2006 KSH graduate completes her collegiate volleyball career and readies for next phase of her life as graduate student in New York University’s nursing program.
Read article, “Mom’s faith spurs Vul: Mamo Brown’s inspiration sets shining example for Hernandez” by Tribune-Herald Sports Writer Kevin Jakahi featuring our Kaniu and proud mom
Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009 9:53 AM HST
No doubt that family is first, foremost and forever for Kaniu Hernandez.
She is a shining five-star product of Mamo Brown, a single parent who got it right raising her only child — whose main goal in life is to make her mom proud.
Brown said, “I love you,” back in the biggest and loudest way during the University of Hawaii at Hilo volleyball team’s last home match on Nov. 7.
At first, Hernandez, a senior outside hitter, was curious when she saw several cousins wearing a light blue T-shirt that read: “Keiki o ka aina” in the front and “No. 24 Hernandez” in the back.
Then a big red sign — the size of a refrigerator — followed with wave after wave of blue shirts, eventually 85 in all and each printed by her mom.
Hernandez is more than a keiki o ka aina or child of the land. She is a constant cheerleader, a versatile hitter off the bench, and someone who wants to make a difference in this world.
The 2006 Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate started as an undersized 5-foot-9 middle blocker in her first season at UHH. The following year she was a defensive specialist.
Last season, she started at right-side hitter. Then with Kawena Cubi-Otineru’s emergence this year, Hernandez took a seat on the bench — not a fun assignment for someone who never sat.
Mother — Mamo Brown — and daughter — Kaniu Hernandez — felt a special bond on Senior Night. “My mom and I are like sisters. We butt heads and fight like sisters. But I’m glad every day I have her. She’s definitely the best thing in my life,” Hernandez said. “It was hard, really, really hard, sitting on the bench,” she said. “Anybody would get antsy and want to play. But I’ve got pride in myself as far as how I took it. You can be positive or negative and it reflects on you as a person.”
UHH coach Bruce Atkinson noted that any contribution is always helpful, even if it’s vocal support.
“She’s very vocal and upbeat,” he said. “We’ve got a quiet team, so she can get others around her to become a little louder, also. She’s always cheering for the team. She also has the ability to play all the front-row positions.”
Hernandez has started five matches and played in 15. For last year’s 21-7 team that didn’t make the postseason, she started 25 matches and played in all 28.
Hernandez will graduate in May with a degree in anthropology. She plans to attend an accelerated nursing program at New York University.
“I’ve always wanted to become a nurse since I was 5 years old,” she said. “I couldn’t do the clinicals for nursing because of volleyball. My grandparents on my mom’s side passed away from colon cancer. My mom’s brother (William Brown) died from colon cancer my freshman year at UHH.
“We’ve got a prominent genetic factor in our family. My health is good, but I worry about it because of our family history.”
Joe Hernandez, a construction worker in Los Angeles, disappeared from his daughter’s life when she was 1 years old, reconnecting with her 16 years later.
“I’ve got two half-siblings,” Hernandez said. “Steven Hernandez is a security guard in Los Angeles. And my half-sister, Kahealani Hernandez, is 12 and lives in Kohala.”
When she thinks now about her mom, Hernandez wonders how someone could remain so strong through life’s obstacles: the death of her parents and brother, and the rearing of a strong-willed daughter.
“I feel like I want to give so much to her because she gave so much to me,” Hernandez said. “Being the oldest child of four, she had a lot of responsibility.
“My mom and I are like sisters. We butt heads and fight like sisters. But I’m glad every day I have her. She’s definitely the best thing in my life.”
Mamo Brown is a tax auditor and two years ago she graduated to kumu hula from Halau O Kekuhi, which is run by Nalani Kanakaole and Pualani Kanakaole Kanahele, daughters of Edith Kanakaole.
She imprinted into her daughter’s mind that family is forever, even if it’s a nonexistent connection with her distant dad, who will be watching the Vulcans at the West Regional today.
“I wanted her to have good values,” said Brown, a cousin of Chaminade coach Nahaku Brown. “Kaniu’s a hard worker and strong-minded. If she wants to achieve something, she’s going to.”
That also applies to repairing shattered relationships.
“He pretty much stepped out of my life when I was 10 and at one point I hated him for that,” Hernandez said. “But my mom said, ‘He’s still your dad. He still loves you.’
“I’m still trying to build that relationship. He started to come back into my life when I turned 17, on my birthday. I saw him every once in a while my senior year in high school, when he watched games.
“My mom taught me discipline, she taught me responsibility, she taught me priorities. A lot of decisions I make in my life I want to do it for her in my mind.”
Hernandez wears No. 24 with radiating pride. It’s the number her uncle William wore as a basketball player in college.
“I was surprised when I saw everyone in the same shirt, with ‘Keiki o ka aina’ in the front,” she said. “That hit me right to my soul, seeing everyone wearing No. 24. My uncle was a father figure to me.
“He lived with me and my mom for a long time. It was nice seeing Uncle Willie in the gym in full force that night.”
Sooner or later, UHH’s charmed season will come to an end and the team will return home. And while walking down the airport steps, the realization will hit the seniors that one chapter of their life is over.
“I’m ready for the next phase of my life,” Hernandez said. “I want to be a nurse. I love volleyball and volleyball will always be there, so will my mom.”
Mamo Brown will be the easiest one to spot at the airport. As proud as any parent could ever be, she’ll know in her heart that she got it right.
“You always want your child to turn out better than you, to accomplish more,” Brown said. “I graduated from college and she’ll probably go the next level and get her masters. I played volleyball in high school and club.
“But I’m proud that she’s actually playing college volleyball. I don’t know how to explain it. I’m always proud of her.”
Keala Kaniu Hernandez '06
Kelsey Iyo ‘06