WEBVTT

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- [Aven] With the lava
flow on the Big Island

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impacting the land, air
quality, and people's safety,

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the Hawaii National Guard was called up

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to support the Hawaii County community.

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One of those service
members was Army Specialist

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and Rainbow Warrior defensive
lineman, Kelii Padello.

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- It means everything.

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Just growing up here and seeing how

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beautiful this island is

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and seeing a disaster that's happened,

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it means a lot to give back to the people

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and give back to the land.

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- [Aven] As a student athlete

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on the University of Hawaii at Manoa

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and a soldier in the
Hawaii Army National Guard,

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Padello had to put down
his football cleats

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and pick up his combat boots.

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He got the phone call to serve his state,

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but first had to make a phone call

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to head coach Nick Rolovich and tell him

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he was headed to the Big Island.

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- KK's always communicated very well

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about his responsibilities, balancing them

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with UH, school, football,
and the National Guard.

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And then he called me a few weeks ago

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and said, "Hey, I'm gonna probably miss

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"some of training camp, because I gotta

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"stay over here and help."

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That, to me, that's
gonna come first for KK.

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- [Aven] Padello is part of the security

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and rover teams supporting Hawaii County.

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The soldiers and airmen on those teams

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work with the Hawaii Police Department

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to patrol the community and stop looting

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and other illegal activities.

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They also help observe security
checkpoints and monitor

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air quality levels around
areas impacted by lava.

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- It was very sad to see
people that's been affected

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by it, but that's why I signed up.

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That's why I wear this uniform, to serve

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and protect the people
of the state of Hawaii

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and the United States of America.

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- I have tremendous respect for him,

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and everyone who puts on that uniform.

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He's a guy who's not the biggest guy,

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not the fastest guy, but it's hard for you

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to pick somebody else out of that 105

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that works harder than him.

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- [Aven] Playing football, you can

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rack up stats and earn trophies.

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In the military, you can earn
certificates and ribbons.

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But for Padello, helping the community

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and people of Hawaii is its own reward.

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- To be able to know that
you helped out these people,

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it's not about the awards
that you get or the ribbons.

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It's just being able to
say that you signed up

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for this, you did your job.

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- [Aven] Reporting from Pahoa,

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I'm Army Corporal Aven Santiago.