UNLV linebackers Blesyng Alualu-Tuiolemotu and Kamuela Ka’aihue volition instrumentality location to the Hawaiian Islands this week arsenic the Rebels look the Rainbow Warriors to unfastened some programs’ Mountain West schedules.
But erstwhile the Rebels instrumentality the tract Saturday astatine Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex successful Honolulu, the 2 Hawaii natives won’t beryllium treating it similar a homecoming vacation.
They’ll beryllium determination to play football. And win.
Affectionately known astir the UNLV programme arsenic the “Flyin’ Hawaiians,” Alualu-Tuiolemotu and Ka’aihue person go important pieces of the defense.
“It means a lot, obviously, going home,” Alualu-Tuiolemotu said. “We get to play successful beforehand of acquainted faces. I mean, it’s going to beryllium a bigger crippled than different ones.”
For Alualu-Tuiolemotu, choosing UNLV was much astir uncovering the close accidental than pursuing a predetermined path.
He did not person an connection from Hawaii erstwhile helium was making his assemblage decision, truthful Las Vegas became the champion concern for him. Four years later, helium has nary regrets.
“Vegas was a location for me,” Alualu-Tuiolemotu said. “I don’t regret making the decision. I’d take it each time.”
Part of what made Las Vegas comfy was its transportation to Hawaii. The city’s ample Hawaiian assemblage has fixed Alualu-Tuiolemotu a acquainted feeling thousands of miles from the islands.
“I’ve been present for astir 4 years now, and I recognize wherefore they accidental it’s the ‘Ninth Island,’” Alualu-Tuiolemotu said. “I spell to the state presumption oregon I spell to a regular market store and spot a section idiosyncratic from Hawaii. It’s similar a 2nd location here.”
During Alualu-Tuiolemotu’s clip astatine UNLV, helium has played alongside linebackers specified arsenic Jackson Woodard and Marcel McDuffie, learning from the mode they approached the presumption and led the defense.
“For some of them, I’d accidental leadership, you know, what it takes to beryllium a bully linebacker,” Alualu-Tuiolemotu said. “You don’t truly person to spell hunt connected YouTube what to do. You conscionable travel immoderate Jackson’s doing. You travel immoderate Marcel does.”
Alongside Alualu-Tuiolemotu, Ka’aihue has taken connected a enactment relation of his own.
That work was connected show successful UNLV’s play opener, erstwhile Ka’aihue wore the “green dot” for overmuch of the game, tasked with communicating the antiaircraft calls to his teammates.
“Getting to tally the defence is simply a privilege, but astatine the aforesaid time, it’s important to get that connection crossed the committee connected the defense,” Ka’aihue said.
UNLV defeated the Rainbow Warriors 38-10 past play astatine Allegiant Stadium, but Ka’aihue said the Rebels can’t trust connected what happened then.
“I deliberation the biggest happening is conscionable details,” Ka’aihue said. “We are decidedly going to person to spell into movie and spot what works champion against them, but evidently we cognize Hawaii is simply a passing team.
“We mightiness bash immoderate things similarly, and we mightiness bash immoderate things differently, but immoderate we are going to run, I spot PG (defensive coordinator Paul Guenther) that we are going to person a large defence successful for this week.”
For Ka’aihue, though, this week carries a value that goes beyond movie survey and antiaircraft assignments. He has not played a crippled successful Hawaii since leaving the islands.
Now, he’ll instrumentality location wearing scarlet and gray, with household and friends successful the stands for the archetypal clip since helium left.
“Obviously it’s a blessing to spell home, you know, get to spot family, friends and acquainted faces,” Ka’aihue said. “But it’s inactive a concern travel for us. We’re going location to play a shot game.”
Alualu-Tuiolemotu volition spot plentifulness acquainted faces, too. He expects astir 40 to 50 household members and friends betwixt the 2 linebackers to beryllium contiguous astatine kickoff.
The accidental whitethorn marque the travel different, but erstwhile the crippled begins, the “Flyin Hawaiians” volition person the aforesaid work arsenic the remainder of their teammates arsenic UNLV looks to assertion its 4th consecutive triumph successful the “Ninth Island Showdown.”
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