A Waikiki Elementary second-grader looked up with curiosity at the large copy of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," then at Hawaii basketball forward Isaac Fotu.
"You’re bigger than us," the youngster informed Fotu. The New Zealander laughed.
After Fotu read to a classroom of about 30 keiki, he engaged with some Q-and-A with his audience. He seemed as amused by the questions as the kids were by the answers.
It was part of coach Gib Arnold’s new "Give Back Hawaii" initiative on Wednesday morning. It was the fourth school Arnold and a few Rainbow Warriors players visited this offseason as part of a new literacy campaign.
"I didn’t think they would be very interested in me reading, but they seemed to love the stories I read," Fotu said. "I think I enjoyed reading the stories as much as they enjoyed (hearing them). It was good to feel like I was in elementary school again. … One of the guys asked if I was 9 ’cause I was taller than him, ’cause he was 8."
UH’s first full practice day for the 2014-15 season is Saturday, when the Rainbow Warriors hold their Green & White scrimmage at the Stan Sheriff Center after UH volleyball.
Point guard Quincy Smith and forward Stefan Jankovic were the others to participate Wednesday. For Waikiki Elementary (about 500 students) it was part of a "Million Minutes of Reading" challenge.
Arnold and the players came out to cheers at a morning assembly of students before they split up to classrooms for readings.
The coach said he’s expanding the "Give Back Hawaii" campaign to include awareness of bullying and domestic violence at future stops, which he intends to continue to make during the 2014-15 season.
"It’s something that we’re taking pretty seriously," said Arnold, who has pledged game tickets (Dec. 29 vs. Southern) to kids who lead their classes in reading.
"It’s been great," Arnold said. "The kids have been great. The guys feel like superstars. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a special place. I think only in Hawaii would you have this type of reception when you go to these schools."
The team plans to visit Kainalu Elementary in Kailua later this month.
Wahine open practice Monday
The process of integrating nine newcomers into the Rainbow Wahine basketball program begins in full Monday morning with the team’s first official practice.
The additions join eight returnees, including three starters, back from last year’s 17-14 team –which finished in the WNIT — and give the Rainbow Wahine a decidedly taller look with six checking in at 5-foot-10 or taller.
"We’re really excited to get everybody on the court working together, being able to put in offense and defense and just see the chemistry,"third-year coach Laura Beeman said.
The Wahine look to be deeper in the post although they will have to replace one of the program’s most productive post players in Kamilah Jackson.
Shawna-Lei Kuehu was granted a sixth-year of eligibility after averaging 10.1 points last season and earning team MVPhonors. Also returning are Ashleigh Karaitiana (10.4 ppg), Destiny King (8.6) and point guard Morgan Mason (6.2).
The Wahine will hold a Green-and-White scrimmage on Oct. 26 and host an exhibition against UH-Hilo on Oct. 29. They open the season at Colorado State on Nov. 14.
