KEALAKEKUA — He can get you touchdowns from anywhere. He can run the ball. He can play quarterback. He can return punts deep into the opposition’s territory. He can lock up the other team’s best receiver in the secondary.
What can’t Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio do?
Konawaena football’s 3-star wide receiver has played an instrumental role in the Wildcats’ dominant run over the last couple of seasons. The Swiss-army knife has played snaps in a variety of positions thus far in 2023, including receiver, quarterback, defensive back and punt returner.
He is a starter on both sides of the ball, sometimes playing every down each game.
“When we get into bigger games this season, we obviously need players like that,” Konawaena coach Brad Uemoto said of Anahu-Ambrosio’s diverse skillset. “In our state title run last year, he made plays in a multitude of different ways that changed the outcome, and that includes not just scoring.”
“I like playing receiver (the most) because I enjoy scoring touchdowns and hearing the crowd cheer,” Anahu-Ambrosio explained. “But I like to play all over.”
The junior’s impact on the field was felt from a young age. Uemoto witnessed Anahu-Ambrosio’s potential first-hand when his son played with the young star in Pop Warner, and then watched him develop into the player he is now.
“You could tell back then that he was special,” Uemoto said. “You could see at a young age that he was gonna be a special player.”
“I saw my brother training and playing when I was younger, and when I first touched the ball, I fell in love with it and went for it,” Anahu-Ambrosio added.
From there, Anahu-Ambrosio’s game kept ascending to noticeable heights. Beginning in high school in the fall of 2021, he joined his older brother, Hezekiah, to play football at Timpview in Provo, Utah, to help expand their games. Hezekiah now plays collegiately at the University of Nevada as a linebacker.
Following the brothers’ season on the mainland, the pair returned to the Big Island in 2022 to play for Konawaena’s state championship team. In Anahu-Ambrosio’s sophomore campaign and inaugural season with the Wildcats, he hauled in 72 catches for 1,083 yards and 22 touchdowns — earning an All-State nod. His quickness, field vision and catching ability made him an unstoppable force for all opposing teams.
“You could see that he came back from the mainland with a better skill-set,” Uemoto said. “He got stronger and he matured — and he came back with a different attitude.”
Now in his junior season looking to repeat state glory, the standout has notched 54 catches for 896 yards and 15 touchdowns — leading Hawaii Division I in receiving yards and touchdowns through eight games (per Scoring Live).
Anahu-Ambrosio’s fast start to his high school career has earned him multiple Division I collegiate offers, including from Hawaii, Nevada, Washington State and BYU. Although he’s only a junior, the star wideout hopes he can commit prior to his senior season.
“I’m looking to join a passing offense,” Anahu-Ambrosio said. “Hoping to make that decision soon.”
“I want him to make a good decision for himself, what’s best for him football-wise, educationally and for his family,” Uemoto added. “And I think he’ll make the right choice in the end.”
In the meantime, Anahu-Ambrosio will continue building upon the culture he has already helped set in Konawaena’s quest to repeat as champions. Being one of the squad’s captains, Anahu-Ambrosio has evolved into one of the primary leaders on the team — helping set the standard for hard work and preparation week in and week out.
“It’s crazy, because when my brother first started playing here, they didn’t even lift before practice,” he said. “Nowadays, it’s completely changed — we put in the work.
“I’m just trying to help build a legacy for Konawaena football and help change the program. We have a big target on our backs, but we’ve been working every day. As long as we put in the work, the results will show.”
Up next
Following their bye this week, Anahu-Ambrosio and Wildcats (7-1 overall) will return to action against Kea‘au at 5 p.m. Friday at Julian R. Yates Field.