MIAMI » You can get a can of Spam in South Bend, Ind., easily. It’s just $2.89 for a 12-ounce can at Martin’s Super Market.

But as any college kid from Hawaii on the mainland will tell you, it tastes a lot better when that can of fatty, salty goodness is received in the mail from the islands.

"It’s always special when it comes from home," Kona Schwenke said.

But early on at Notre Dame, that comforting taste would have the defensive lineman from Kahuku and Hauula thinking he made a mistake, that he should be back home instead of freezing through the Indiana winter.

He arrived in 2010 weighing 230 pounds, but had to bulk up quickly because he was needed to play immediately. Some would like that, but Schwenke didn’t feel right yet at 275.

And then, the snow.

"It was fun the first couple of times," he said. "Then it gets old."

He talked to his father about transferring to the University of Hawaii. But he was convinced to stay by his teammates and friends from the North Shore, Robby Toma and Manti Te’o (who’d had his own serious bout with homesickness as a freshman a year earlier).

SATURDAY, SCHWENKE sat in the stands at Sun Life Stadium. No snow. Just bright, warm rays. Now he’s 290 pounds. A solid 290.

On Monday he will suit up for Notre Dame in the national championship game against Alabama. How much action will he see? Probably not much, since he is a backup and has played sparingly.

Coming out of last spring, he was listed as a starter. But Schwenke missed time early in fall camp with a broken hand, and practiced with a cast. Louis Nix III emerged as a dominant force at the point of Notre Dame’s 3-4. As a backup, Schwenke has made two tackles and a fumble recovery.

Disappointed?

"No, for me it’s just been an amazing journey. Me and Big Lou, we always talked about how we don’t care who started because we knew whoever went out there would produce positively for the team," he said. "It wasn’t a big deal that I didn’t start. Now it’s just like we’re here as a team and it doesn’t really matter. The fact that we’re out here was the goal for all of us."

His father, McKay, is optimistic Kona will get significant playing time against the Crimson Tide.

"The kind of offense Alabama has, I think you need to rotate," he said.

THERE’S MUCH more sweet than bitter for Schwenke, even though his name won’t be called with the starters Monday in the biggest game of his life.

He is effusive with gratitude for Te’o and Toma.

"They played a big role in me coming here, and when I was homesick they helped me get through the hard times," he said.

Schwenke has another year, another shot at becoming a starter. Even if it doesn’t happen, the anthropology major said he would still advise Hawaii football standouts to consider Notre Dame.

"I would highly recommend it," he said. "For me, coming here opened so many doors. I got to do so many things I never thought I would be able to do."

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.