Kemoeatu's work ethic rooted in family

The proposed wall in question was four stories high. Too high and apparently too much for Chris Kemoeatu and older brother Ma'ake to help build.

Manako Kemoeatu gave his two oldest sons only two days to carry various supplies -- rocks, cement, water -- to the top of a steep hill so he could build the wall. On the second day, however, Chris and Ma'ake were both so exhausted they became convinced they couldn't finish their portion of a job that didn't pay very well in the first place.

That isn't the point, Manako told his sons. If you don't finish, how will we feed our family with the money I'm supposed to earn for building the wall• He made them a promise: If they somehow completed the Herculean task, any other challenges they faced in life would seem small by comparison.

Somehow, Chris and his brother finished the job, lugging the remaining supplies to the top of the hill. The wall was built, and Manako Kemoeatu earned enough money to feed his family.

"Dad was real strict when we were growing up," said Chris, a sixth-round draft pick in 2005 -- the 204th player selected -- turned starting left guard for the 2008 Steelers. "He taught us to be humble and loyal. We grew up in the church, but we grew up poor, too. It made us realize that we had to work hard for whatever we wanted."

"Dad is one of the big reasons why Chris is successful today," said Ma'ake, a starting defensive tackle for Carolina who entered the league in 2002 as an undrafted free agent and joined the Panthers after four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. "Chris worked hard to get where he's at. Dad always told us if you work really hard, don't be surprised if you get to where you want to go."

Pride and power

Born in Tonga in the South Pacific while being raised in Hawaii from the age of 3, Chris is a product of his different environments who learned his father's lessons well.

He's a self-made NFL starter who overcame his unfamiliarity with football as a youth to earn a scholarship to the University of Utah. He later becoming an offensive line stalwart on coach Urban Meyer's undefeated team that routed Pitt, 35-7, in the Fiesta Bowl following the 2004 season.

He joined the Steelers as a late-round draft pick but patiently waited his turn while learning the nuances of his position from Alan Faneca, one of the best guards in the game who became one of his best friends.

Kemoeatu, 6-foot-3, 344 pounds, is a thickly constructed bear of a man with surprisingly nimble feet who has been known to polish off defenders while opening holes for his running backs. He's a potentially lethal run-blocker and developing as a pass protector.

"First and foremost about Chris is his power," said West Coast-based agent Ken Vierra, who represents Chris and Ma'ake. "When he hits NFL-caliber people, it's an awesome thing to behold. What he has as a guard, you can't coach it, and most guys don't have it. You look around the league, and there's a lot of good guards, but you don't see guys go flying like you do when Chris hits them."

Since becoming a starter this season, Kemoeatu has attempted to show that he's more than just a hard-hitting football player. Exceptionally quiet, he is slowly emerging from his shell while revealing more of his personality.

"He's got a great sense of humor," said Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex, who along with fellow lineman Willie Colon, are Kemoeatu's best friends on the team.

"He's a lot funnier than people think, because they don't think he talks. He has me and Willie cracking up all the time.

"That man can dance, too. He can get down. Don't let him tell you different. Put some music on in the locker room when ya'll (reporters) ain't around, and he can cut a rug."

Kemoeatu agreed that he keeps that part of his personality away from outsiders.

"When I'm out with the guys, that's the one time you get to be yourself," he said. "If the fellas weren't there, I wouldn't be dancing. I'll talk to anybody, but there's certain stuff I'll (say) to them that I wouldn't say to anybody (else)."

Fueled by anger

He doesn't mind discussing how much he has changed since joining the Steelers three seasons ago.

"When I first came to the Steelers, I was kind of mad," said Kemoeatu, who will make eighth pro start today against the Cincinnati Bengals. "I got drafted late. I was disappointed about that. Once I got here, I was glad it happened the way that it did."

Namely, Faneca happened. The veteran guard went out of his way to help ease Kemoeatu's transition to the NFL.

"I'm real thankful that I got to learn from probably the best (guard) I've ever seen play," Kemoeatu said. "As far as the way he played and his passion for the game, I respect that a lot. I can't be Alan Faneca and do everything he does, but I'm going to try to live up to, play and think the way that he does."

Now with the New York Jets, Faneca still maintains close contact with Kemoeatu.

"Chris is a good friend, a hard worker, and has a lot of talent to go far in this league," Faneca said in a recent text message.

Football on the down low

And to think Kemoeatu almost didn't get the chance to play football.

In Tonga -- a group of 36 inhabited islands located south of Samoa - rugby was his father's sport of choice. Manako Kemoeatu forbid his sons from playing American football. He demanded they concentrate on academics to have a chance for a better life.

Chris, however, had other ideas. He would rush home from school and finish his homework and chores so he could sneak outside and play flag football without his parents' knowledge.

"Growing up, we didn't (have a) TV in our house," Chris said. "We couldn't afford it. I didn't really understand football until I went to my friend's house and watched it on TV. I loved played playing it more than I did watching it."

Eventually, Manako came around to his sons' way of thinking and attended their high school games.

"Dad didn't even know you could get a (college) scholarship through football," said Chris, who was named Hawaii's top high school defensive player in 2000. "That's when he started supporting it."

Ma'ake enrolled at Utah in 1998. Chris and another brother, Tevita, arrived at Utah three years later.

At Utah, Chris made the transition from defense to offense. As a junior, he switched from left to right guard under the guidance of Meyer, who had replaced Ron McBride.

After taking the job at Florida, Meyer tried to recruit a fourth Kemoeatu brother, Benji, who is now a freshman guard at West Virginia.

Chris said Benji selected West Virginia because of the school's proximity to Pittsburgh - Tongan families are traditionally close-knit.

When the NFL season ends, Chris, Benji and Ma'ake return home to Hawaii to reunite with their parents and four brothers and sisters.

"It's a good thing understanding your traditions and knowing where you're from," Chris said. "All of that stuff we did growing up, we still do today. The custom back home is that men do all the cooking. It's been that way my whole life."

In keeping with that tradition, Chris prepares huge feasts with Ma'ake consisting of wild pigs, cows and chickens that they personally hunt and cook outside on wooden poles.

The tradition extends beyond food.

"Tongan is our first language," Chris said. "When we're at home, that's the only thing we speak in the house.

"At first, I was mad about it. We'd get teased in school because we couldn't speak English. But now I understand, and I'm glad my parents raised us the traditional way. It makes you appreciate what you have that much more."