Fall Camp Day 1 Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN
HAWAII FOOTBALL PRESEASON NOTES & PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
BY HSRN STAFF | JULY 24, 2024
PRESEASON NOTES VIA HAWAI’I ATHLETICS
- Head coach Timmy Chang begins his third season at his alma mater, where he has compiled an 8-18 career mark and 5-11 in Mountain West play.
- UH will play a 12-game schedule for the first time since 2017 (not counting 2020 COVID season). Five opponents played in bowl games last season and the Warriors will play the Mountain West’s last three champions – Boise State (2023), Fresno State (2022), and Utah State (2021).
- UH will make five appearances on national television, including its ninth all-time appearance on a network station for the Aug. 31 home game against UCLA on CBS. It marks the program’s first appearance on network television since 2012 (at USC on FOX) and first home game on network television since 2005 (vs. Fresno State on ABC).
- Three other games will be picked up by CBS Sports Network as part of the Mountain West’s television package – Oct. 5 at San Diego State (2:00 p.m. HT), Oct. 12 vs. Boise State (5:00 p.m. HT), and Nov. 9 vs. UNLV (4:00 p.m. HT) – while UH’s road game at Washington State, Oct. 19, will be broadcast on The CW, marking UH’s first-ever appearance on that network.
- After playing all four of its rivalry trophy games in 2023 for the first time in program history, UH will play only one in 2024 – UNLV for the Island Showdown Trophy. The teams will meet Nov. 9 in Honolulu in a nationally televised game on CBS Sports Network.
- UH will open the season against an FCS opponent (Delaware State) for the first time since 2009. Along with Delaware State, Northern lowa is also on the schedule, marking the first time UH will play two FCS opponents in the same season since 2007. UH has won its last 19 games against FCS opponents dating back to 2001.
- The coaching staff includes five new members – DC/CB coach Dennis Thurman, QB coach Dan Morrison, OL coach Derek Faavi, DT coach Jeff Reinebold, and SAF coach Nick Locher. Thurman, Morrison, and Reinebold have a combined 119 years of coaching experience.
- The 2024 season marks the fourth season that Hawaii will play its home games at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex. UH has an 11-9 all-time record at Ching Complex.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
| Name | Pronunciation |
| Micah Alejado | ah-lee-HA-doh |
| Pofele Ashlock | po-fey-lay |
| Carlito Capanang Jr. | ka-puh-nang |
| Alika Cavaco-Amoy | ah-LEE-kah • ka-vah-ko ah-moy (rhymes w/boy) |
| Nick Cenacle | sen-uh-cull |
| Dekel Crowdus | da-KEL CROWD-us |
| Kamalu DeBlake | kah-mah-loo |
| Ka’ena Decambra | ka-eh-nah |
| Ha’aheo Dela Cruz | ha-ah-hey-oh |
| Nick Delgadillo | del-gah-dee-yo |
| Nalu Emerson | NAH-loo |
| Ezra Evaimalo | eh-vie-mah-low |
| Luke Felix-Fualalo | foo-ah-la-low |
| Josiah Fetui | feh-TOO-ee |
| Junior Fiaui | fee-ow-ee |
| Malachi Finau | fee-now |
| Deliyon Freeman | del-e-yawn |
| Jarvis Heimuli | hey-moo-lee |
| Patrick Hisatake | hee-sah-tah-kay |
| Kimo Holo Holt-Mossman | key-mo |
| Wynden Ho’ohuli | ho-oh-HOO-lee |
| Tariq Jones | tah-REEK |
| Judah Kaio | ka-ee-oh |
| Blaze Kamoku | kah-MO-koo |
| Micah Kaonohi-Kaihenui | cow-ah-no-he • kye-hay-new-e |
| Kolo Kaululaau | koh-low • kah-ooh-loo-lah-ow |
| Tryton Keli’ikipi | kay-lee ee-kee-pee |
| Noa Keohuloa | keh-oh-hoo-low-ah |
| Noah Kema | keh-mah |
| Kai Kluth | klooth |
| Lesterlaisene Lagafuaina | lester-lie-seh-neh • long-ah-foo-ee-nah |
| Tevita Loketi | tah-VEE-tah • low-KEH-tee |
| Kayde Mahuka | mah-who-kah |
| Peter Manuma | mah-new-mah |
| Lautaimi Manuma | lau-tah-ee-me • mah-new-mah |
| Micah Mariteragi | mah-<r>ee-teh-<r>ong-ee |
| Kansei Matsuzawa | con-say • maht-soo-ZAH-wah |
| Isaac Maugaleoo | mon-gah-lay-oh-oh |
| Kilinahe Mendiola Jensen | key-lee-nah-hey |
| Makana Meyer | mah-kuh nah |
| Sitani Mikaele | see-tah-nee • me-kah-eh-lay |
| James Milovale | me-lo-VAH-lay |
| Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala | ta-mah-TOE-ah • mo-kee-OW • ah-tee-mah-la-la |
| Sergio Muasau | moo-uh-sow (like cow) |
| Tu’i Muti | too ee • MOO tee |
| Koali Nishigaya | ko-AH-lee • nee-she GAH-yah |
| Jamih Otis | juh-my |
| Jonah Panoke | pa-NO-kay |
| Meki Pei | meh-key • pay |
| Kuao Peihopa | koo-OW • pay-ho-pah |
| Vaifanua Peko | vie-fa-new-ah • peh-ko |
| Zoram Petelo | zo-rum • pay-tell-oh |
| Alvin Puefua | poo-eh-foo-ah |
| Karsyn Pupunu | poo-POO-new |
| Anthony Sagapolutele | saw-ga-po-loo-teh-lee |
| John-Keawe Sagapolutele | kay-ah-vay • saw-ga-po-loo-teh-lee |
| Josh Sagapolutele | saw-ga-po-loo-teh-lee |
| Oakie Salave a | sah-lah-VAY-ah |
| Brayden Schager | SHAY-ger |
| Zhen Sotelo | SO-TEH-lOW |
| Maurice Ta ala | ta-AH-la |
| Tasi Tadio | tah-see • tah-dee-oh |
| Devon Tauaefa | tao-uh-ef-uh |
| Jay Tauala-Harris | tao-ah-lah |
| Matagi Thompson | muh-TONG-ee |
| Tama Uiliata | ta-mah • who-lee-ah-tah |
| Tristan Walamau-Galindo | why-ah-mao guh-lin-doh |
| Riis Weber | reece |
| Noah Wily | why-lee |
Three players to watch for in Hawaii-Stanford’s Week 0 matchup
HONOLULU – Déjà vu for a few. The University of Hawai’i football team will open a campaign against Stanford once again in 2026, this time traveling to “The Farm” on the continent to take on a brand-new coaching staff and very similar Cardinal team...
Hawai‘i Football Faces Early Measuring Stick in Season Opener at Stanford
The expectations surrounding Hawai‘i football are different entering the 2026 season. After a nine-win campaign a year ago, the Rainbow Warriors open Saturday at Stanford with an opportunity to immediately show whether they’re ready to take...
Hawaiian Airlines becomes first official jersey patch sponsor for the University of Hawai’i
HONOLULU – History long in the making. In a college sports world that continues to search for new streams of revenue, the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa tapped into a longtime friend of UH athletics on Tuesday afternoon as the school announced...
Major movement in Lasquero’s HS Football rankings after the first three weeks
Michael Lasquero gives his Top 25 best teams in the state heading into the fourth weekend of the Hawaii High School Football season.1. Mililani (2-0) Previous rank: 2 Last week: beat No. 7 Saint Louis, 42-0 This week: vs. McClymonds (California)...
Aluli, Dianda help Hawai’i secure first win of the year over Idaho
HONOLULU – Tally one in the win column. The University of Hawai’i women’s soccer team put together a cohesive 90 minutes of action on Saturday afternoon, posting the team’s first shutout and first multi-goal match of the season in a 2-0 victory...
Kahuku clocks Kamehameha-Kapālama in first-ever trip to the hill
HONOLULU – There’s a reason they play all four quarters. After getting shutout in the first two quarters of the program’s first-ever trip into the hills of Kapālama, the No. 3-ranked Kahuku Red Raiders (2-0) turned up the heat after...
Saint Louis shutout for first time since 2012 as Mililani makes statement
MILILANI – Mowed down in Millville. The No. 2-ranked Mililani Trojans (2-0) made their case for the state’s top ranking on Saturday night, crushing the No. 7-ranked Saint Louis Crusaders (0-2) behind a dominant three-phase performance, 42-0....
Campbell Sabers get back on track with blowout win over Moanalua, 56-7
For the second straight game of the season, the reigning Open Division state champions found themselves facing an early deficit. The response was different this time around. Charlesten Salazar’s 96-yard kickoff return sparked a string of 59...
Kapolei cruises by Waipahu behind Kapahu’s record-setting night
KAPOLEI – Rocked ‘em like a hurricane. After seeing their season opener cancelled from the effects of Hurricane Lala, the No. 4-ranked Kapolei Hurricanes (1-0) provided a storm of their own with a dominant 50-15 victory over No. 6-ranked Waipahu...
Hawaiʻi Tourism & Gaming Working Group Takes Closer Look at Lotteries, Online Gaming
During its latest meeting, the Hawai’i Tourism and Gaming Working Group focused its attention on examining not only how other states generate revenue through gaming, but how those systems are structured, regulated and used to fund public needs....