Moore emerges as Hawaii Football’s leading tackler

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – It’s a bye week for the Univeristy of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team, but the defense continues to rack up honors.

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Just one month into the season, and defensive back Kona Moore leads all of college football in tackles.

Moore is a firm believer in the mantra that “effort always beats talent.”

The work he’s put in this offseason is a result of that.

The Saint Louis grad leads Hawaii’s defense with 30 tackles in the first three games of the season, and he’s just getting started.

“I think we need to be able to create more turnovers to boost the offense a little bit, give them confidence as well. If we can get to the quarterback, it kind of helps makes everyone else’s job a lot easier,” Moore said.

No one’s happier for Moore’s success this year than his teammates and coaches, after watching him endure multiple season-ending injuries.

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Among the scariest moments came in 2023, when he left the practice field in an ambulance after colliding into another player.

He says the mental stress was just as grueling as the physical rehab.

“It was just more of a confidence issue, getting over that mental barrier. I felt like I always had confidence in my playing abilities, but it was just a matter of showing it to the world,” Moore said.

In order to perform at his best, the Kapolei native has made it a point to prioritize time away from football.

“Those small little gaps throughout my day, just making sure that I am away from football, I keep mentally away, and I’m not just always thinking about football. I think if we can find time for ourselves, things that we enjoy doing at least a little bit, I think that helps,” Moore said.

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