T.J. Kua recently signed a letter of intent to play golf for the University of Hawai‘i. By doing so, the 17-year-old Kamehameha Schools Kapalama senior out of Lihu‘e will receive a full scholarship to attend the university. Hawaii’s golf coach
T.J. Kua recently signed a letter of intent to play golf for the University of Hawai‘i. By doing so, the 17-year-old Kamehameha Schools Kapalama senior out of Lihu‘e will receive a full scholarship to attend the university.
Hawaii’s golf coach Ronny Miyashiro flew out to Kaua‘i to discuss scholarship information and Kua’s possibly signing with Hawai‘i.
As soon as the letter came in, Kua signed it, knowing that Hawai‘i is where he wanted to go.
“It was pretty much my first choice,” Kua said.
He said will most likely play his freshmen year instead of redshirting.
At last season’s state tournament, Kua led his team to a state championship title. Kua shared the lead with Sean Maekawa of Honokaa High School after the first round with a 67.
Kua shot a 72 in the second round to finish in second place in the individual standings, but it was a low enough score to lift the Warriors to a first-place finish in the team standings.
It was Kamehameha’s first state title in five years and its second state title in prep golf history.
It was also Kua’s second time as the state runner-up.
Kua started swinging a golf when he was just a toddler.
“My dad said I used to swing a club around when I was 3 years old,” said Kua. “I don’t remember it, though.”
But Kua does remember that when he first started playing golf, he wasn’t the greatest.
“When I was 5, I used to grip it like a bat because I used to play tee-ball too,” he said. “I was just having fun.”
His father, Stan Kua, practiced with him all the time.
“It was like a mirror image,” he said.
He was a right-handed golfer and the younger Kua was a lefty, so when they practiced together, they would always face each other. Kua would copy his father’s every move.
But after a few years of just playing for fun, Kua started to take the sport seriously.
“I got really serious when I was about 10 years old, when I was in elementary school and started playing in tournaments,” he said.
Kua improved over the years to become a dominant golfer on the junior golf scene. A member of the Hawai‘i State Junior Golf Association, Kua is able to travel to competitions and consistently finishes as a top contender.
The Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association will hold this year’s state championships at the Wailua Golf Course. In front of a hometown crowd, Kua is hoping for a big finish.
“I want to win another state title for the school, but I also want to go for an individual title,” he said.
This year’s state tournament will be in May. Kua will also graduate in May.
T.J. Kua
Age: 17
Hometown: Lihu‘e
Family: Parents Stan and Cathy Kua, younger brother Trevor, 9.
What, other than golf, do you like to do? “I don’t really have any other hobbies. It’s pretty much all golf.”
Why did you start playing? “My family and my uncles played it. So, I tried it.”
How is school at Kamehameha? “It’s a struggle, just the demand and the workload.”
Do you have any goals for this year? “I want to win another state title for the school, but I also want to go for an individual title.”
