From the start of the spring football schedule on March 29th till the end of the annual spring game on April, 27th, Eric Mathews of the University of Hawai'i athletic department's media relations office, will provide weekly written content from his perspective in regards to the Rainbow Warriors football squad. Read, enjoy, share, and like on all forms of social media, while using the hashtag #HawaiiFB.

HONOLULU—If you're around college football long enough, you become familiar with players referring to each other as "brothers." In a realistic view, most players do see each other as "brothers" because they're going through everything together day in and day out, much like a family.
 
Football players may rely on each other as brothers more than most teams because of the size of the team and the level of competitiveness for each player on the field to play at such a high standard. Amongst the 100 players filling the spring roster for the University of Hawai'i football team, you hear brothers encourage one another, while they're also giving each other a hard time.
 
Even though the term "brother" is used frequently, and they act like brothers, there is no substitute for being on the same team as someone who shares your identical DNA. In 2018 there were four separate pair of brothers on the Rainbow Warriors' roster, while this year the number has decreased to one. The pairing of senior defensive lineman Kaimana Padello and senior running back KK Padello is still intact, three others are moving on and carrying the legacy of their last names.
 
Sophomore defensive lineman Kamuela Borden, redshirt freshman Andrew Choi, and redshirt sophomore Justus Tavai remain on the squad while their brothers Noah Borden, Zeno Choi, and Jahlani Tavai have all graduated and moved on.
 
"My brother was someone I looked up to as a role model," said Andrew Choi. "Now he's gone, I have to step up and fill his shoes. It's an honor for me to continue what he started as a player and as a person. I'm going to go my own way and create my name, but I look at what he did here, and I know what I'm striving to be."
 
All three remaining brothers have yet to create their way at UH, mostly due to redshirt transfer rules or depth at their positions. But they're all eager to build on their family's name as a part of the football program.
 
"Seeing him leave and having me stay is sad, but I'm happy," said Justus Tavai. "I know he's going to do bigger things, but I can focus on myself and how I can make an impact."
 
The impact of an older brother leading the way still makes a difference as well; having a sounding board is essential for young players to learn off the field — an advantage for some that happen on a daily bases.
 
"We still talk every day," said Justus Tavai. "We do check in on each other, and we talk a lot about football. He gives me advice, and I ask him about what he's going through. We have a group chat with our other family members, and we continue to help each other regardless of where he's traveling."
 
Over the last handful of years, the last names of Borden, Choi, and Tavai have been staples on the field and off the field for the Warriors. Each name leaving a lasting legacy of talent, hard work, and integrity, even though one generation of those names have moved on, those qualities will still last with the younger generation.
 
"When I came in I tried to be around my brother all the time," said Kamuela Borden. "While he was here, I tried to follow his lead, aside from living together all of our lives. I always paid attention to his hard work and honesty. Our older brother didn't get the chance to do what Noah is doing now, working out with NFL teams, and everything else. I want that opportunity as well, he's my role model, and I'm going to follow his lead."