As running back Inoke Funaki yesterday learned the hard way in the Hawai'i football team's first contact practice of spring training, aloha means ... WHOMP!

"I gave him that little extra shove," middle linebacker Brashton Satele said of his hit on the converted quarterback. "It was: 'Welcome to running back.' "

The third spring practice was the first in pads. Head coach Greg McMackin tried to impose the two-hand touch rule. That meant no takedowns, no wrap-ups.

Linebackers R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, Marc Moody and Satele delivered some loud hits during the 2-hour practice on UH's grass practice field.

"Some guys get a little excited," McMackin said, smiling, "and they forget the general rule."

To be sure, Funaki needed the physical education. The coaches want to see if Funaki can handle the blocking and toughness demanded of the running back's role. The test came in the inside drill, a 7-on-9 discipline that excludes the receivers and cornerbacks. Every play is a rush.

"You know you're going to get whacked," Funaki said. "They're not playing any pass. They know the play is coming right between the tackles. You have to man up, and hit the gap."

On one play, Funaki ran into a streetcar named Satele.

"I went up the middle and — boom! — Brashton pushed me right back," Funaki said.

Satele said: "It's two-hand touch, and I two-hand-touched him pretty good."

On another play, Funaki went right, then tried to cut back to what was supposed to be a vacated area. Moody sniffed out the play, and belted Funaki, who suffered a scratch on his neck.

"Still taking it personal," Kahuku High graduate Funaki joked of Saint Louis alumnus Moody. "Still holding grudges."

Moody said: "He actually ran into me. I felt it, too."

As a Saint Louis senior, Moody recalled, "we lost to (Kahuku) by one. I love all of the Kahuku guys. They're all real humble people. But we'll always have that little thing."

In all, Funaki appears to be adjusting to running back. His blocking has improved and, despite fumbling a shovel pass, he is making better decisions.

"He's going to be a good running back," Satele said. "Get him in the open field, and he's going to make a lot of guys miss."

WORKING INSIDE JOB

Left wideout Greg Salas worked out at left slotback yesterday, an experiment that might become a tactic in the fall.

"He gives us a big body inside," receivers coach Craig Stutzmann said of the 6-foot-2, 201-pound junior. "He has a natural feel for just knowing zones and how to get there. He's kind of like a basketball player who knows how to get open in the zone."

The experiment serves two purposes: It gives more reps to wideouts Joe Avery and Rodney Bradley, and it gives Salas more pass-catching opportunities.

Last year, the slots were the intended receivers on 51 percent of UH's passes; the wideouts were the targets 41 percent of the time. While Salas was a key part of the game plan — he was the intended receiver 22 percent of the time (96 of 490 throws) — he caught 57 passes, a conversion success of 59.3 percent.

Moving Salas inside, McMackin hopes, "gives us a bigger target."

Salas said: "It gives you more opportunities to get the ball.'

HANDS-ON APPROACH

Often Kealoha Pilares runs tentatively because of a tender right foot, but he is feeling comfortable as a full-time slotback.

After practicing as a receiver in last year's spring training and fall camp, Pilares was moved back to running back. This spring, Pilares is back at slotback — a move he hopes is permanent.

"I think the slot is the position for me, especially in college," Pilares said. "I think I'm a little too small to play running back."

Pilares has spent hours studying the playbook, as well as videos of former Warriors Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins. He also works on catching every pass only with his hands.

"Even punts and stuff," Pilares said. "I hate catching it with my body. I try to work on my hands and my reaction."

By not using his forearms or chest to secure passes, Pilares can make catches at full speed, improving his post-catch yards. Last year, his yards-after catch (YAC) average was 8.18.

Even during yesterday's practice, Pilares kept running after the coaches signaled a played dead.

Post-catch running "is one of my strengths, I think," Pilares said. "Coach Mack wants us to stop after the play (in practice), but I want to work on making guys miss."

The second half of last season, Pilares was bothered by a sprained right foot. The injury was near the ball of his foot, making it difficult to walk or run without discomfort.

"It was pretty bad," Pilares said. "It never went away because you're always standing on it. It's not like a sprained finger."

Pilares undergoes daily treatments. He also received a specially made padded insert for his shoe.

"It's been a frustrating process," he said. "I'm kind of tentative to make moves. A little tweak will set it back. I want to get to the point where it's out of my head."