After every University of Hawaii football practice, Damien Packer and other defensive backs will sprint the hills adjacent to the grass practice field.

They will run until their lungs burn, then run an additional sprint.

"I have to give it my all," Packer said.

He runs for his mother, who works two jobs on the Big Island.

"She does so much for me," Packer said. "The best way I can pay her back is to go out here and make her proud."

And he runs for Maka‘ala Lum Ho, his childhood friend and Kea‘au High basketball and football teammate.

"I want to make Maka proud," Packer said.

During the summer of 2011, Packer, Lum Ho, Johnny Vance and Joey Aquino often would go to a fishing spot off Kapoho.

On a June day in 2011, another group was at the spot. Packer and his companions decided to take turns riding a two-person kayak in nearby waters until the fishing spot was vacated. Because Packer and Aquino had to use a restroom, Lum Ho and Vance went out first on the kayak.

Packer said a "rogue" wave "washed up" the kayak, spilling Lum Ho and Vance into the water while the vessel headed to shore.

"We saw the kayak come up, and they were waving their hands for us to come help them," Packer recalled.

Aquino paddled toward Vance, who was not a strong swimmer, while Packer swam toward Lum Ho. Vance was able to grab onto the back of the kayak, but strong waves made it impossible to head toward Lum Ho.

"I was trying to swim to Maka, but the waves were too big, and I had wana in my foot, so I couldn’t get to him," Packer said. "I had to keep duck-diving big waves. When I got back up, I couldn’t see him. … We saved one of our friends, but the other didn’t make it."

Lum Ho was 16.

"It definitely was one of the hardest things in my life," Packer said. "There were only 900 kids in my high school, so we’re all kind of close. We had a really hard time accepting it, not knowing why it happened."

The friends met with Lum Ho’s parents.

"We all agreed to go in a positive direction and use it to motivate us and live life like how Maka would," Packer said.

Packer pledged to play college football in Lum Ho’s honor. Packer joined UH as a walk-on, living on a tuna- and ramen-based diet. He was awarded a scholarship last year.

This semester, Packer switched to No. 23 after his preferred choice — No. 21 — went from slotback Samson Anguay to newcomer Dylan Collie. When Anguay and Collie learned that Packer wanted to wear Lum Ho’s high school number, they agreed to another switch.

Packer said wearing No. 21 "is a constant reminder that tomorrow could be my last day. … Every day I wake up is a blessing. It can be taken like that. Not a lot of people have this opportunity to play football. I’m going to have a positive attitude about it."