They are the future. They are the past. And, at these Olympic Games, the trio of Hawaii-born players are very much the present for USA Volleyball.

Setters Micah Christenson (Kamehameha) and Kawika Shoji (‘Iolani) and libero Erik Shoji (Punahou) — all under the age of 29 — made history when they were named to the U.S. roster, the first time that three players born in Hawaii are on the same Olympic team. The Shojis doubled up that history by becoming the first brothers on the same U.S. volleyball squad at a Games.

Hawaii has a rich and deep history in Olympic volleyball, beginning with the inaugural men’s team in 1964 that featured Roosevelt High grads Pedro “Pete” Velasco Jr. and the late Jacob “Jake” Highland in Tokyo. In Beijing 2008, three-time Olympian Clay Stanley (Kaiser) was named the most outstanding player of the tournament as the U.S. won its first gold since 1988; and both women’s setters were Hawaii prep products — Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (McKinley) and Lindsey Berg (Punahou) — who, with University of Hawaii All-Americans Heather Bown and Kim Willoughby, earned silver, the U.S.’s highest placing since 1984, when it also finished second.

“We’ve known for a long time that Hawaii has been an incredible talent pool,” U.S. men’s Olympics coach John Speraw said. “Over the years, so many impactful players have come from the island, impacting NCAA volleyball, programs that I have coached …. UC Irvine and UCLA … and at other schools.

“The fact that we have three on the Olympic team doesn’t surprise anybody. Volleyball is part of the Hawaii culture and it shows on and off the court. We have three gifted players and teammates, with the emphasis on teammates.”

The three players consider themselves more than that. They are known as “The Brothers,” with Christenson hanai-ed into the Shoji ohana.

They learned about their Olympic selection on Father’s Day while in Brazil for the World League. Roommates Kawika Shoji and Christenson were joined by Erik Shoji “and we had a quick little celebration together,” Kawika said. “It’s a tremendous honor for all of us and the state of Hawaii. We are really proud to represent our home and country.

“It’s a special thing to go through these international experiences with your own brother and best friend. Now we will get to play in the pinnacle event for our sport. It’s a testament to hard work but also to all of our coaches, teammates and schools. And our entire family.”

The Shojis grew up with volleyballs for toys and Klum Gym as a playpen. The sons of UH volleyball coach Dave Shoji and former Rainbow Wahine basketball player Mary Tennefos Shoji were born to the game with success at the club, high school, college, pro and international levels.

The Shoji brothers went on to All-America careers at Stanford, winning the NCAA championship in 2010. Christenson, the youngest setter to play for the U.S. in a world championship (Boys Youth National Team at age 16), was a three-time All-American and four-year starter at USC.

Christensen was more of a basketball player early, following in the footsteps of his father, Robert, who played at Hawaii Hilo. But there was plenty of volleyball influence: Mother Charlene Kahuanui Christenson was an All-American and three-time national champion for the Vulcans.

“Basketball was his first sport, his first love, but it’s hard to get to the next level out of Hawaii,” Charlene Christenson said. “Micah had this opportunity in volleyball beginning with High Performance and he recognized that he could play volleyball at a very high level.

“We had thought that maybe 2020 (Olympics) was more realistic, but when he started playing with the national team his junior year in college and we saw how well he was performing, Rio seemed possible.”

That the “three brothers” are going makes it extra special, Charlene Christenson said.

“They are very close, work so well together,” she said. “Kawika’s been such a support for Micah when he’s on the court, giving really good information and feedback.”

The competition for the setting spot creates an interesting dynamic. Micah Christenson has gotten the majority of the playing time, but it has only created a stronger bond as the two work toward the goal of Olympic gold.

“Having him with me is so great — Kawika sees the game so well and we can talk strategy,” Christenson said. “He’s got a great volleyball mind.

“The three of us live together (in Anaheim, Calif.) and it’s been great to have guys I grew up with. We’re really close and now to share this bond of going to the Olympics together is very special.”

Speraw has gone with the youth movement this quadrennial. The average age is 281⁄2 — Kawika Shoji’s age — with 38-year-old veteran Reid Priddy skewing the average; Christenson turned 23 in May and Erik Shoji will be 27 on Aug. 26.

It paid off with the U.S. qualifying for the Rio Olympics — its ninth consecutive appearance — when it won the FIVB World Cup last September. The Americans had a disappointing showing at the recent World League, tying for fifth after losing their last two matches to Italy and Brazil, two teams in the U.S.’s pool in Brazil.

Erik Shoji, considered one of the top liberos in the world, is the only libero on the American roster. Christenson likely will be the starting setter when the U.S. opens pool play against Canada on Aug. 7 at Ginasio do Maracanazinho, but “Kawika is a very viable option for us,” said Speraw, who played Shoji in two matches in Cuba while Christenson rested with a nagging injury. “The best part is he is such a great teammate — when he’s not playing he’s watching. It’s like having another coach in the box.

“Micah’s ability to block and his serve gives him the edge over Kawika, but when we need Kawika, he’s always ready to go. This is the first time that I’ve coached second-generation volleyball players (Dave Shoji was an All-America setter at UC Santa Barbara) and you know they literally grew up playing the game. And the sons of coaches see the things at another level. You see that in Erik, who’s right up there with the best in the world.”

The Shojis and Christensons will be in Brazil to watch their sons. Dave Shoji will miss the Wahine’s two weeks of two-a-day practices.

“We’re getting more excited as the days get closer,” said Shoji, who leaves Wednesday with his wife. “The boys have worked so hard to make their dream come true.

“For volleyball, this is the world championship, the pinnacle. It’s going to be a great experience for all of us.”

Ex-UH staffer one of two Olympic scout coaches

Anton Willert Brams, former team manager and video coordinator for the UH men’s and women’s volleyball teams, is one of two scout coaches for the U.S. men’s Olympic team. The German national has been the U.S. men’s national team technical coordinator since 2013.