After devastating wildfires, Hawai'i begins football season with Maui in their hearts

It was two weeks until Hawai’i began its football season and wide receiver Karsyn Pupunu was headed back home.

He was sent home not because he was leaving the team, but because his coaches knew he needed to be with his family.

A wildfire had ravaged his hometown of Lahaina on the island of Maui, destroying thousands of homes, businesses and cultural landmarks, while claiming the lives of at least 114 people with hundreds more still missing.

It was an unreal visit for Pupunu; he was back in the place he grew up in, but there was little left of what he always knew was home. 

“Something you never want to see in your life,” Pupunu told USA TODAY Sports. “Your hometown, just gone.”

Pupunu came back to be with his immediate family, who were fortunate enough to escape the fires. But not all of his relatives made it. His cousins, as well as his uncle and aunt, were among the people that lost their lives in the fire. 

Despite the tragedy he and his family face, Pupunu wants to honor his family by playing football, and that’s why he and his teammates will carry home in their hearts when they are more than 4,300 miles away when they kick off their 2023 season in Nashville against Vanderbilt on Saturday.

“It's hard, but at the same time, you got to be with them right now and support them in everything you do,” Pupunu said. “My parents and my family keep telling me I just gotta keep going. They know that I'm gonna do it for them.”

‘It’s all hands on deck’

When the wildfires began on Aug. 8, Hawai’i head coach Timmy Chang noticed how windy it was on campus in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, about 75 miles northwest of Lahaina, separated by the island of Moloka’i. It was a few hours after practice that day when news started to come in about the wildfires, and how people were trying to survive a devastating situation. The next day, it was hard to pay attention to just football. 

“We're trying to focus on our job and the things that we have to do,” Chang said. “But it just had kind of a gloomy feel to it.

“We know a friend or family member or a cousin or an aunt or uncle that lives there. It's one of those things where it's all hands on deck.”

Understanding what was happening to their island ohana, the team wanted to do its part in helping heal Maui. The team held a scrimmage and fan fest that weekend, and decided to turn it into a donation drive, with people donating essential items like water bottles, clothes and toiletries. Fans came out to meet the team and donate so much goods to give, they had enough to fill four large vans. 

At the same time, Pupunu was still at home, but was also helping goods get delivered to those in need.

“It was great seeing the community come together and work together and bring everything, donations, food, helping out families with homes,” Pupunu said. 

Help from the mainland 

Even with people across the islands spreading mana – spiritual power and strength – to one another, they are still in need of help, especially with people criticizing the government response to the disaster. But through the football team and the power of sports, athletes and teams across the mainland have joined in on the relief efforts.

“Very, very loving of the outpouring of support from everybody. I think that's what gets me, is that people care about other people,” Chang said. 

Los Angeles professional sports teams banded together to donate money, including the Los Angeles Rams donning and selling shirts – with proceeds going toward relief – during a preseason game. The Arizona Wildcats joined in on relief efforts, and when the Clippers and Jazz play a preseason game at the University of Hawai’i in October, all proceeds will be donated.

Those playing Hawai’i are also getting in on the help. Vanderbilt will donate a portion of proceeds from their game ticket sales, while Albany, who will visit Hawai’i in Week 1, said it will partner with the team to show support. Chang wasn’t surprised to see so many in sports come to the aid of Maui, but was “very humbled.” Pupunu added he was shocked to see so many come together to support his home. 

“I come from a very small town. This place was off the map before,” he said. “Now seeing the whole world come together and support for Lahaina, it's unbelievable.”

Spreading the ‘aloha spirit’

It's been seen after tragedy hits, people have turned to sports to bring people together and be the source of happiness and excitement.

Being the only Division I athletic team in a place where no professional sports team exists, the Rainbow Warriors – and Wahine – already know the responsibility they have of representing the islands whenever they are in action. The people that have long called the islands home are proud of their heritage, and Chang knows in a time when people are coming together, his team can be the source of inspiration as they rebuild. 

“When this football team wins, the state just feels better,” he said. “With a tragedy like this, that's exactly what we want to do. We want to bring joy, we want to make the people proud. 

“It's a pride thing. It's a Hawaii thing.”

There will be a lot of emotions when the Rainbow Warriors play at Vanderbilt and come back home next week for its first home game against Albany, as the people of Maui will be in the back of the players and coaches’ minds whenever they take the field. Pupunu wants to honor his family when he takes the field this season, and is working on wearing shirts underneath his gear that pays respect to them. 

Chang said his players will be playing with “a good head on their shoulders and a heavy heart” this season. Whenever they go play their six road games, they’ll be carrying home with them, but knowing that so many people on the mainland are supporting them while they show off the pride of Hawaii, it’s a reminder of what home is all about. 

“That's just the kind of aloha spirit that's embraced everywhere,” Chang said.