had always wanted to play. When facing Saint Louis, he focused on the game rather than family ties.

“When I lock in for the game, I don’t see anybody as my cousin,” he said. “I just focus on doing my job and protecting my team.”

“Oftentimes, people don’t know he’s a Ma’afala,” Amber said. “He’s proud of his heritage but doesn’t rely on it. He wears the name ‘Lee’ proudly on his jersey for his grandfather.”

Malakai doesn’t need the Ma’afala name to get noticed. After several college visits and one season at Kamehameha, he is the highest-rated prospect in Hawaii’s Class of 2026. A four-star recruit, he ranks No. 177 in the nation and No. 15 among offensive tackles according to 247Sports. At 6 feet 6 inches and 318 pounds, he has received offers from top schools like UW, Michigan, and Alabama.

“I went to Alabama thinking I wouldn’t do well,” Malakai said. “There were definitely kids bigger than me, but I gave it my all and ended up with a full-ride scholarship.”

Amber and Keola’s prophecy, envisioned upon Malakai’s birth, has come true: He is now a star left tackle. He has come a long way from the unconfident, uncoordinated kid crying on his first day of practice.

“We’re so proud of him and what he’s accomplished,” Amber said. “He’s had a long journey.”

“I’m still getting used to being known as the top football prospect,” Malakai admitted. “It’s humbling. I want to build a name for myself, but I know I have to stay focused and keep moving forward.”

Through it all, Malakai has shown dedication and selflessness. He hopes to use his visibility to help local athletes, especially those at Kamehameha. He remains grateful to those who have supported him: his parents, family members, coaches, and especially his Grandpa Toby and Coach Matt.

“I wish I could…show [coach Matt] who I am now,” said Malakai. “But…I know I got two angels in heaven right now, watching over me.”