Fall has taken on new meaning for Max Unger. Weeks that were once filled with the sound of clashing helmets during training camp have been traded in for back-to-school routines with his two girls.
Unger is adding HPA board meetings to his schedule, as well, thanks to his recent appointment as a trustee. He brings a unique perspective and a deep personal connection to all things Ka Makani. “When the opportunity to be on the board at HPA came around, I was really excited,” he says. “I’m looking forward to once again putting time and effort into something I believe in.”
Unger hung up his cleats in 2019 after a highly-decorated decade in the NFL. Slimmed down from his once hulking form as a center with the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints, Unger has embraced the slower pace of being back home.
“The NFL schedule was really grueling,” Unger reflects. “Getting back into a routine on the Big Island and spending time with my friends and family has been really good.”
When it comes to his new duties on the board, Unger makes it no secret that he has things to learn, joking that he’s never had a “real job” in his life. But just like a rookie in the NFL, Unger has been an eager study.
“You go from being a student here to diving right into the nuts and bolts of how the school works behind the scenes,” Unger says. “It’s been a very rewarding and interesting experience. I’m learning a lot. My goal is for the school to have the same impact on students today as it did on me.”
After leaving HPA, Unger played college football at the University of Oregon, earning All-American honors and multiple first-team All-Conference selections. He was selected in the second round of the 2009 draft by the Seahawks — quickly earning a reputation as a hard and reliable worker who was beloved by coaches and teammates alike during his NFL tenure. His life since graduation has given him a new appreciation for how truly special HPA was.
My goal is for the school to have the same impact on students today as it did on me.”
“When I would explain my high school experience, no one could truly understand it,” Unger says. “When it comes to the whole-school approach — education, sports, and what you do outside of the classroom — HPA stands out, head and shoulders in a crowd of some elite schools. I always have had a lot of pride in going to school at HPA.”
Unger’s parents, Cynda and Keith Unger, were members of the class of 1975, and his sister, Laysan Cartwright Unger ’02, also attended the school, as well as many other family members. “HPA has been a huge part of our lives,” he says. “It’s an experience a lot of people don’t get in high school. I’ve always felt a connection to this school and have been invested in its success.”
Unger has been to the pinnacle of the football world, playing in front of millions of fans during a pair of Super Bowls, and ultimately winning a championship ring in 2014 with the Seahawks. But on a classic Waimea day, clad in palaka overlooking the Stan Shutes Track, he can still vividly recall the memories he made sporting Ka Makani red.
“I will say this, truthfully, the training camps I had at HPA were some of the hardest I’ve been a part of,” Unger says with a laugh. “I have tons of love for HPA, and it’s big for me to be able to serve this board and our school community. The fact that they chose me means a lot. I’m stoked.”