No major injuries after first workouts
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
After five two-hour practices in the past three days of training camp, the University of Hawai'i remains relatively healthy, reporting knee sprains suffered by defensive back Justin Goss and linebacker Viliami Taufi.
The only significant injury, to defensive tackle Lui Fuga's shoulder, was incurred during offseason training.
UH coach June Jones attributes the low number of injuries to the PG-rated practices, in which excessive contact is discouraged. For most UH practices, helmets and shoulder pads are the only protective equipment required.
Even when the Warriors practice in full gear for the first time tomorrow, "everything will be the same. Our whole deal is to limit contact, from the day we start until the day we end. About the only contact we have is in the games."
Except for last Thursday's first practice on Cooke Field's artificial turf, the remaining workouts are scheduled for the grass field.
"There's less wear and tear when you practice on grass," Jones said. "We want to practice smart. We don't to get anybody hurt."
Boxed in
• Running into place: Chad Kapanui, a four-sport letter winner at Roosevelt High, took up boxing this summer.
As a worker in the Weyerhaeuser warehouse, "I counted boxes, moved boxes and stacked boxes," he said. "I sweated a lot. I needed that. The work helped me lose weight."
The 6-foot Kapanui, who weighed 235 while redshirting as a freshman last year, now is 210 pounds.
"I think I'm faster," said Kapanui, who is one of nine candidates for the lone running back job in the run-and-shoot offense.
He also believes he is a better runner. Last year, he entered training camp as a quarterback, moved to linebacker, then back to quarterback and, finally, to running back. He often ran upright, with a Forrest Gump-like gait. Now he said he is learning to lean when he runs.
Still, Kapanui's strength is his strength. Despite the weight loss, he bench pressed 225 pounds 19 times last week.
Busy times
• Family ties: Kila Kamakawiwo'ole, who turns 18 next month, is too young to register to vote, but old enough to apply for a warehouse-club card, a necessity for a father of twin 10-month-old boys.
Kamakawiwo'ole said it is difficult to balance football, school and parental duties, but "I'm trying my best." He said his girlfriend and her family spend most of the time watching the twins.
Kamakawiwo'ole, a freshman who is competing at outside linebacker and defensive end, is the second cousin of the late entertainer, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.
"He was cool, and very nice," he said of Brother Iz.
Kamakawiwo'ole dabbled in music at Kaimuki High, "but I'm not very good," and decided to focus on football.
