As a welcome-back offering, Kealoha Pilares gave the gift of pain to Greg Salas.

"We worked out, and he destroyed my legs," Salas said. "Kealoha’s legs are very strong. It’s hard to keep up."

Last year’s starting slotbacks for the Hawaii football team were reunited when California-raised Salas returned to Hawaii on Tuesday afternoon for a working vacation. Pilares, who was raised in Wahiawa, has been training in Hawaii the past three weeks after completing a workout program in Arizona.

Both were selected in the 2011 NFL Draft — Salas by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round, Pilares by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth.

"I had a little business to take care of out here," Salas said. "I wanted to take a little time to relax, but I wanted to stay in shape. I’ll be out here five days, and I don’t really have time to take five days off from working out. I didn’t want to slack off."

Pilares invited Salas to work out Wednesday morning at the Tactical Strength & Conditioning facility on Kapiolani Boulevard. Salas, who recovered from a recently tweaked hamstring, focused on leg-strengthening drills.

"He killed my legs, but it was a good workout," Salas said.

Pilares will take the workouts to another level today. The plan is run up Koko Crater Trail, which often is referred to as "nature’s stair-master."

Pilares said he has ascended to the top in about 15 minutes.

"It’s a killer," Pilares said. "If you walk up there, it’s kind of easy. I try to push myself to see how fast I can do it. I really hate it. It’s not fun at all. But it’s a good workout."

To maintain his pass-catching skills, Pilares bought a JUGS football-throwing machine.

"It’s a great investment," said Pilares, who keeps the machine at Tactical. "I leave it there so the other receivers can use it."

The walls at Tactical are covered with mirrors.

"That’s why you have to trust your hands," Pilares said of using the machine. "You can’t go in there quivering."

Pilares and Salas said they are preparing for the eventual end of the NFL lockout.

"It’s inevitable that we’ll have football," Pilares said. "I have to be ready for it."

During the lockout, NFL teams are not permitted to communicate with the players. None of the drafted players has received a contract offer.

"I’m waiting for the call when they decide the lockout is over," Pilares said. "I just want to play football. That’s the main point. Whatever has to be done, has to be done. That’s why I want to get into (training) camp."

Salas said: "I’ll be ready to go. There’s nothing that’s going to be stopping me. Whenever this thing is ready to be settled, I’ll be there."