{
  "id": 646892,
  "title": "Why BYU’s Kalani Sitake went home — for the first time since birth",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/why-byus-kalani-sitake-went-home-for-the-first-time-since-birth",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-12T08:30:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/why-byu-kalani-sitake-went-083054693.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "BYU football player Kalani Sitake returned to his native Tonga for the first time since birth. Sitake, who was born in Tonga and later moved to Hawaii with his family shortly after his birth, expressed his excitement about visiting his homeland. The 50-year-old Sitake told USA TODAY Sports that he hadn't returned to Tonga since infancy. During his playing days at BYU, Sitake even served a mission in Oakland for the Latter Day Saints.\n\nSitake's return to Tonga served a dual purpose. He and a group of 50 BYU representatives, including assistant coaches Fesi Sitake and Sione Po’uha, visited the island to participate in the grand opening of the We Are One Tonga Center. The center was established to help Tongan residents prepare for remote-technological jobs, such as data entry. The islands have a population of approximately 100,000 people.\n\nSitake's visit combined service work with reconnecting with his roots. The group of 50 individuals, including BYU football players, conducted youth sports camps and helped launch the employment center. Sitake emphasized the positive impact of the trip, stating, \"It was all positive things. It was… it was a really cool moment.\" He expressed his intention to return to Tonga annually to continue his service and reconnect with his heritage.",
  "summary": "BYU coach Kalani Sitake, the only Tongan head coach in the NCAA, finally returned home to his roots 50 years after his family left the islands.",
  "key_points": [
    "Kalani Sitake, BYU football player, returned to Tonga for first time since birth.",
    "Sitake and 50 BYU representatives opened We Are One Tonga Center.",
    "Visit combined service work with reconnecting to Tongan heritage."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Kalani Sitake's first return to Tonga since infancy strengthens his connection to his roots while advancing his mission to bring skills and opportunities to the island's 100,000 residents.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}