SECOND OF 3 PARTS
Three years ago, Kalei Hanawahine trotted off the field for the final time as a freshman.
While Hawaii celebrated keeping its season alive, Hanawahine’s year was done after San Diego was eliminated by the Rainbows in an NCAA regional in Tempe, Ariz.
At that time, wearing UH’s green and white colors seemed blasphemy. Hanawahine was hoping for another crack at the team he grew up watching.
"I was still committed fully to USD," Hanawahine said. "I still felt that extra motivation when you go out there and play the hometown team."
Hanawahine was in left field when Pi‘ikea Kitamura was hit in the ear with a pitch, forcing in a ninth-inning run that gave UH its first of two victories over the Toreros in that regional.
The two were teammates at Kamehameha on both the intermediate and varsity squads.
"We played them once in the regular season at our place and I remember watching the NCAA selection show waiting to see where we would end up," Hanawahine said. "When we ended up with Pi‘ikea and the ‘Bows it was pretty fun to experience my first postseason playing against UH."
While Hawaii went on to win the WAC regular-season championship the following year, Hanawahine’s Toreros started off 4-17.
His playing time diminished, and combined with the financial costs at a school that is now $40,000 for out-of-state tuition, Hanawahine decided to make a phone call.
"He contacted us that he wanted to come home and we were happy to accommodate him," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. "We knew from playing against him three times he was a good player."
Hanawahine tried to get a waiver from the NCAA to play last year but was denied a month before the start of the season.
In practice, he was out there every day with his teammates. But for each of UH’s 55 games, Hanawahine could only stand idly by.
"It’s tough to just sit back in the dugout and watch my boys play every night," Hanawahine said. "It’s definitely going to make this year that much more worth it."
After what has seemed like "forever," Hanawahine will finally be back on the field when the Rainbows open the 2013 season against No. 6 Oregon.
He’ll be the first starter in center field since 2011 not named Breland Almadova, who graduated from ‘Iolani the same year as Hanawahine and Kitamura did at Kamehameha.
Teammates once again, Hanawahine currently lives with Kitamura, who knows as well as anyone what his good friend brings to the table.
"I know he’s pumped and he knows what prime time Division I baseball is like," Kitamura said. "Any athlete — baseball player especially — who has been out of the game for a year, they are definitely itching to get back in."
That he is — a full 634 days since his last Division I game.
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Friday: Pitchers
