Moore to elementary school students: ‘Do your homework’

A former NFL wide receiver let Kahakai Elementary School students in on a little secret Tuesday morning: Do your homework because it will mean more work for your teacher.

Nat Moore, who played for the Miami Dolphins following the 1974 draft, said he, as a pupil, disliked homework but eventually learned the trick that motivated him to complete it. Not to mention, homework helps keiki learn and better prepares them for the future.

“If I did my homework, the teachers would have to check it while I’m out playing,” Moore said to dozens of students who filled the school’s makai field. “That way when they go home, they won’t have any free time.”

That trick was one of many tidbits several football players and cheerleaders shared with more than a hundred Kahakai fourth- and fifth-graders. The event is sponsored by the Nat Moore Foundation, launched in 1998 by Moore, with the mission of “helping kids help themselves.”

Present at the Kahakai event were Moore; retired Seattle Seahawks running back Fred McCrary; Indianapolis Colts center Samson Satele; Denver Broncos cheerleader Heather Hartman and Miami Dolphins cheerleader Samantha Ruiz.

The group spent more than an hour motivating and inspiring the youngsters. They also used learning as a major component of the event and gave away goodies as a reward for youngsters who were able to answer questions about the session.

“Every day you get up thank God you have an opportunity to breathe and thank your parents,” McCrary told the students. … “Every day go to school.”

One of the youngsters who took part in the event, Breeze Chinen, 10, said it was really cool to have famous people come and speak to the school where students do not get the opportunity to meet many like them and to see what is possible in life if you work hard.

“They show you that you can get to big things,” the fifth-grader said. “Thank you for coming to our school and sharing with us what it’s like.”