Three starting offensive linemen at 14th-ranked University of Oregon like to reminisce about the beach, warm weather and "Manapua Man."

Junior center Enoka Lucas (Kamehameha '02), redshirt freshman left tackle Max Unger (Hawai'i Prep '04) and junior right guard Palauni Ma Sun Jr. (Kahuku '03) are a part of the Ducks' resurrection.

"It's fun, there are other (Polynesian) guys, but we have lots of inside jokes, like the 'Manapua Man,' " Unger said. "Palauni and Enoka talk a lot of pidgin."

Lucas, who is 6 feet 3 and 296 pounds, Unger (6-5, 300) and Ma Sun (6-5, 365) have helped the Ducks average 464.8 yards per game on offense and allowed just 10 sacks in eight games.

"Palauni, he's a character. Max keeps to himself, but you know he's always working hard," Lucas said. "Playing with the two Hawai'i boys, makes me a lot less homesick. It makes me feel like I'm playing at home."

Ma Sun said having other Hawai'i players on the team was one of the main reasons he chose to play for the Ducks.

"I don't like the feeling of getting homesick," he said. "When I first came here, no one understood what I was saying except for Enoka and Max. I think that's why they made me play between them (at left guard) when I first came."

The Ducks' 7-1 record is a vast improvement upon last season's 5-6 finish — when they missed a bowl game for the first time in years.

"We're doing pretty good, we're just clicking I guess," Lucas said. "We knew we had a bad start (last year) and we went home early. Although spending Christmas in Hawai'i is not that bad."

Ma Sun said: "It feels really, really, really good. I've always been on a winning team, I've never been on a losing team. I kind of knew we were going to win when I got here, when I saw all the talent here."

Oregon's only loss this season was to No. 1 Southern California last month, after the Ducks were leading 13-0.

"I was kind of bummed," Unger said. "We had two TDs pulled back against them. We competed hard and just fell apart in the second half."

That kind of determination is the reason Lucas feels Hawai'i football players are finding success in college.

"Being in Hawai'i, if you want to make a name for yourself, you have to put in the extra time," he said.

He mentioned other players from Hawai'i in the NFL, such as the Bears' Olin Kreutz, and the Lions' Dominic Raiola.

"We're a small island producing these big guys," Lucas said. "We're leaking out to a lot of Division I colleges, we're getting known."

Oregon's offensive line was a big uncertainty heading into fall camp, with Lucas one of two returning starters.

As one of the returnees, Lucas said he knew he would have to elevate his role.

"I think I'm just being more vocal, calling more of the calls," he said. "We did have a young group, but it's also good because we're a well-disciplined, young group.

"We'll listen more and we know when to play."

Ma Sun, a transfer from Fresno City College, participated in spring training and began fall camp as the starter at left guard.

Unger was expecting to be a backup this season, but received the starting nod after a coaching change.

"It's pretty exciting," he said. "It's my first year so I didn't know how it would be."

He said one of the toughest things about being away from home is missing the beach and the mountains.

"The beach (in Oregon) is just nasty. It's just sand and ocean. They call it 'the coast,' " Unger said. "There's a big difference. You're out there in full-weather gear. It's not exactly the same thing.

"The one thing that is pretty trippy, in Hawai'i, where ever you go, you can see the ocean. Over here, you go on a mountain and all you see is more mountains."

Ma Sun said he also missed the same things.

"I miss the weather, the beach, a lot. I miss L & L — oh, I mean my family — the most," he said.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.