BEIJING BOUND. Natasha Kai, the first Hawaiian player on the U.S. Women’s National Team, was in Portland this month for a soccer match with Mexico. The U.S. squad won 4-0. Players stayed after the game to sign memorabilia for excited and appreciative fans. (AR Photos/Jennifer Llewellyn and Jennifer Lim)

From The Asian Reporter, V17, #44 (October 30, 2007), page 10 & 16.

By Josephine Bridges

When she was five years old, Natasha Kai promised her father that she would play in the Olympics. "He saw something in me when I was young," said the first Hawaiian player on the U.S. Women’s National Team, "and my family was behind me all the way." Here in Portland, on October 17, more than 10,000 soccer fans watched Natasha Kai and her teammates in action before they take a break and then begin to train for the 2008 Summer Olympics in China. Those in attendance were not disappointed: The rain held off during the match, and the crowd witnessed U.S. goals scored by Kristine Lilly, Abby Wambach, Kai, and Carli Lloyd.

Natasha Kai had been in Portland once before, but she didn’t remember its being so cold. In the lobby of her hotel, however, it was warm enough that she was wearing a tank top and displaying her favorite tattoo, which covers her entire right arm and took "fourteen or fifteen hours" broken up into four sessions. Tattoos may sometimes be considered a sign of youthful rebellion, but this couldn’t be further from the truth in Natasha Kai’s case. The names of her mother and father and all her five siblings appear there, and she says, "I take them with me everywhere I go."

Fortunately, the 24-year-old athlete likes to travel, because she’s constantly on the move. "I don’t live anywhere," she says at first, then remembers that she can always sleep on the couch in her family home, or on the beach in Hawaii. Brazil is Natasha Kai’s favorite of all the places where she has travelled, but Hawaii is home, the place she will always return to, and she encourages her teammates to visit her there. It’s no surprise that several have taken her up on the invitation to hike and surf the manini, small waves.

Natasha Kai’s teammates have earned her respect and affection. Like herself, half of the players on the team are new, she points out: "It’s the next generation of players mixed in with the veterans, and it’s a great mix." While she admits that her tattoos and piercings make her stand out among her teammates, she also believes, "We all stand out as individuals, with one thing in common: the desire and heart we have for this sport."

"Natasha brings a flair to the game and to this team that is hard to come by. She is full of creative and daring moves," explained teammate Stephanie Lopez. "Tash takes risks that offensive players need to in order to score goals. She brings an added dimension to our team that keeps opposing teams on their toes."

It’s hard to imagine Natasha Kai not playing soccer, and she can see herself in the game "until it’s time to put up my boots." At that point, she plans to return to Hawaii and join the police department. "I love helping people," she says.

"I don’t think a lot of people know about me," she muses, but she’d be surprised. There are, of course, a few things the general public doesn’t know. Her first tattoo — on her back — was her last name with two turtles. "Turtles are amakua, the family guardian," she explains. "I’m not a morning person, my favorite color is pink, and my fetish is belt buckles. And shoes," she continues. "Poke — raw fish with Hawaiian seasoning — is my favorite food. And I don’t own a brush, so I never brush my hair." She has a big gray F150 pickup and a miniature long-haired dachshund named Chloe. She likes to dance, and has choreographed a couple of hip-hop routines for her team.

Natasha Kai may have an edgy appearance, but she is a polite young woman with a deep respect for her family, her home state, her team, and her country. Others in turn respect her. Abby Wambach, a teammate who scored her 86th international career goal in the match in Portland, takes note of Natasha Kai’s enthusiasm for the game: "She brings a lot of intensity and energy."

To learn more about U.S. Soccer, visit <www.ussoccer.com>.