HONOLULU – Former University of Hawai'i All-American Chad Owens is among the three inductees into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
 
The class also includes Rey Maualuga and Brandon Manumaleuna.
 
The Class of 2026 will be formally enshrined during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend on January 16-18, 2026.
 
Owens, a four-year letterman for the Rainbow Warriors from 2001-04, was recently inducted in the UH Sports Circle of Honor in 2025 as well as the Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame and Canadian Football League Hall of Fame.
 
In 2001, the Honolulu native was named Freshman All-American as a return specialist after breaking and tying three NCAA records. As a senior in 2024, he was a second-team All-American and recipient of the Mosi Tatupu Award.
 
Owens was selected in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He went on to play nine seasons in the CFL and in 2012, he won the league's Most Outstanding Player Award after setting a CFL record for combined yards in a single season. He was a four-time CFL All-Star and two-time Most Outstanding Special Teams Player and was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 2024.
 
The inductees were selected from a field of over 100 nominees and eight finalists by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
 
Owens is the ninth former Rainbow Warrior to be selected into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame along with Ken Niumatalolo (2014, Coach), Jesse Sapolu (2015), Mark Tuinei (2015), Ma'a Tanuvasa (2017), Alapati "Al" Noga (2021), Falaniko "Niko" Noga (2021), Tommy Kaulukukui (2022, Contributor), and Harry Montague-Field (2023, Contributor).