Hawaiian Football Showcase Player Kai Martin joins the U-17 Academy of Seattle Sounders FC
“Kai has always been a hard worker. He started on the [second] team. He listened, worked hard, made it to the premier team, and now this. He’s a great kid with an awesome family. I wish him the best and hope he does really well.”
WAILUKU, MAUI – Hui Kanaka Pōwāwae is pleased to announce that 2021 Hawaiian Football Showcase of Talents Player, Kai Martin, will be joining the youth academy of the Seattle Sounders FC. The invitation came after Martin’s second trial with the Academy’s U-17’s – while competing in the 2021 Generation adidas Cup Qualifiers in December– a development platform of MLS NEXT.
Martin’s potential to join the Sounders’ Academy was recognized by Kanaka Pōwāwae Technical Director, Ian Mork, at a Ke Kikowaena Lauaki (Talent Center) held on O‘ahu. Martin’s next Hawaiian Football performance garnered the interest of the Sounders when its Academy Director, Gary Lewis, attended Kanaka Pōwāwae’s Talent Showcase on Maui. The opportunity for six Hawaiian Football Showcase players to trial with the Sounders resulted; with the GA Cup being Martin’s second trial as a starter in the MLS NEXT tournament in California.
“We are very grateful that Kanaka Pōwāwae selected Kai to attend the first annual Hawaiian Football Showcase on Maui. It unarguably opened that door for him,” said Vemsheree Martin. Her son now joins current Hawaiʻi-grown academy players, Danny Jackson and Jack Jeremiah; along with the first team’s latest ʻHomegrown’ Player, Dylan Teves – a group of “good guys from Hawaiʻi and that pipeline,” as stated by Sounders FC General Manager and President of Soccer, Garth Lagerway.
When asked of the overall experience, Martin responded by saying, “The Kanaka Pōwāwae process was very thorough and precise. Before Kanaka Pōwāwae, I wasn’t very confident in my style of play. To be honest, I didn’t think I could play at an academy level until I got to trial with the Sounders. Now, I definitely feel like I can play at a professional level. It’s going to be a lot harder than anything else I’ve ever done, but I’m fine with it.”
After being called up to train and play with the first team in Arizona, Jeremiah commented, “I’m excited for Kai to join us here in Seattle, and to experience playing with and against the top players in our age group. Seattle Sounders FC is a top class club, and if he continues to work hard and have a positive attitude, the sky’s the limit!”
IAN MORK, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, KANAKA PŌWĀWAE
We are all excited and very proud of Kai. This well-deserved opportunity is precisely the reason behind our planning and execution of the Showcase of Talents. He is another great example for our ambitious, talented players here in Hawai‘i.
We owe a huge, ‘Mahalo Nui’ [‘Thank You’], to the Sounders organization and Technical staff – especially to Gary Lewis. Gary was instrumental in helping create this Sounders pathway for our Hawai‘i-grown and Hawaiian players. This is just the beginning of our partnership, and we will continue to build on this ideal start.
We will continue to identify and promote our top talents, with the objective of having more Hawai‘i talents on each of the Sounders Academy Team rosters. Hopefully, these players will eventually graduate to the first team with the Sounders.
We wish Kai the best and we will continue to support his journey to become a professional player!
Martin credits his family and above all his sister – for the motivation to persevere through difficulties.
“I would also love to thank all my [Hawaii Rush SC] coaches, especially Coach Duane Kuni. He’s the one who started this story for me. He’s the one who got me to love this sport.”
Kuni – Martin’s coach at age 8 – was in awe of the impact he had on the young player. “Kai has always been a hard worker. He started on the [second] team. He listened, worked hard, made it to the premier team, now this. He’s a great kid with an awesome family. I wish him the best and hope he does really well.”