Representing Hawai’i on the baseball field has always been something that Bronson Rivera took great pride in.

When he takes to the batter’s box at Les Murakami Stadium on Tuesday night, Rivera will accomplish that goal with the Hawaiian Islands on the back of his jersey.

But his threads won’t be in any shade of green like they were for the past three years when Rivera was a member of the Rainbow Warriors.

It will be in a gray-colored jersey with ‘HPU’ above his chest.

After a full week off from their PacWest road trip, Rivera and the Hawai’i Pacific University Sharks will take the field to face the University of Hawai’i at Manoa baseball team in a non-conference matchup.

The Sharks are in good spirits as they won eight of their past 12 games, which included a series sweep of Menlo College where Rivera blasted his 13th home run of the year to tie the program’s single-season home run record set by Aaron Asher in 2009.

Rivera currently is batting .357 with 45 hits and 45 RBIs to go along with his 13 home runs, which puts him among some of the top leaders statistically across the nation in NCAA Division II athletics.

The numbers are a byproduct of Rivera’s dedication to honing his craft.

“What makes me successful at the plate is all the work I do in the dark, that way I’m ready for it when the bright lights come on,” said the left-handed hitting Rivera.

“All the work I put in gives me confidence and trust in myself and my abilities. Every time I step in the box, I genuinely believe I’m going to crush the ball.”

Fourth-year HPU coach Dane Fujinaka could attest to Rivera’s work ethic from the very first day of fall camp.

“He’s the kind of guy that we need to kick out of the batting cage because he will keep on going,” Fujinaka said of Rivera.

“Each fall our guys vote for who the hardest workers and best teammates are on the team and Bronson was unanimously voted as the hardest worker.”

Bronson Rivera takes a swing at baseball practice at Ke’ehi Lagoon. | Photo courtesy: HPU baseball

It’s also why the lack of Division I facilities was not a hurdle that Rivera had to overcome when he transferred to HPU.

Instead, Rivera sees the advantages of HPU baseball practice being held at Ke’ehi Lagoon Beach Park.

“For me coming in, being formally at UH down the road and coming here, it’s in a sense taking a step back to the kind of fields I grew up playing on, so it allowed me to tap back into that realm and to me that’s like the sandlot, where nothing else matters but baseball,” Rivera said of the fields at Ke’ehi.

“It’s nothing special, but there’s a charm to it. Just embracing the grind and the grit behind that. It’s really like the sandlot. You just turn it into your own safe haven, your own paradise in a sense. We take a lot of pride in practicing there at Ke’ehi because we know it’s not an easy environment, but we have a blast out there.”

Humble beginnings

A native of Holualoa, Rivera grew up on the west side of the Island of Hawai’i learning the game following older brother Dorian in everything he did.

Fittingly, the older Rivera also went on to play for HPU after a brief stint at Arizona Western College.

“I fell in love with the game early on as I followed my brother around and did as he did,” Rivera said. “All he did was play baseball and when he wasn’t playing he was training or working out.”

The youngest of three siblings, Rivera also credits father Robin for the “endless amount of hours and reps” they put in together and the continued support from mother Gaylynne.

“From a young age, hard work was instilled in me from my family,” Rivera said.

The grounded foundation saw Rivera make the Konawaena varsity squad as a freshman and become the team’s leading hitter playing shortstop as a sophomore.

Bronson Rivera batted .400 and had 26 hits as a sophomore for Konawaena. | ScoringLive file photo

Things were setting up for a great junior season when the Wildcats started the 2020 season with a 3-0 record that saw Rivera show off his versatility with two innings of shutout ball with five strikeouts in a save situation.

Then the pandemic happened.

With COVID-19 restrictions limiting his junior and senior season, Rivera had to adjust and figure things out.

“That affected my development in the game and as a student and person,” he said. “I had to do everything I could for those two years to make sure I was still getting better as a ball player and young man. I give thanks to God for my path because it all helped me become the man I am today.”

Representing the home state

Bronson Rivera inks his national letter of intent to play for the University of Hawai’i during Signing Day in November 2020.

The path led Rivera to sign with the Hawai’i baseball team as a member of a nine-player signing class for the 2022 spring season under then-head coach Mike Trapasso, with dreams of having the same collegiate and professional success as fellow Big Island-boy Kolten Wong.

“It’ll mean the world to me to represent where I come from,” Rivera told KHON Sports after signing with the Rainbow Warriors in November 2020.

“Better yet, I get to play for the people of Hawai’i where I come from so that’s a real big blessing.”

When Rivera got to Manoa, Rich Hill was now the head man after taking over for Trapasso in the summer of 2021.

Rivera quickly established himself as a contributor as a college freshman in 2022, beginning the year as a pinch-hitter before being moved in the designated hitter role or at first base in the back half of the season and starting in 20 of 31 games that he appeared in.

A highlight in 2022 for Rivera came in a 5-4 win over Cal State Fullerton when he drove in two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead.

Playing time with the Rainbow Warriors decreased in the following years however.

Rivera played in 19 games in 2023, starting once in left field and four times as a designated hitter. Those opportunities were much slimmer in 2024 with just six games appeared in.

With limited playing time and aspirations to play professionally, Rivera took a chance in the portal and found himself at HPU for his final year of eligibility.

Rivera has nothing but gratitude for his time at Manoa and is looking forward to playing on the newly-renovated turf field at Les Murakami Stadium.

“I’m looking forward to going and seeing familiar faces and former teammates of mine,” he said.

“My three years at UH helped me grow and become the ball player and man I am today. I’m grateful for all those experiences and memories there, not to mention the new turf at the Les looks nice and fun to play on.”

Bronson Rivera takes a plate appearance as a member of the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors. | Photo courtesy: Hawai’i athletics

Rainbow Warrior to a Warrior of the Sea

When Fujinaka found out Rivera was in the portal, it was a no-brainer decision for him to reach out early in the summer.

Rivera didn’t pick up the phone at first however.

“At first he didn’t get back to me. Eventually towards the end of the summer he reached back out along with coach Hill and said he was really interested,” Fujinaka said.

By then open spots were dwindling on the Sharks’ roster. But Fujinaka was willing to make an exception for Rivera.

Fujinaka, whose first year at HPU coincided with Rivera’s first year at Manoa, became a fan of Rivera after his standout freshman season.

“Honestly, we didn’t really have a need because at that point it was really late and we already had a full roster, but I knew Bronson and what he was capable of after following him since his freshman year,” Fujinaka said.

“I always told my staff after we noticed he wasn’t getting a ton of opportunities at UH that if there was one guy I’d want if he was in the portal, it would be him.”

The signing of Rivera also was a momentous addition to Fujinaka’s program. Fujinaka is always looking to support young local players in the state having been one himself as an all-state catcher at Mid-Pacific.

“Bronson has been absolutely huge for our program. He’s the first local boy from a Division I school that we’ve had since I’ve been at HPU. It’s unfortunate that he wasn’t able to get the same opportunities at his previous school, but it just goes to show that sometimes, all you need is the right fit, the right environment, right opportunity and you can change the trajectory of your career.

“My hope is that other local boys see what Bronson has done with this opportunity and maybe make them realize that HPU is an option if they find themselves in a similar situation down the road.”

Regardless of what jersey he wears or what team he plays for, representing the state has always been a constant motif for Rivera.

“I believe playing for home and playing for Hawai’i means a lot,” Rivera said. “It’s truly a blessing. I never take a day for granted, especially with this being my last year. I’m very grateful for everything that has come and to be able to represent Hawai’i here at Hawai’i Pacific. I love playing in front of the local people and the home crowd.”

Bronson Rivera rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Concordia-Irvine for the HPU Sharks. | Photo courtesy: HPU baseball

When he joined the Sharks, Rivera said he was welcomed with open arms.

“It’s been a really great transition in all honesty. Coming into HPU, I was looking for a home for my last year and I felt like I found more than that here. It feels like a family and I’ve been really blessed to be given the opportunity.”

Rivera added that going on road trips to play PacWest opponents in California and being around the guys 24/7 is an “absolute blast.”

Endless hours of playing the social-deduction game ‘Mafia’ with the team is also one of Rivera’s fondest memories of the season so far.

“It’s like being a little kid and having sleepovers at your friend’s house all week. So it’s really fun and we get to play the sport we love so it’s an amazing time on the road, especially seeing new things, seeing new places, eating new foods.”

Members of the HPU baseball team pose for a photo with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Bronson Rivera is in the center of the photo, donning a blue cap for the world champion, the Los Angeles Dodgers. | Photo courtesy: HPU baseball

Sending it deep

On an episode of Shark’s Weekly, Rivera said he doesn’t have any game-day superstitions and described himself as being “routine-based.”

Every game day, Rivera drinks his coffee, eats his breakfast, lifts weights with the team and gets mentally prepared for the opponent.

Coming to HPU did require a few changes from the routine-based Rivera however.

The first was his swing.

With the help of associate head coach and hitting specialist Richie Higa, a former HPU player that earned the Shark of the Year award in 2023, Rivera calibrated his left-handed bat for optimum performance.

“I’d say the biggest adjustment I’ve made in the offseason was I tuned up my swing a little bit as far as mechanics wise and tried creating a more consistent swing that will help me out throughout the course of the season,” Rivera said.

“I have nothing but good things to say about coach Richie Higa. He’s an awesome hitting coach. It’s been really refreshing to kind of have a more modern, younger staff I’d say here at HPU. They bring different perspectives that I necessarily didn’t have before.”

Rivera’s prowess at the plate has also allowed the coaching staff to use him in multiple spots in the batting order, seeing time from anywhere between leadoff in the past five games to the seven-hole spot which he started the season at. He will slide to the heart of the order at No. 5 against the Rainbow Warriors with designated hitter Kan Taguchi healthy again.

In addition to a tweak offensively, another change Rivera needed to make was getting acclimated to the outfield after being an infielder for majority of his life.

“The switch to outfield has been really fun for me and I enjoy it,” said Rivera, who starts at left field. “Doesn’t matter what position I’m playing, I’m always going to give it my all.”

Rivera also credits assistant coach Brian “Zabs” Zablan for helping him with the position change.

Zablan, who has over 20 years of experience coaching high school baseball in the islands along with working with Hawai’i’s top travel ball team, said that reps and practice in the fall helped prepare Rivera well for the position.

Bronson Rivera catches a ball in the outfield during a HPU home game at Hans L’Orange Park. | Photo: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

He added that Rivera needed to adjust to tracking and catching the ball as well as communicating with other outfielders, but noted that the former infielder has all the tools to succeed in the new position.

“Bronson was a natural fit for us in the outfield,” said Zablan. “He has the physical attributes to play at the next level and we are fortunate to have him as a player, but more importantly a leader and major part of the Hawai’i Pacific Sharks’ ohana.”

First pitch for the Sharks’ game against the Rainbow Warriors is slated for 6:35 p.m. Radio broadcast of the contest will be available on 95.1 FM / AM 760 and on this website.