The camera never blinks.

That is the title of TV journalist Dan Rather’s autobiography.

It also could be that of Kupono Fey.

As any Hawaii-raised athlete knows, there is a brighter spotlight shining on them when playing for the University of Hawaii. The expectations are different, their lives seemingly on display 24-7, whether it’s taking time off to head to Sandy’s or ordering a coffee drink on campus.

It’s both a blessing and a burden.

It’s not for everyone.

It is for Fey.

The 6-foot-5 junior outside hitter for the No. 5 Rainbow Warrior volleyball team has embraced it, counteracting the added pressure with pride, the extra load with legacy. After all, Fey is never more than a high service toss away from family in the Stan Sheriff Center, even in practice.

His grandfather’s plaque is on the concourse some 22 rows up between Lower FF and Upper LL, with a perfect view of the Hawaii bench when matches start. Usually there is a lei around the frame of Harry “Clown” Kahuanui, courtesy of his grandson whose middle name is Kahuanui.

Harry Kahuanui was a standout athlete at Hawaii in both basketball and football, the latter in which he was an honorable mention All-American. The first UH player to play in the East-West Shrine Game. Kahuanui also was territorial heavyweight boxing champion.

The athletic family tree includes mom Shelley, a former Rainbow Wahine basketball player, the physical education department chair at Fey’s alma mater Punahou; and dad Kyle, who played basketball and volleyball at Maryknoll and then basketball at Notre Dame de Namur. Aunt Charlene Christenson is a Vulcans Athletic Hall of Fame inductee who won three volleyball national championships at Hawaii Hilo, and cousin Micah Christenson likely will be the starting setter for Team USA at this summer’s Olympics.

“As a local player playing for UH, there is more pressure than if I had gone to any other school,” said Fey, majoring in civil engineering. “But it’s more fun than pressure, getting to play in front of family and friends, getting to play in front of so many people in the arena. It’s not like that at other places.

“I think it’s good that people know how we’re doing, who we are. If we lose, they’ll know, but as long as people care, that’s a good thing. We just need to keep on winning.”

The Warriors will try to do that tonight when they host No. 1 UCLA (10-0, 6-0 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation). Hawaii (8-1, 5-1) puts a couple of streaks on the line: five consecutive wins this season and 16 in a row at home dating back to last year.

Fey has been a big part of the success, albeit a quiet part. He doesn’t have the flashy game or big numbers like senior hitter Siki Zarkovic or freshman opposite Stijn van Tilburg, but what Fey does have is a solid all-around game, one he has continued to hone through hard work.

“He loves playing volleyball and he is such a hard worker,” junior setter Jennings Franciskovic said. “He loves putting in the extra work, getting all the extra reps, but sometimes we have to tell him to take it easy, to have faith, that you’re a good player.

“He tries 100 percent all the time. It’s good to have someone on the team like that who is always trying to get better.”

Franciskovic and Fey played for Team USA this past summer, taking silver at the U21 Pan American Cup and 11th at the U21 World Championships. Fey has been in the USAV pipeline almost from the start of his volleyball career in intermediate school and played for the U.S. Boys Youth National Team in 2012.

“The experience last summer was a great experience, especially to have me and Jennings together,” Fey said. “The Worlds was a tough tournament but a good learning experience.

“It was humbling because everyone is playing at such a high level. It taught me that I need to work harder and practice all the time at that level.”

While Fey has become passionate about volleyball, he still considers basketball his first love. His first UH memory is of being in Klum Gym at a women’s basketball clinic and autograph session that featured Olympian and WNBA great Cynthia Cooper.

“Basketball … for me it’s ‘the beautiful game’ and will always be my favorite sport,” said Fey, who played both volleyball and basketball at Punahou. “But I saw the opportunity that volleyball would give me and I would like to play volleyball for as long as I can.”

While Fey continues to grow as a volleyball player, “where I’ve seen him grow is in confidence,” his mother, Shelley, said. “Making the (U21) team made him more confident and his defense has really improved. He’s playing with an intensity that wasn’t always there.

“His club coach (Ku‘ikahi’s Teoni Obrey) told him if he wanted to play all the way around, he had to become a really good defensive player. He took that to heart. He really takes pride in going after balls that no one thinks can be played.”

That happened Sunday against UC San Diego, when Fey’s second effort proved pivotal. Down 21-19 in Set 1, the Warriors got consecutive diving saves from Zarkovic, Franciskovic, then Fey — the latter punching the ball back over the net from beyond the baseline — to eventually win the point and make it 21-20 instead of 22-19. Hawaii went on to pull it out 30-28 en route to sweeping the Tritons.

“He’s just a good dude,” Hawaii coach Charlie Wade said. “Kupono is honest, loyal, a hard worker, just a good kid. Life is a lot simpler for me with guys like him around.

“He’s made himself into one of the best players in the country. He’s on the floor all the time for us, and that’s a testament to him and his hard work.

“I don’t know if everyone understands what it’s like for the local kids playing here. They have to be ready for the responsibility. It’s not your typical college experience. It’s a big deal and (UH sports) means so much to so many people here. The eyes that are on guys like Kupono and (senior libero) Kolby Kanetake are constant. Not only have they embraced it, they’ve tackled it.”