Like punters, snappers and the other kickers on the University of Hawaii roster, Kenton Chun is listed as a specialist.

Doesn’t really match. He’s really much more of a generalist, at least away from the football field.

The senior walk-on from Saint Louis School by way of Southern Oregon is an Eagle Scout, kendo practitioner and a former college triple jumper.

And, Thursday night at the Warriors’ annual revue, perhaps his most intriguing skill will be on display. It’s magic.

“He’s the star for our talent show,” fellow kicker Tyler Hadden said.

Chun shrugs it off.

“It’s just a hobby, I kind of enjoy it,” he said after Tuesday’s practice at Aloha Stadium. “When I was a kid I saw some stuff that blew my mind. My junior year in high school I started getting more involved in it and found I had a knack for it.”

Of course, he won’t give away any secrets.

“I’m focusing on cards and fork bending,” was all Chun would say about his show.

FOR HIS NEXT trick, maybe Chun would like to make Hadden disappear. But while the competition for No. 1 kicker is tight, it also appears to be friendly.

“Nothing’s given; it’s all competition,” Hadden says, and later, with a smile, “That joke’s been told before.”

“It is very close,” Chun adds.

Another walk-on, Kyle Niiro, also is in camp, and is pushing Hadden for kickoff duty. Chun and Hadden are the main contestants for field goals and points after.

At the stadium on Tuesday, Chun made three of four kicks from the 35- to 45-yard range, and Hadden converted on two of three.

“It’s very close and it might go down to pregame (of the season opener with Colorado),” said special teams coach Dick Tomey, who is pleased with the situation, despite neither player having attempted a kick in a college game. “We’ll go with the most consistent one from 40 to 45 yards. We’ll worry about the long ones later.”

HADDEN ARRIVED with a big-time leg and credentials last year, considered one of the top ten high school kickers in the country and No. 1 in California by one ranking service. He was 13-for-15 on field goals, including a 50-yarder as a senior at California High School in Whittier, but redshirted last year partly due to nagging injuries and partly due to Scott Enos’ improvement from 2009.

“I’m really healthy right now and feel a lot stronger than last year,” Hadden said.

He said the new playing surface at Aloha Stadium requires recalibration. “The new turf’s a little thicker; you have to make some adjustments. It was easier when it wasn’t as thick.”

Chun made a few field goals on the old surface as an all-stater at Saint Louis, the longest a 39-yarder. But he never got into a game at Southern Oregon. He had to scrap his way onto the UH roster, making it in his second try. “I made a decision that I wanted to take a chance and see if I could be a Division I kicker.”

If he wins the job, it will be due to hard work and perseverance.

Nothing magical about it at all.