HAWAII

WASHINGTON  — The Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide if licensed guns owners have a right to carry their weapons at public places, including parks, beaches and stores.

At issue are laws in California, Hawaii and three other states that generally prohibit carrying guns on private or public property.

Three years ago, Supreme Court ruled that law-abiding gun owners had a 2nd Amendment right to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon when they leave home.

But the justices left open the question of whether states and cities could prohibit the carrying of guns in “sensitive locations,” and if so, where.

In response, California enacted a strict law that forbids gun owners from carrying their firearm in most public or private places that are open to the public unless the owner posted a sign permitting such weapons.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down that provision last year as going too far, but it upheld most of a Hawaii law that restricted the carrying of guns at public places and most private businesses that are open to the public.

Gun-rights advocates appealed to the Supreme Court and urged the justices to rule that such restrictions on carrying concealed weapons violate the 2nd Amendment.

The court agreed to hear the case early next year.

Trump administration lawyers urged the justices to strike down the Hawaii law.

It “functions as a near-complete ban on public carry. A person carrying a handgun for self-defense commits a crime by entering a mall, a gas station, a convenience store, a supermarket, a restaurant, a coffee shop, or even a parking lot,” said Solicitor General D. John Sauer.

Gun-control advocates said Hawaii had enacted a “common sense law that prohibits carrying firearms on others’ private property open to the public.”

“The 9th Circuit was absolutely right to say it’s constitutional to prohibit guns on private property unless the owner says they want guns there,” said Janet Carter, managing director of Second Amendment Litigation, at Everytown Law. “This law respects people’s right to be safe on their own property, and we urge the Supreme Court to uphold it.”

There are times when you want a vacation that challenges you. But there are other times when you crave a familiar scene, a traveler’s version of comfort food.

What is it that brings people back to the same destination again and again?

Charlotte Russell, a Manchester-based clinical psychologist and founder/editor of the Travel Psychologist blog, didn’t see value in visiting the same place twice when she was in her 20s, but as she got older, her opinion changed.

Now one of her most frequent destinations is Seville, a short, direct flight from her home airport. However, her travel cadence is strategic. “I don’t want to spoil the connection I have to the place by visiting too frequently,” she says. “For me, once every few years seems to be about ‘right.’” Once there, she savors “the beautiful buildings, the orange trees, the smells and flavors of the food,” enjoying the chance to get to know the culture more deeply than a one-time visitor might.

Then again, Russell acknowledges, maybe we can never truly visit the same place twice.

So says psychology professor Andrew Stevenson in his 2023 book “The Psychology of Travel.” In his view, “places change all the time, and so do we. Yes, we can visit the same location again, but are likely to experience it in a completely different way when visiting again, as the place becomes more meaningful, more full of memories, more vital, each new time we arrive.”

We asked Southern California readers to tell us about their most prized repeat destinations. The answers took us all over — Hawaii, Utah, Arizona, England and Hermosa Beach, for instance — for all sorts of reasons they share with us below.

The PGA Tour’s season-opening event The Sentry is to be moved because drought conditions in Hawaii have made the host course unplayable.

The event usually takes place in January at the Plantation Course at Kapalua on the Island of Maui.

However, drought conditions in the region mean water conservation measures have been imposed, including at Kapalua.

Tour officials visited the site this month and said the course was “significantly compromised” and would not be in playable condition by January, even if restrictions are lifted in the coming months.

“We support the PGA Tour’s decision, given the drought conditions Maui is facing,” said Hawaii governor Josh Green. “Protecting our water and supporting our communities come first.”

The Sentry, which relocated from California to Maui in 1999, was the PGA Tour’s season opener between 1986 and 2013 before returning to that slot in 2024, when the Tour switched back to a calendar-year schedule.

As the first signature event of the season, the field features the top 50 players from the previous year’s FedExCup standings, as well as winners of PGA Tour events from the previous year.

HONOLULU — Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, moved to dismiss a lawsuit filed last month accusing them of causing a Hawaii real estate investor and broker to be fired from a $240-million luxury housing development on the Big Island’s Hapuna Coast.

Ohtani and Balelo were sued Aug. 8 in Hawaii Circuit Court for the First Circuit by developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto, West Point Investment Corp. and Hapuna Estates Property Owners, who accused them of “abuse of power” that allegedly resulted in tortious interference and unjust enrichment.

Hayes and Matsumoto had been dropped from the development deal by Kingsbarn Realty Capital, the joint venture’s majority owner.

In papers filed Sunday, lawyers for Ohtani and Balelo said Hayes and Matsumoto in 2023 acquired rights for a joint venture in which they owned a minority percentage to use Ohtani’s name, image and likeness under an endorsement agreement to market the venture’s real estate development at the Mauna Kea Resort. The lawyers said Ohtani was a “victim of NIL violations.”

“Unbeknownst to Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo, plaintiffs exploited Ohtani’s name and photograph to drum up traffic to a website that marketed plaintiffs’ own side project development,” the lawyers wrote. “They engaged in this self-dealing without authorization, and without paying Ohtani for that use, in a selfish and wrongful effort to take advantage of their proximity to the most famous baseball player in the world.”

The lawyers claimed Hayes and Matsumoto sued after “Balelo did his job and protected his client by expressing justifiable concern about this misuse and threatening to take legal action against this clear misappropriation.” They called Balelo’s actions “clearly protected speech “

In a statement issued after the suit was filed last month, Kingsbarn called the allegations “completely frivolous and without merit.”

Ohtani is a three-time MVP on the defending World Series champion Dodgers.

“Nez Balelo has always prioritized Shohei Ohtani’s best interests, including protecting his name, image, and likeness from unauthorized use,” a lawyer for Ohtani and Balelo, said in a statement. “This frivolous lawsuit is a desperate attempt by plaintiffs to distract from their myriad of failures and blatant misappropriation of Mr. Ohtani’s rights.”

Lawyers for Hayes and Matsumoto did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sept. 9 (UPI) — Hurricane Kiko was steadily weakening on Monday but remained a Category 1 storm, according to forecasters who predict it will pass north of the Hawaiian Islands in the next two days.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and was located about 300 miles east-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and 450 miles east of Honolulu, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. HST update.

It was moving northwest at 14 mph, the center said.

On the forecast track, Kiko was expected to pass north of the Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday and Wednesday, the NHC said.

However, swells generated by the storm were gradually building from east to west across Hawaiian waters and are expected to peak Monday night through Wednesday.

“While the risk of direct impacts on the islands continues to decrease, interests should continue to monitor Kiko’s progress and the latest forecasts,” the NHC said in a discussion on the storm

The forecasters said they expect the storm to be downgraded to a tropical storm overnight.

Kiko had intensified to a Category 4 hurricane early last week, but was later downgraded as it weakened off the coast.

No watches or warnings were in place, the NHC said.

Sept. 7 (UPI) — Hurricane Kiko, packing winds in excess of 110 mph, is forecast to approach the Hawaiian islands early this week, but is predicted to pass to the north, meteorologists said Sunday.

“The forecast track currently for Kiko is to pass north of Hawaii,” the National Weather Service said in a public advisory on social media. “It is still too soon to determine the exact location/magnitude of potential impacts from Kiko. Interests in the island should continue to monitor Kiko’s progress.”

As of Sunday morning, the Category 3 storm was about 715 miles east of Hilo and moving to the west-northwest at about 13 mph, generating what forecasters said could be life-threatening surf in the Hawaiian islands.

Kiko had intensified to a Category 4 hurricane early last week, but was later downgraded as it weakened off the coast. Forecasters said it could degrade into a Tropical Storm by Tuesday, but will still be capable of creating heavy rain, gusty winds and dangerous surf through the first half of the week.

There are currently no watches or warnings in place, the NHC said.

Sept. 4 (UPI) — Hurricane Kiko continues to track in the general direction of Hawaii while maintaining its Category 3 status with 120 mph winds on Saturday afternoon.

Kiko weakened slightly and was located about 935 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and 1,135 east-southeast of Honolulu, while moving west-northwest at 12 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported in its 5 p.m. EDT update.

Hurricane-force winds extend about 25 miles from the storm’s eye, while tropical-storm-force winds extend outward by up to 80 miles.

The hurricane is expected to continue moving toward the west-northwesterly and gradually weaken over the next several days.

No coastal watches or warnings are in effect, but “interests in the Hawaiian Islands should monitor the progress of Kiko,” NHC forecasters said.

“Swells generated by Hurricane Kiko are expected to reach the Big Island and Maui by Sunday,” the NHC announced.

“These swells will gradually build and are forecast to peak along east-facing exposures of the Hawaiian Islands late Monday through midweek, potentially producing life-threatening surf and rip currents,” the NHC forecasters said.

Officials in Hawaii declared a state of emergency on Saturday to prepare for a possible strike by Kiko and other storm-related effects.

The state of emergency is in effect through Sept. 19, unless it is terminated sooner or extended beyond that date.

The storm formed on Sunday, making it the 11th named storm in the Eastern North Pacific this year.

Sept. 4 (UPI) — Hurricane Kiko weakened to a Category 3 hurricane late Thursday as it made its way northwest toward the general direction of Hawaii, forecasters said.

Kiko had reached Category 4 strength late Wednesday but weakened to 125 mph maximum sustained winds in the National Hurricane Center’s 3 p.m. HST update. Despite the weakening, the storm is still considered a major hurricane that could cause severe damage if it reaches land.

The eye of the storm was located about 1,360 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and 1,565 miles east-southeast of Honolulu. It was traveling west at 9 mph and was expected to continue in that direction and toward the northwest over the next several days.

“Kiko is forecast to approach the Hawaiian Islands during the early to middle portion of next week,” the NHC said in a statement Thursday.

“The risk of direct impacts from wind and rainfall is increasing. However, it is too soon to determine the exact location or magnitude of these impacts, and interests there should continue to monitor the progress of this storm.”

The NHC said swells generated by Kiko could reach the Hawaiian islands toward the end of the weekend, causing life-threatening surf and rip currents.

There were no weather watches or warnings in effect because it was well away from land Thursday.

The storm formed on Sunday, making it the 11th named storm in the Eastern North Pacific this year.

In an early season showdown between two of the top girls volleyball teams in the state, Redondo Union took control over the last two sets to handle Marymount 25-23, 18-25, 25-21, 25-14 and prove it is a threat for its first Southern Section championship since 2019.

The squads entered their nonleague matchup with a 22-1 combined record this fall and could meet again down the road with the stakes even higher. The Sea Hawks’ triumph was all the more impressive given that it was accomplished without libero Rowan DeVore (sidelined with flu) and senior twins Avery and Addi Junk, who are skipping the indoor season to concentrate on beach volleyball, which both are committed to play at Florida State.

California commit Abby Zimmerman was almost unstoppable, pounding a match-high 26 kills, Leah Blair (committed to play beach at Washington) had 10 kills and UC Irvine-bound Taylor Boice added seven kills for the home side. Setter Marlo Libbey had 33 assists and served three aces.

Zimmerman led her school to the beach title in the spring.

“Indoor is my favorite and we’ve put in so much work, it would be great to go out on top my last year,” Zimmerman said. “This was a solid match for us and if we can bring the same energy and fight every game we have a good chance.”

Both programs were coming off successful trips to Hawaii. Redondo Union finished runner-up to national power Byron Nelson (Texas) for the second straight season at the Ann Kang Invitational, while Marymount did not drop a set on its way to the Hawaiian Island Labor Day Classic championship Saturday in Hilo.

Junior hitter Makenna Barnes had 16 kills, Washington commit Sammy Destler added 14, Olivia Penske had 36 assists and Declan Eastman recorded 11 digs for the Sailors, who were trying to avenge a five-set defeat in the first round of the CIF SoCal Open Division regionals last fall.

“I play on the same club team as Abby and Taylor… we’re best friends,” Destler said. “This was a much-needed wake-up call for us. We have practice at 5:45 a.m. tomorrow and I have to like it. Redondo’s a whole different level than the teams we saw in Hawaii.”

Tuesday’s nonleague match not only featured many of the Southland’s most talented players, but also two of its most successful coaches in Redondo Union’s Tommy Chaffins (who passed the 900 career wins milestone last year) and Marymount’s Cari Klein (who has led her Sailors to 30 or more victories in three of the last four seasons).

Klein said the trip back from Hawaii had a little drama as the plane had engine problems and had to divert to Oahu.

Marymount was off to its hottest start since 2021 when it finished 35-0 en route to its 10th section title and seventh state crown under Klein and the No. 1 national ranking.

The schedule only gets tougher for Redondo Union (14-1), which travels to reigning Division 1 champion Mater Dei on Thursday and hosts 2022 champion Sierra Canyon next Tuesday. Marymount (9-1) will try to shake off its first loss when it hosts the Sea Hawks’ Bay League rival, Mira Costa, on Thursday.

“We’re very close on and off the court and we bonded even more in Hawaii,” Boice said. “Tonight we simply wanted it more.”

There’s another Catholic school sports scandal under way, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles apparently was the only one who didn’t see it coming.

On Saturday, Bishop Montgomery in Torrance announced football coach and co-athletic director Ed Hodgkiss was no longer employed by the school.

In other words, he was fired.

He’s apparently going to be the fall guy for five Bishop Montgomery transfer students being declared ineligible by the Southern Section, multiple Bishop Montgomery suspensions imposed after players left the bench with 24 seconds left in a loss in Hawaii and Bishop Montgomery having to forfeit to No. 1 Mater Dei on Friday because of lack of players.

People in the Southern California football community have been talking about Bishop Montgomery for months as they saw one transfer after another welcomed to the school. Southern Section officials waited for weeks to receive the transfers’ paperwork. Five players were declared in violation of CIF bylaw 202, which includes providing false information.

If a school trying to rapidly improve its football program with short cuts sounds familiar, it is.

In 2020, St. Bernard turned to former Narbonne coach Manuel Douglas, who won eight City titles. Douglas was forced out at Narbonne and didn’t coach in 2019 after a nine-month Los Angeles Unified School District investigation. Narbonne was banned from the 2019 playoffs and forced to forfeit its 2018 City title for use of an ineligible player.

Douglas later resigned in the spring of 2020 when he came under an FBI and IRS investigation over money received from a Narbonne booster to pay for a trip to Hawaii while coaching at Narbonne.

St. Bernard proceeded to drop its football program in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

This past week, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese wrote in an email in response to a request for an update about Bishop Montgomery, “The investigation is ongoing and there are no developments to share at this time. The school and the Department of Catholic Schools are in communication with the CIF Southern Section office as the investigation continues.”

Last spring, Bishop Montgomery’s new principal, Michele Starkey, was asked by The Times in a phone call, whose participants included new school president Patrick Lee, if she was aware of any involvement by the same Narbonne booster tied to Douglas’ resignation in Bishop Montgomery’s program. She said no.

The archdiocese should start its investigation right there. Players don’t start suddenly showing up from all over Southern California with no reason.

Lessons were not learned. Players from last year’s Bishop Montgomery team saw what was happening and transferred out. Maybe the Archdiocese should ask them what was happening.

A Bishop Montgomery parent wrote in a letter to The Times, “Returning players were demoted, excluded from trips or quit; Archdiocesan Catholic values appear secondary to short-term athletic exposure; despite my June outreach to the school, no reply ever came.”

Messages left for Hodgkiss and Lee on Saturday were not returned.

It’s another big mess for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to clean up, and it was very much preventable if lessons from the past had been learned.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

WEEK 2

(Games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE

CITY SECTION

Nonleague

Fremont at Manual Arts

L.A. Hamilton at Crenshaw

SOUTHERN SECTION

Nonleague

Alemany at Salesian

Arroyo at Bolsa Grande

Ayala at La Habra

Colton at Arrowhead Christian

Desert Hot Springs at Citrus Hill

Etiwanda at Cajon

Fountain Valley at Marina

Garden Grove at Santa Ana

Garden Grove Santiago at Savanna, 6:30 p.m.

Glendale at Montclair

Hemet at Carter, 7:30 p.m.

Heritage at Chaffey

Hesperia at Liberty

Indio at Rialto

Los Amigos at Irvine University

Magnolia at Pioneer

Norco at Orange Vista

Redlands at Grand Terrace

Rio Hondo Prep at Maranatha

Serrano at Xavier Prep

Silverado at Patriot, 7:30 p.m.

Sultana at Victor Valley

Warren at La Serna

Western at Huntington Beach

Workman at Canyon Springs, 7:30 p.m.

Yorba Linda at San Jacinto

Yucca Valley at Cathedral City

8-MAN

SOUTHERN SECTION

Heritage League

Faith Baptist at Milken

Nonleague

California Lutheran at United Christian

Vista Meridian at Calvary Baptist, 7:30 p.m.

INTERSECTIONAL

Alpaugh at East Valley

Laton at Coast Union, 5 p.m.

Lebec Frazier Mountain at Valley Oaks CES

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

CITY SECTION

Central League

Bernstein at Mendez

Nonleague

Arleta at Taft

Contreras at LA Marshall, 3:30 p.m.

Dymally at Westchester

Eagle Rock at Bell

Fairfax at Los Angeles, 3 p.m.

Gardena at King-Drew

Granada Hills vs. Palisades at Santa Monica College

Hawkins at Canoga Park

Hollywood at Marquez

Legacy at Grant

Lincoln at Jefferson

Marquez at Hollywood

Maywood CES at Reseda

Monroe at Belmont

Panorama at Fulton, 4 p.m.

Rancho Dominguez at West Adams, 4 p.m.

Reseda at Maywood CES

Rivera at Washington

Roybal at Van Nuys

Santee at LA University, 7:30 p.m.

South East at Angelou

Sylmar at Chavez

SOUTHERN SECTION

Nonleague

Agoura at Thousand Oaks

Aliso Niguel at Chino

Alta Loma at Claremont

Anaheim Canyon at Beckman

Aquinas at Bonita

Ayala at La Habra

Azusa at Gabrielino

Baldwin Park at California

Banning at Whittier Christian

Barstow at Segerstrom

Bell Gardens at Hacienda Heights Wilson

Bellflower at Oxnard

Beverly Hills at Loara

Bishop Amat at Valencia

Bishop Montgomery at Leuzinger

Buena Park at Ocean View

California City at Riverside Prep

California Military Institute at Glenn

Camarillo vs. Saugus at College of the Canyons

Capistrano Valley at Crean Lutheran

Capistrano Valley Christian at Laguna Hills

Carpinteria at Santa Clara

Chaminade at Servite

Channel Islands at Hueneme

Chaparral at San Clemente

Chino Hills at San Juan Hills

Citrus Valley at La Quinta

Colony at San Dimas

Compton Centennial at Heritage Christian

Costa Mesa at Godinez

Covina at Baldwin Park

Covina at Diamond Ranch

Cypress at Eisenhower

Desert Mirage at Bermuda Dunes Desert Christian

Diamond Bar at Brea Olinda

Dominguez at Hawthorne

Don Lugo at El Segundo

Eastside at Nordhoff

El Dorado at El Toro

Elsinore at Palm Desert

Esperanza at Dana Hills

Fillmore at Buena

Firebaugh at Artesia

Fontana at Arlington

Foothill at Norte Vista

Fullerton at Troy

Golden Valley at Lancaster

Granite Hills at Kaiser

Hart at Paraclete, 7:30 p.m.

Hawthorne at Dominguez

Hesperia at Liberty

Hillcrest at Ramona

Irvine at Woodbridge

Jurupa Hills at Temescal Canyon

Jurupa Valley at Ontario

Katella at Estancia

Keppel at Compton Early College

King at Riverside North

La Mirada at Tesoro

La Sierra at Saddleback

Long Beach Jordan at La Canada

Los Alamitos at Gardena Serra

Mary Star at Cerritos Valley Christian

Miller at Corona

Millikan at Downey

Mira Costa at Redondo

Mountain View at Garey

Muir at Charter Oak

Murrieta Mesa at Rancho Verde

Newbury Park at Oxnard Pacifica

Newport Harbor at El Modena

Nogales at Cantwell-Sacred Heart

Northview at Glendora

Northwood at Garden Grove Pacifica

Oak Hills at Rancho Cucamonga

Oak Park at Brentwood

Ontario Christian at Eastvale Roosevelt

Orange at Los Osos

Pacific at Pasadena Marshall

Palm Springs at Coachella Valley

Paloma Valley at Temecula Valley

Paramount at Compton

Pasadena at Norwalk

Perris at Rim of the World

Pomona at Ganesha

Portola at Cerritos

Riverside Notre Dame at Temecula Prep

Rosemead at Whittier

Rowland at Placentia Valencia

Rubidoux at Bloomington

San Bernardino at Arroyo Valley

San Gabriel at El Monte

San Jacinto Valley Academy at Duarte

San Marino at South Torrance

Santa Ana Calvary Chapel at Westminster

Santa Ana Valley at Century

Santa Barbara at Dos Pueblos

Santa Margarita at Highland

Santa Monica at Burbank Burroughs

Santa Paula at Del Sol

Sierra Vista at La Puente

Silver Valley at Indian Springs

South El Monte at Montebello

South Hills at St. Genevieve

South Pasadena at Crescenta Valley

St. Anthony at Torrance

St. Bonaventure at Inglewood

St. Francis at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame

St. Margaret’s at La Salle

St. Paul at Damien

St. Pius X-St. Matthias at Trabuco Hills

Summit at Beaumont

Sunny Hills at Long Beach Wilson

Tahquitz at Rancho Mirage

Temple City at Alhambra

Trinity Classical at Bosco Tech

Tustin vs. Long Beach Poly at Veterans Stadium

Twentynine Palms at Lakeside

Vasquez at Littlerock

Ventura at Rio Mesa

Villa Park at Upland

Village Christian at Schurr

Vista del Lago at Adelanto

Walnut at Sonora

Webb at Anza Hamilton

West Covina at El Rancho

West Ranch at Antelope Valley

West Torrance at Peninsula, 4:30 p.m.

West Valley at Rancho Christian

Westminster La Quinta at Bassett

Yucaipa at Shadow Hills

INTERSECTIONAL

Apple Valley at Tempe (Ariz.) Corona del Sol

Bakersfield West at Ridgecrest Burroughs, 7:30 p.m.

Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy at St. John Bosco

Birmingham at Moorpark

Burbank at Reno (Nev.) Galena

Carson at Palos Verdes, 3:30 p.m.

Crespi at Cleveland

Culver City at Narbonne

El Camino Real at Grace

Folsom at Mission Viejo

Garfield at La Palma Kennedy

Granada Hills Kennedy at Canyon Country Canyon

Harvard-Westlake at Venice

JSerra at Honolulu Kamehameha

Kahuku (Hawaii) vs. Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium

Las Vegas (Nev.) Centennial at North Torrance

Las Vegas (Nev.) Shadow Ridge at Quartz Hill, 6 p.m.

Locke at Lynwood

Long Beach Cabrillo at Wilmington Banning

LA Wilson at Lawndale

Monrovia at L.A. Roosevelt

Nuview Bridge at Pine Valley Mountain Empire

Oakland Castlemont at Dorsey

Oaks Christian at Bakersfield Liberty, 7:30 p.m.

Orange Lutheran at Chandler (Ariz.) Basha

San Pedro at Great Oak

Santa Fe at South Gate

St. Bernard at LA Jordan

St. Monica at Huntington Park

Verdugo Hills at Hoover, 5:30 p.m.

Westlake at Chatsworth

8-MAN

SOUTHERN SECTION

Majestic League

Highland Entrepreneur at Hillcrest Christian, 6:30 p.m.

Nonleague

Academy for Careers & Exploration at Lancaster Baptist

Maricopa at Lucerne Valley

Orcutt Academy at Malibu, 5:30 p.m.

Rolling Hills Prep Desert Christian

Santa Ana Magnolia Science at Southlands Christian

INTERSECTIONAL

Animo Jackie Robinson at Sage Hill, 6 p.m.

Legacy Christian Academy at Noli Indian, 6:30 p.m.

New Designs Watts at Public Safety Academy

Sherman Oaks CES at Chadwick, 3:30 p.m.

New Designs University Park atVictor Valley Christian

Vista St. Joseph Academy at Cornerstone Christian, 5 p.m.

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

SOUTHERN SECTION

Nonleague

Pasadena Poly at Flintridge Prep, 5 p.m.

Redlands East Valley at Riverside Poly

Santa Rosa Academy at Western Christian

INTERSECTIONAL

Henderson (Nev.) Basic at Linfield Christian, 11 a .m.

Honolulu (Hawaii) Punahou at Sierra Canyon

Lakewood (Colo.) Green Mountain at Corona del Mar, 8 p.m.

Las Vegas (Nev.) at Mayfair, 2 p.m.

South Jordan (Utah Bingham at Corona Centennial

8-MAN

SOUTHERN SECTION

Nonleague

Mammoth vs. Santa Clarita Christian at Hart

Pasadena Poly at Flintridge Prep, 5 p.m.

Valley Christian Academy at Thacher, 2 p.m.

INTERSECTIONAL

Bakersfield Valley Oaks at San Luis Obispo Classical Academy, 6 p.m.

Escondido Calvin Christian at Hesperia Christian, 6 p.m.

New Designs University Park at Lighthouse Christian

The Southern Section has declared five football transfers to Bishop Montgomery ineligible for violating CIF rule 202, which is a bylaw about providing false information and comes with a penalty of up to two years of ineligibility.

Bishop Montgomery has been under scrutiny for months because of numerous transfer students, coaching changes and a decision to try to upgrade the program by scheduling powerhouses Mater Dei and Honolulu (Hawaii) Saint Louis.

The Southern Section could offer no response until paperwork was submitted by the school. Now those five players, plus potentially others, are facing the possibility of missing the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles replaced the president and principal of Bishop Montgomery last school year. New president Patrick Lee is a former St. John Bosco administrator.

Shohei Ohtani’s name is in headlines again.

And, for the second time in two years, not for baseball reasons.

News emerged this week that Ohtani, the Dodgers’ two-way star and reigning National League MVP, was being sued along with his agent in Hawaii by a real estate investor and broker.

The claim: That Ohtani and his representative, Nez Balelo of Creative Artists Agency, had the plaintiffs fired from a $240 million luxury housing development that Ohtani had been contracted to help endorse.

The contours of the case are complicated; relating to contract law, tortious interference and two years of alleged disputes between Balelo and the plaintiffs, developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto, leading up to their termination from the project.

But as it pertains to Ohtani and this current Dodgers season, only one question really matters:

Will the situation create any distraction for him off the field?

When pressed on that Wednesday, he quickly shut the idea down.

“I’m focused on what the team is doing,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “And doing everything in my power to make sure we bring a W on the field.”

According to the lawsuit, Hayes and Matsumoto reached an endorsement deal with Ohtani in 2023 for their luxury housing development on Hawaii’s Big Island. The Japanese star was not only to be a spokesperson for the project, but also a resident committed to purchasing one of the development’s 14 residences as an offseason home.

However, the lawsuit claimed, Balelo increasingly demanded unspecified concessions (the details of which were redacted in the filing) over the last two years from Hayes and Matsumoto — becoming what it described as a “disruptive force” who “inserted himself into every aspect of the relationship.”

Last month, the lawsuit alleged, Balelo went to Hayes’ and Matsumoto’s business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, and threatened litigation if the two weren’t terminated from the project.

“Kingsbarn openly admitted … that Balelo had demanded the terminations and that they were being done solely to placate him,” the lawsuit said. “Specifically, Kingsbarn acknowledged that Balelo had threatened to drag Kingsbarn into a separate lawsuit unless it terminated Hayes and Matsumoto.”

The lawsuit also claims that Balelo’s supposed threat of litigation — which pertained to the use of Ohtani’s name, image and likeness rights being used to promote a seperate real estate project on Hawaii’s Big Island — was “baseless,” amounting to an “abuse of power” by Ohtani’s longtime agent to “force a business partner to betray its contractual obligations and strip Plaintiffs of the very project they conceived and built.”

A Kingsbarn spokesperson told The Athletic this week that the allegations “are completely frivolous and without merit,” and that “Kingsbarn takes full responsibility for its actions regarding Kevin Hayes and for removing Tomoko Matsumoto as the project’s broker.”

Ohtani’s direct involvement in the dispute appears limited.

According to a person with knowledge of the situation who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, the plaintiffs dealt almost exclusively with Balelo, who has represented Ohtani since he came to the major leagues from Japan before the 2018 season.

Still, because Balelo was acting on behalf of Ohtani, the superstar was included as a defendant as well.

That means — just like in March 2024, when scandal swirled around Ohtani after his former interpreter was found to have stolen money from his bank accounts to pay off illegal gambling debts — Ohtani has another potential disturbance to navigate off the field.

Granted, Ohtani hardly seemed affected by last year’s controversy, helping the Dodgers win the World Series while winning the third MVP award of his career. And this current lawsuit, according to attorney and legal expert Arash Sadat of Mills Sadat Dowlat LLP, presents a much more standard type of legal dispute often seen around real estate deals.

“This kind of stuff happens all the time,” Sadat said. “They’re not rare at all.”

Sadat noted that, based on the lawsuit, it’s not clear “what Shohei knew and didn’t know” when it came to Balelo’s alleged interactions with the plaintiffs.

“All of the allegations in the complaint relate to conduct by his agent,” Sadat said. “If the plaintiffs in this case could show any direct involvement by Ohtani, you can bet that would have been included in the complaint.”

If the case were to proceed without a resolution, it is possible Ohtani could eventually be required to give a deposition detailing his knowledge of the alleged events.

That, however, is not something that would happen imminently. And even if it did, Sadat added, it’s unclear whether his testimony would even be released publicly, given that large swaths of redactions in the original lawsuit of seemingly proprietary business information.

Sadat speculated the chances of the case ever going to trial as slim. The overwhelming majority of such lawsuits are typically settled or dismissed well before then.

“Real estate tends to bring out emotions in people,” Sadat said. “You have a high-profile real estate developer. You have a high-profile real estate agent. You have a sports agent over at CAA. You’re talking about big egos here. And when that happens, and someone feels slighted, oftentimes… litigation is the result.”

Aug. 10 (UPI) — A federal judge in Hawaii has outlawed commercial fishing in the Pacific Islands Heritage marine national monument, a protected and fragile ecosystem in the Pacific Ocean.

The action by judge Michael WJ Smith reverses a decision made by a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that banned fishing in parts of the monument that was signed by President Barack Obama while he was in office.

Smith’s ruling comes about a week after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that reveres federal fishing regulations in the monument, a world heritage fund site that is home to marine mammals, seabirds and coral reefs.

Friday’s court order by Smith means that commercial fishing cannot occur in waters 50 to 200 nautical miles around Johnson Atoll, Jarvis Island and Wake Island, and must stop immediately.

“The Fisheries Service cannot ignore our perspectives as the native people who belong to the islands and to the ocean that surrounds us,” said Solomon Pili, Kaho’ohalahala, a founding member of Kapa’a, the Conservation Council for Hawaii and the Center for Biological Diversity.

“The law guarantees a process where we can advocate for protecting the generations of our children’s children who are yet to be born.”

Earthjustice, an environmental conservation group, filed a lawsuit in May, arguing the National Marine Fisheries Service violated federal law by sidestepping the formal rulemaking process required to change fishing rules, which mandates public notice and comment.

President George W. Bush established the moment in 2009. It comprised 500,000 square miles of a remote part of the central Pacific Ocean southwest of Hawaii. Obama widened the area in 2014.

A slow-paced, fact-based period drama of war and love in precolonial Hawai’i, “Chief of War,” premiering Friday on Apple TV+, presents co-creator and star Jason Momoa as the late-18th century warrior Ka’iana in a story set at the intersection of the island kingdoms and the arrival of European colonists. It’s clearly a passion project, and like many passion projects, it can go overboard at times, grow overstuffed, not to say oversolemn — though solemnity, to be sure, is appropriate to the history. But the passion shows through, and the stuff is interesting — nothing you see everyday, for sure.

Hawaii, of course, was a cultural touchstone, an obsession among continental Americans, long before it became the 50th state. Ukuleles. Steel guitars. Elvis Presley in “Blue Hawaii” and “Paradise, Hawaiian Style,” not to mention “Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite.” The Brady Bunch traveled there, and so did Dennis the Menace in a comic book I once owned. “Magnum P.I.,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “The White Lotus,” Season 1. Hawaiian Punch (created 1934), which mixed orange, pineapple, passion fruit, guava and papaya flavors, and is still available at a store near you in at least 14 flavors. Tiki bars. Suburban luaus. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, where the birds sing words and the flowers croon, presented by Dole. It goes on and on.

Momoa, who was born in Honolulu, raised in Iowa and returned to the islands for college, slipped into show business by way of “Baywatch Hawaii,” followed by the Oahu-set hotel drama “North Shore.” He played an alien in four seasons of “Stargate Atlantis,” Conan the Barbarian, Aquaman, of course, and twice hosted “Saturday Night Live.” (And recently Ozzy Osbourne’s swan song concert “Back to the Beginning.”) It’s not surprising that he’d want to stretch a little, to step away from genre projects, and represent the roots of his people in a respectful manner. One would call “Chief of War” well-researched, even if one was not at all aware of how much research was done. The ordinary viewer may need to take notes to keep things straight; titles notwithstanding, I wasn’t always certain what island we were on, especially since characters might be living on or aligned with another, and because within an island, various “districts” might be at war, intramurally, as it were. (I did take notes, and I’m still a little confused as to exactly what some of them were after.)

A comparison to “Shogun” is as good as inevitable, given the subtitled dialogue — most of the series is performed in Hawaiian — the encounters with outsiders, the ambitious monarchs and the warring factions. In the latter respects, the series also resembles “Game of Thrones,” where Momoa spent two seasons as chieftain Khal Drogo. And its opening might make you think of “The Lord of the Rings,” as a woman’s voice sets the story (a prophesied king will unite the endless, ending “a cycle of endless war”), introducing the island kingdoms of Kaua’i, Hawai’i, Maui and O’ahu, “separated by cunning chiefs and powerful gods.”

We’re introduced to Ka’iana, a Maui war chief who has left that island, and more to the point, deserted its army, to live a peaceful life on Kaua’i with his two brothers Nahi’ (Siua Ikale’o) and Namake (Te Kohe Tuhaka) and significant others Kupuohi (Te Ao o Hinepehinga) and Heke (Mainei Kinimaka). On the whole, given what follows, one would call this the superior lifestyle, and I would have been happy just to spend a little time in this world, with its plant-based architecture and fashions and cheeky local children getting into Ka’iana’s stuff. But like a retired gunslinger in a western movie, circumstances will not let him rest. (He will, in fact, sling a gun before the season is out.)

Kaina Makua and Luciane Buchanan also stars in “Chief of War.”

(Nicola Dove/Apple TV+)

“A war chief who runs from war — you are a chief of contradictions,” says Kaʻahumanu (Luciane Buchanan), a young Maui woman Ka’iana meets in a cave while he’s on the run, where she’s lying low from her councilor father (Moses Goods), who means to ship her to Hawai’i to marry her to Kamehameha (Kaina Makua), in charge of the “god of war,” a sort of military good-luck charm whose possession will be a major issue, though Kamehameha’s own inclinations bend toward peace. But with crazy villains like King Kahekili (Temuera Morrison) and Keoua (Cliff Curtis), not to mention some rogue white sailors with their own dreams of conquest, that may have to wait.

A contemporary account describes the real-life Ka’iana as “near 6 feet 5 inches in stature, and the muscular form of his limbs was of a Herculean appearance,” which is basically typecasting for Momoa. In many ways “Chief of War” is another superhero role for him, if a more emotionally busy one. He’s the best fighter by miles, can catch a spear in his head, ride a shark (a drugged shark, but still) and whip out a laser stare calculated to make his enemies quake. But he also must grapple with family business, love stuff and getting people to listen to his better ideas.

Circumstances will lead Ka’iana into the ocean and onto a British sailing ship, where he will travel to Alaska and the Spanish East Indies, learn all about guns, which he regards as a potentially useful invention, and to speak English — John Young (Benjamin Hoetjes) a marooned sailor taken into the community, is teaching it back on Hawai’i, and soon many characters are speaking English, even when it doesn’t make any practical sense. And in a story in which “pale-skin” colonists meet and exploit Indigenous populations, white racism necessarily gets a licking — “They do not see you as people,” says Tony (James Udom), a Black man who befriends Ka’iana on his accidental voyage — including an actual licking.

Injecting a strain of anticipatory feminism, Momoa and his collaborator Thomas Paʻa Sibbett have taken care not only to incorporate women into their testosterone-heavy world (including Sisa Grey as a street-smart Hawai’ian expat), but to give them interesting things to do — Kupuohi “was once a chiefess of war,” Heke wants Nahi’ to teach her how to fight — and wise things to say, e.g., “Men train their whole lives to be warriors but they fear being wrong more than they fear death.” (So true.) There are gay characters, too, presented without comment.

The actors are appealing when they’re meant to be, and very much unappealing when they’re meant to be, but they’re all excellent (including the nonprofessional Makua). The pacing can be pokey — elegiac if you prefer — between the big action scenes, which can be disturbingly violent. (It can also be very violent when someone’s just trying to make a point.) Filmed across Hawaii and New Zealand and thoughtfully designed, it’s always a pleasure to look at, notwithstanding some dodgy CGI in the volcano scene. (Yes, there’s a volcano.) There is one red-hued orgy scene (denoting villainy) too many — which is to say, there’s one. The score, by Hans Zimmer and James Everingham, is Hollywood-obvious, and the series as a whole is not immune to corniness — but that is sometimes just another word for love.

One travel expert’s advice may just make your summer

Craving a slice of Hawaii without breaking the bank? One travel enthusiast may just have an ideal budget-friendly recommendation for you.

Last month, ‘Jamie Travel’ took to TikTok to share his admiration for what’s commonly dubbed the ‘Hawaii of Europe’. Boasting picturesque black sand beaches, mountain trails and vibrant cultural spots, this hidden gem has something for everyone. And Jamie said he managed to get return flights for £67 with Ryanair, too.

“I always wondered why Madeira was called the ‘Hawaii of Europe’ and soon found out why,” Jamie told his 29,000 followers. “I visited for four days earlier this year, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. If you love adventure, hiking or just spending time in nature, but also want the option to chill by a pool, I highly encourage you to visit.

“We secured flights for just £67, made our way into one of the most dangerous airport landings in Europe before checking into our hotel in the city of Funchal.”

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Madeira is a small Portuguese archipelago situated roughly 1,000 km from the European mainland and 500 km from North Africa. It consists of four scenic islands, and its capital city, Funchal, was the birthplace of legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

Although Jamie insists there are ‘101 things to do’ in Madeira, he drew special attention to its various hiking routes, which are also known as ‘PR trails’. These run alongside waterfalls and pass through tunnels while providing ‘breathtaking mountain views’.

He continued: “It’s impossible to show you everything that we got up to in one short video, but I will show you the best of what we did there. We started day one by taking a Bolt Taxi up to the PR1 trail for what turned out to be an absolutely incredible sunrise.

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“We followed the trail to many of the viewpoints along the way and also walked the famous ‘Stairway to Heaven’. We then took a cable car up to Monte Palace, which is one of the most unique places in Madeira before opting for a quicker way down using the famous wicker toboggan ride.”

In the days following, Jamie and his companions spent some time exploring the island’s black sand beaches and natural pools. They also ventured through the eerily enchanting Fanal Forest, considered part of the Laurisilva Forest.

You’d be forgiven for thinking this UNESCO Heritage site was pulled straight from a set of The Hobbit. It conserves the largest surviving area of primary laurel forest – a vegetation type now confined to the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.

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“We also hiked the PR9 trail, which is a 14km out-and-back trail that passes through waterfalls and tunnels,” Jamie said. “And you end up at this huge waterfall, the Caldeirão Verde.

“It is definitely a trip that went far too quick, so I hope to revisit in the near future. I hope this is your sign to book that trip to Madeira, as it’s not somewhere you want to miss.”

The Isle of Tiree is located 22 miles west of Ardnamurchan, the nearest part of the Scottish mainland, and sixty miles west of Oban, where you can get a four-hour ferry to the island

Scotland may be known for its chilly and damp climate, but it’s also home to a stunning island that’s been affectionately named the ‘Hawaii of the North’. Nestled 22 miles west of Ardnamurchan, the closest point on the Scottish mainland, and a sixty-mile journey west from Oban, lies the Isle of Tiree.

The island is bathed in the warm currents of the Gulf Stream, blessing Tiree with some of the highest levels of sunshine and warmest temperatures in the UK. Even in winter, frost is a rare sight, although the island does become rather windy due to its low-lying nature.

However, come spring and summer, the breeze turns into a pleasant gust, helping to keep away midges and other pesky insects.

Tiree boasts a plethora of breathtaking beaches, with Gott Bay being the largest and a favourite amongst windsurfers and sand yachters. At low tide, a thin stretch of sand connects Gott Bay to the nearby Island of Soa.

Crossapol Beach is another hotspot for windsurfers and an ideal location for wildlife enthusiasts. During the summer months, you might even spot the fins of Basking Sharks, reports the Express.

Other picturesque beaches on this idyllic island include Balephetrish Beach, Balevullin Beach, Soroby Bay, among others.

Tiree enchants holidaymakers with its unique Ringing Stone – a boulder that chimes metallically when tapped, linked to the Megalithic Builders and believed to be an Ice Age relic.

According to local legends, the stone was hurled to Tiree by a giant from Mull, and should it ever be removed, the island is doomed to submerge beneath the waves.

Keen to delve into Tiree’s past? The An Iodhlann Archive and Museum is your go-to for gripping exhibitions on the island’s heritage and community.

Visitors have been heaping praise on Tiree over at TripAdvisor, with one posting: “Tiree is a magical place. Pace of life is slower, people are friendly to each other, the beaches are simply stunning and among the best, if not the best in the world. Great destination to recharge and unwind from modern life.”

Another equally impressed traveller reminisced: “Went to island of Tiree back in 2002 and have to say it was an amazing trip as well as an lifetime experience. One of the most beautiful places to visit in the UK highly recommended.”

While a third added: “Such a remote and beautiful island. The vernacular Architecture is gorgeous, the scenery spectacular and even the weather was fine. Lots to do and see. Local pottery, cafes, pubs and historic villages. Well worth a visit. Yellow Hare Cafe at the ferry terminal is a must for the best coffee on the island.”

WAILUKU, Hawaii — From the moment the Rams landed in Maui, Puka Nacua embraced the spotlight and provided sunshine vibes.

The star receiver, with several colorful leis draping his shoulders, turned heads upon arrival at a Monday night luau.

The next morning, flag football players excitedly buzzed “It’s Puka!” as he entered War Memorial Stadium for a Rams workout and clinic. That afternoon, autograph seekers lined up 100-deep for an exclusive afternoon Puka-centric event at a team pop-up store.

On Wednesday, several thousands of fans showed up to see the Rams’ public workout, dozens of them wearing Nacua jerseys.

Nacua, who is of Hawaiian, Samoan and Portuguese descent, welcomed the attention with open arms.

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua signs autographs for fans after minicamp practice in Wailuku, Hawaii, on Tuesday.

(Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times)

“These are people who have similar backgrounds to me,” Nacua said this week. “This is how I was raised — to call everybody Auntie and Uncle, and to be with them and give hugs and kisses, and to eat a lot of food with them.

“This feels like home.”

Nacua, 24, is clearly comfortable in his role.

He is the latest Polynesian NFL star, joining players such as Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell and Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata.

Nacua burst onto the NFL scene in 2023 with a record-setting rookie season. His boundless enthusiasm, physical style and daring athletic catches thrilled fans and showed Polynesian athletes that opportunity and success at a so-called skill position was in their grasp.

Linebacker Junior Seau, safety Troy Polamalu and center Kevin Mawae are Polynesian players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Nacua is respectful of the players who paved the way for his opportunity, citing Marcus Mariota, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Polamalu as just a few of the many that led the way.

He aims to show that opportunity exists beyond “the trenches” for aspiring Polynesian athletes.

“It makes it super exciting,” he said, “because the skill positions are coming.”

The influence of Polynesian pro players dates to the 1940s, when offensive lineman Al Lolotai played for Washington. In the 1950s, offensive lineman Charlie Ane twice made the Pro Bowl and won two NFL championships with the Detroit Lions.

Ane returned to Hawaii and tutored a young offensive lineman named Norm Chow. Chow played at Utah and coached as an assistant at Brigham Young, North Carolina State, USC, the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, UCLA and Utah before Hawaii in 2011 made him the first Asian American head coach at a major college program.

Watching Nacua’s ascent has been gratifying for the Hawaiian-born Chow.

“It’s a cool deal,” Chow said. “He’s a tough guy.”

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, left, shares a laugh with linebacker Tony Fields II during organized team activities in Woodland Hills on June 3.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Toughness was a hallmark for Polynesian players such as Jesse Sapolu, an interior lineman on four San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl-title teams. Sapolu was twice voted to the Pro Bowl during a career that spanned from 1983 to 1997.

In those days, Sapolu said a dearth of Polynesian players in the NFL led him to study the schedule each year and identify the teams that included Polynesians.

“I’d look five weeks down the line at the roster,” Sapolu said, “and put it in the back of my mind, ‘I can’t wait for that week so I can say hello to that person.’”

Sapolu is the co-founder and chairman of the Hawaii-based Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. He has known Nacua since 2019, when Nacua played in the organization’s annual high school All-Star game. As an ambassador for the 49ers, Sapolu was on the sideline at Levi’s Stadium in 2023 when Nacua broke the NFL record for catches and receiving yards by a rookie.

“This generation is looking at this picture with a broader lens,” Sapolu said. “We still have the top linemen … but now we’ve got the Puka Nacuas coming up that Polynesian kids can say ‘Hey, you know, not only can I be big and strong, I can also be skinny and fast and go out there and do things that Puka is doing.’”

Manti Te’o grew up in Hawaii. In 2009, he was one of the most highly recruited players in the U.S. before going on to star at linebacker for Notre Dame and playing eight NFL seasons.

Te’o, an NFL Network analyst, has a home in Utah. He recalls watching Nacua play at BYU, where he displayed tenacity, physicality and fearlessness that harked to Smith-Schuster, the former USC star who has played eight NFL seasons. Nacua’s humility and the way he represented his family and community also stood out, Te’o said.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan participates in a rookie minicamp on April 25. The former Servite High School standout was selected eighth overall in the 2025 NFL draft.

(Chris Carlson / Associated Press)

Nacua’s success might have helped pave the way for former Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan, selected by the Carolina Panthers with the eighth pick in the 2025 draft.

“They’re starting to believe that they can be more than just the typical O-lineman,” Te’o said. “It’s nice to see that transition and progression.”

Mariota helped lay the groundwork. He grew up in Hawaii, starred at quarterback for Oregon, became the first Polynesian player to win the Heisman Trophy and was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the second pick in the 2015 draft.

Mariota, who will begin his second season with the Washington Commanders, pointed to Jack “The Throwin’ Samoan” Thompson, Jason Gesser, Timmy Chang and Darnell Arceneaux as Samoan and Hawaiian-born quarterbacks who paved the way for him.

“I really value some of these guys that played before me, and what they were able to do, and what they went through to allow me to even have the chance to play quarterback,” Mariota said.

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua runs a passing route at organized team activities on June 3.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns rookie Dillon Gabriel followed Mariota to play quarterback in college and the NFL.

Now, Nacua is showing other Polynesian athletes that they don’t have to be “loopholed” to play as a lineman or linebacker, Mariota said.

“Guys like Puka and guys across the league are really taking this Polynesian generation to the next level,” Mariota said. “So, it’s cool to see him, and I’m excited to see what’s next because this is just the beginning.”

This fall, Jayden Maiava is expected to start at quarterback for USC, Nico Iamaleava for UCLA.

Maiava said Mariota and Tagovailoa “set the example and set the tone” for him as a quarterback.

Nacua’s example as a Rams receiver also inspires, he said.

“Just to wake up and hit that standard he sets every single day,” Maiava said. “It’s something to look up to and gives a young kid like me something to strive for, and one day hope we can get there.”

The Rams returned to Hawaii for the first time since 2019, when they played a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Oahu.

In Maui, they opened a pop-up for five days in Wailea that featured merchandise designed by Aaron Kai, an Hawaiian artist who lives in Los Angeles.

Sales were brisk, but the main event was Nacua’s appearance.

Joshua Cabjuan traveled from Oahu to Maui to have Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua sign a replica of Nacua’s high school jersey.

(Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times)

Joshua Cabjuan, 21, of Oahu purchased caps, a hoodie and other items. He said he met Nacua at the Polynesian Bowl a few years ago, so he brought a replica of Nacua’s Orem (Utah) high school jersey to be signed.

“He was really excited, like, ‘Whoa, this is crazy — I haven’t seen this in so long,’” Cabjuan said.

Kristin Domingo of Maui had always been a Lakers and Dodgers fan. Becoming a Rams and Nacua fan, she said, naturally followed.

“We support anyone who comes from the islands or is of Hawaiian descent,” she said after Nacua signed a jersey.

And what does she like about Nacua?

“He’s an excellent wide receiver,” she said. “He kicks ass on the field.”

Kiara Nishimura, left, and Peyton Koerte of Kauai hold up jerseys autographed by Puka Nacua.

(Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times)

Peyton Koerte, 12, and Kiara Nishimura, 14, from Kauai each emerged with a signed Nacua jersey.

Why Nacua?

“We picked him for our draft in fantasy football,” Peyton said.

For decades the NFL’s Pro Bowl was played in Hawaii.

Te’o remembers watching players such as Rams stars Kurt Warner and Isaac Bruce in person.

“To see them play allowed me to dream big,” Te’o said.

Nacua hopes the Rams’ visit to Maui has a similar effect, and that it uplifts an island that was ravaged by the 2023 wildfire that destroyed much of Lahaina.

In remarks at the Rams welcome luau, Maui County Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. noted that the team donated more than $260,000 in initial relief and helped spur donations from other pro teams of $450,000 to the American Red Cross.

He also recalled attending a football camp in Maui overseen by former Rams quarterback Roman Gabriel in the 1970s.

“Thank you for what you’re going to do for our youth in the next couple of days, uplifting them and teaching them,” he said, adding that perhaps the next Puka Nacua might be among the attendees.

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua shakes hands with a youth flag football player during a clinic drill at Rams minicamp on Tuesday.

(Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times)

Nacua was thankful to help play a role in healing.

“To know the support that you want to give to those people who are going through that issue, and to see how it can change and bring the community closer together in that time, I think our team has felt that,” Nacua said.

Nacua once looked up to players such as Mariota and Smith-Schuster. Now, young players are looking up to him.

“The discipline to have the consistency to go out there and perform very well, I feel like those are things that are staples in the Polynesian community,” he said.

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua runs a drill at the team’s minicamp in Maui on Tuesday.

(Bryce Todd / Los Angeles Rams)

Nacua will return to Los Angeles and begin preparing for training camp and a season of high expectations. The Rams are regarded as potential Super Bowl contenders, with an offense that includes star quarterback Matthew Stafford and new star receiver Davante Adams.

But Nacua will not soon forget his time in Maui.

And he will have plenty of reminders.

“I’m sure I’m going to have 50 leis by the time I go home,” he said.