HONOLULU — Senior running back West Keli‘ikipi has been reinstated to the University of Hawai‘i Warrior football team, Athletics Director Herman Frazier announced yesterday. Keli‘ikipi was suspended from the team on May 4 after being indicted by an O‘ahu Grand
HONOLULU — Senior running back West Keli‘ikipi has been reinstated to the University of Hawai‘i Warrior football team, Athletics Director Herman Frazier announced yesterday.
Keli‘ikipi was suspended from the team on May 4 after being indicted by an O‘ahu Grand Jury on charges of Theft in the Second Degree. The indictment carried a mandatory and immediate suspension, classified as Major Misconduct, according to the University’s Student-Athlete Handbook.
The UH Athletics Department (UHAD) conducted an internal investigation that included conversations with Keliikipi’s attorney, Michael Green, representatives from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, and the UH Office of General Counsel. Frazier also held an extensive meeting with Keli‘ikipi before rendering the decision.
“I have had conversations with all parties involved in this,” Frazier said. “West Keli‘ikipi’s reinstatement to the football team is based on several mitigating factors that include his performance in the classroom and on the playing field, his behavior since his arrival on the Manoa campus, and all the legalities involved. We felt it was in West’s best interest to reinstate him to the football team if he was able to agree to the terms and conditions of the court and the Athletics Department.
The legal issues that surround him apparently occurred before his arrival on campus. He needs to take care of business from here on out. Hopefully, he has and/or will learn a valuable life lesson from his experience. We are simply providing him an opportunity to prove that as a student-athlete.”
The legal terms of the reinstatement include a no contest plea at which time Green will move the court for a deferred acceptance of the plea. If granted, Keli‘ikipi will be required to follow the terms and conditions imposed by the court. Upon compliance of those terms and conditions, the charges against Keli‘ikipi will be dismissed.
The UHAD also set forth terms and conditions for reinstatement. First, Keli‘ikipi must attend all classes and keep in good academic standing (this will be monitored by the UHAD every two weeks). Secondly, Keli‘ikipi must perform 40 hours of community service (upon mutual agreement by both parties) during the 2004 fall semester. Lastly, Keli‘ikipi must meet with Frazier, or a designated contact within the UHAD administration, once per week to discuss his progress.
“I am thankful for this opportunity,” Keli‘ikipi said. “I will make every effort to fulfill the terms and conditions of my reinstatement. I want to apologize to the parents and children who looked up to me and supported me, especially on the Leeward side.
I feel really bad for not practicing what I preached when I went out to talk to young children. I want to thank all the people who supported me throughout this whole ordeal. I believe everybody deserves a second chance. I’m glad this is all over now and I can concentrate on school and getting ready to represent Hawaii on the football field.”
Keli‘ikipi played in 10 games and started six last season before sustaining a season-ending knee injury. The Waianae, O‘ahu, native carried the ball 37 times for 247 yards and posted a team-high six rushing touchdowns. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry and also had 20 receptions for 154 yards and one touchdown.
Warrior head coach June Jones is glad to have Keliikipi back on the team.
“We are all pleased that West Keli‘ikipi’s situation has been rectified,” Jones said. “West has been part of our family for only one season, but we were all hoping he would be able to play his final season here at UH. The situation he was involved in occurred before he arrived at UH. The circumstances, unbeknownst to all of us, were a concern. For that reason, we are very thankful for the second chance being granted to him and his family. It was because of West’s strong work ethic and the character he has displayed in practice and in the classroom that I believe West is a changed person. Because of my feelings, I urged Herman to give West a second chance. We’re very appreciative to the UH administration, Herman, and the athletics department administration. We are hopeful that he will have a productive season on the field and in the classroom, not only this season, but to lay the ground work for a successful life after football.”
