University of Hawai'i linebacker R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane is loving life.

The proud papa of 5-month-old Sylen Gautier Kamakakuokalani Kiesel-Kauhane enjoyed his time with the first-unit defense on the fourth day of the Warriors' fall camp.

In December, Kiesel-Kauhane proposed to Stephanie Gautier and she accepted.

"I'm blessed. Now that we have a kid together, I have to take care of my family," Kiesel-Kauhane said. "Everything falls into place now that football is here and family is here. I just love it, I love it."

He took reps with the first unit after starter Adam Leonard "tweaked" his hamstring in Thursday's practice.

"It's fine, I didn't pull it, so I'm just going to take a couple of days off and be ready to go hopefully," Leonard said. "It's pretty sore, but I have good strength in it and it's just a matter of getting it stretched and loosening it up."

Kiesel-Kauhane said he felt comfortable practicing with the "ones."

"Unfortunately, Adam got hurt. It doesn't mean that I'll be there," he said. "I'll just take my time and make sure I'm ready so if it does happen in the game I'll make sure I'll be there."

Leonard said Kiesel-Kauhane has been "doing a good job every day out here and I'm excited for him. I know he's a good player and no matter what happens during the season, if anyone gets injured, we have great linebackers who can step in and play great for us."

Kiesel-Kauhane, a 5-foot-11, 225-pound junior out of 'Aiea High School, has played primarily on special teams the past two seasons, playing in all 13 games in 2007.

"I consider R.J. a starter... He's just as good as all of us," linebacker Blaze Soares said. "He's probably the strongest linebacker we have."

Soares said Kiesel-Kauhane motivates the rest of his teammates to put in extra work in the weight room.

"He's a really mellow guy," Soares said. "He has a great work ethic. He inspires others."

Soares may be a bit biased. He and Kiesel-Kauhane are cousins. Their grandparents are siblings.

"We don't see it as a competition between me and him," Soares said. "We're family and we try to push each other. If I go down I know my cousin has my back and he's going to step right in there and do great."

Soares approves of Kiesel-Kauhane's two additions to the family.

"It's always good to have a new member of the family," he said. "Steph is a great girl. And R.J.'s baby is cute, he's a big boy."

Kiesel-Kauhane's proposal to Gautier came under a mistletoe at Honolulu Hale's Christmas tree exhibit.

"I didn't tell her, but I told her to take a picture under the mistletoe, and while she was looking up (at it), I proposed to her, and we kissed under the mistletoe," said Kiesel-Kauhane, who has been with Gautier for six years. "I had to do the whole nine yards. I made sure I did it right.

"It was a blessed moment."