In times of trouble, there is nothing like family support.

"We're his family," middle linebacker Brashton Satele said of University of Hawai'i football teammate Lewis Walker. "We're going to look after him."

Walker's mother recently suffered an apparent heart attack in Salt Lake City.

UH officials helped make arrangements for Walker to return to Utah to be at his mother's side.

But his mother told him to remain in Hawai'i, where the Warriors are in their first week of training camp.

"I'm staying," said Walker, a second-year freshman cornerback who did not compete in drills yesterday.

"He had a discussion with his mom, and she told him she wanted him to stay here," cornerback Jeramy Bryant said. "Everybody respects their mom's word."

UH head coach Greg McMackin said: "He's going to be with the team. His mom wants him to be here, to be strong. This is his family, too. But we had it set up so he could go home."

Walker was able to speak with his mother before yesterday's afternoon practice.

"She's going to be strong, just like he is," McMackin said. "Everybody is praying for him and his mother, and everybody is with him. His mom was able to give him strength, and tell him she's going to make it. I know she's going to make it. He's strong and she's strong. His teammates are with him."

Walker is competing for playing time at cornerback.

"Lew-Walk" redshirted last season.

FONOTI IMPROVES ENDURANCE

For defensive end Fetaiagogo "John" Fonoti, the playground was the proving ground.

Because of school and family obligations — he has a young daughter — Fonoti made the most of his limited training time. To complement his weight training and conditioning workouts, Fonoti played basketball, volleyball and rugby at various parks.

His volleyball position?

"Outside hitter, of course," he said, smiling.

He also enjoyed rugby.

"There's a lot of running — and no pads," he said. "I see people a lot shorter than me, but they're tough."

The pick-up games proved to be beneficial. Fonoti said he lost 15 pounds, and now weighs 250.

He also improved his endurance.

When he reported to training camp Wednesday, he thought he would be "out of shape" compared to many of his teammates.

But during drills, he noted, "I kept up OK."

McMackin said: "He's in real good shape. He looks good. He runs to the football. He makes plays. He's strong. And he's done well in his classes. He's on track to graduate.That's exciting. He's ready to have a great year."

Fonoti said Taase Faumui, a former UH and NFL defensive end, played in some of the pickup basketball games and volleyball matches. Both are Farrington High alumni.

"I asked him about certain things, and he gave me a lot of tips (on playing defensive end)," Fonoti said.

His stress has been relieved by the birth of his daughter and his mother's improved health. She has completed treatment for cancer.

"She's doing good," Fonoti said. "She's getting better. She had a chance to go to Samoa. She had an awesome time."

ACCURACY KEY FOR KICKER

The first step in succeeding the Ice Man — placekicker Dan Kelly — is to break the ice.

"I'm trying to get to know everybody and feel comfortable around everyone," Scott Enos said. "This is a new team for me. I have to get to know the coaches. I have to prove myself out there. That's what it's all about."

Kelly, who connected on 10 of 20 field-goal attempts last season, completed his Division I-A football eligibility last December He has transferred to Cal Baptist, an NAIA school, where he will play soccer. He has two years of eligibility remaining in that sport.

Brett Symonds, who redshirted as a freshman last year, has transferred to College of the Desert.

Enos, Kevin Bell and Brian Blumberg are competing for the placekicker's job. Enos is the only one on football scholarship.

Enos has been accurate from various distances during the first two practices of training camp.

"The ball flies off his foot," McMackin said. "He's got that little explosion off his foot."

McMackin said each kicker, for now, is getting an equal number of opportunities.

"We'll have them keep kicking," McMackin said. "I want to make sure we have an accurate kicker."

Enos, who played for Sierra Junior College last year, has worked with holders Inoke Funaki and Shane Austin.

"We're rotating a couple of guys," Enos said. "We're seeing who works the best together."

The Warriors have set a snap-to-kick goal of 1.2 seconds. Luke Ingram, who succeeds his brother Jake Ingram as long-snapper, has had no problems with his snaps.

"I've known how to kick for a while," Enos said. "I need to fit in and earn everyone's trust."

NOTES FROM CAMP