Page 5 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - Apr 7, 2021

within a week got a reply to set up an interview video call. The powers that be must have been impressed because Ontai made the cut and flew to Los Angeles to continue the audition process.
APRIL 7, 2021
HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK 5
Merrie Spring Fest Craft Fair
April 9 &10 9am-4pm
Hawaiian Crafts, Totes & Great Sales!!!
Social Distancing & Masks Required
Handmade Crafts,
Lots of Jewelry, Sewn Items, Photography, Local Gifts,
20% OFF
Entire Purchase with coupon
10% OFF any purchase
MANONO ST. MARKETPLACE
MANONO ST. MARKETPLACE
50% OFF
Selected Items!
MANONO ST. MARKETPLACE
10% OFF (Excluding Pet Food)
MANONO ST. MARKETPLACE
20% OFF
Free Upgrade
Med to Lrg Items *except smoothies
MANONO ST. MARKETPLACE
Entire Purchase with coupon
MANONO ST. MARKETPLACE
Come get your
Bradda Pops
and check out our new store!
MANONO ST. MARKETPLACE
Build your Volcano Dream Home on these Vacant Lots
MLS
641578 641580 641581 641582 641516 641478
Price
$208,9990 $234,500 $259,000 $299,900 $208,999 $175,000
Location Size
19-4307 Ainahau Rd 19-4322 Haunani Rd 19-4290 Haunani Rd 19-4282 Haunani Rd 19-4335 Ainahau Rd 19-4300 Haunani Rd
6.37 ac 6.57 ac 7.03 ac 7.05 ac 6.37 ac 5.00 ac
Gina Hara Chun
RB 20817, SFR, e-PRO, GRI, SRS, MRP
681 Manono St. Ste 108 Hilo, HI 96720
Cell (808) 936-3297
gina@realtyhc.com • Zillow.com/profile/Gina-Hara Chun
‘Zeus’ Ontai Bolts Into Spotlight On ‘Tough as Nails’
FROM PAGE 4
When season two kicked off in February, viewers were introduced to Ontai and the 11 other competitors vying for a chance to win $200,000 and a new Ford F-150 truck. But, unlike other reality shows that thrive on the drama of elimination, Tough as Nails makes its mark by touting the importance of team- work. In this environment, Ontai shines, showing viewers around the nation what the aloha spirit is all about.
During episode four’s individual challenge, for example, Ontai and the rest of the Tough as Nails cast were tasked with herding sheep into pens. Hilarity (and a bit of frustration) en- sued as each person was seen running around yelling and chasing sheep across the field. To say it wasn’t working would be an understate- ment. Ontai was quick to take a step back and came up with a game plan to benefit everyone. Though technically an individual competition, the Kapolei High graduate realized that every- one needed to work together and stay calm, the latter of which he’s especially well-versed with as a lineman for HECO.
Catch Cyril “Zeus” Ontai III on CBS reality show Tough as Nails on Wednesdays.
PHOTO COURTESY CBS ENTERTAINMENT
for us to showcase what we can do,” he says. “If you watch from the first challenge up until now, you can see how we grew as a team, and every- one kind of found a role in every challenge.”
Ontai took the lead, lowering his voice to a calm timbre, and encouraged everyone to make a human wall to guide the sheep — and it worked.
But Ontai even shone in the individual com- petitions, winning the top spot on episode seven after picking a hundred pounds of oranges and separating the produce into 25-pound boxes based on size. It was part brute strength, part tedious, and Ontai powered through with re- silience and the win.
“I got to represent Hawai‘i and represent linemen,” he says.
“What drove me when I was on the show was that I was representing Hawai‘i, and I needed to make it count,” he says.
While each competitor was jockeying for the top individual prize, it’s not surprising that the team challenges were Ontai’s favor- ite part of the whole show. An avid athlete in high school, he was a standout strong safety/ running back on the Hurricane football team, and his performance on the field earned him a scholarship to the U.S. Naval Academy. Work- ing as part of a team is second nature for the Wai‘anae native.
Filming has wrapped for Tough as Nails sea- son two, but that doesn’t mean Ontai is any less busy. In fact, his future is looking pretty bright and filled with those who light up his life. Upon returning home, he’s been spending a lot of time with wife Meghan, son Jax, 4, and daughter Aiko, 3, all of whom couldn’t be with him while he was on set in California. He also accepted a promotion to be a linemen trainer with HECO.
From window-washing high-rises and bull- dozing tires to transitioning the Los Angeles FC stadium from a concert venue to soccer field, Tough as Nails team challenges run the gamut and test a variety of skill sets. The forti- tude it takes to accomplish big tasks like those means collaboration is required at every turn.
“My wife, Meghan, is happy about that. I won’t have to do anything dangerous any- more,” he says, with a hint of a smile in his voice.
“Every team challenge was an opportunity
Tune in to Tough as Nails Wednesdays on CBS to see if Ontai gets the job done.
NEW ON MARKET