Rolo, Warriors meet, greet their backers

As a longtime University of Hawaii football fan who grew up 100 yards from Honolulu Stadium, Al Kimura thought he had seen the emotional spectrum of the program.

That was until Saturday afternoon, when he heard his name called from outside his Palolo house. Kimura looked through the window and saw coach Nick Rolovich, quarterback Dru Brown, tight end Dakota Torres and the UH cheerleaders in his driveway. Soon after, with the fight song in the background and the cheerleaders in full routine, Rolovich greeted Kimura, then handed him replica football tickets and a football.

“I was very surprised,” Kimura said. “I heard the music, and my son said to look out the window. I was like, ‘Oh, bleep.’”

UH associate athletic director Joel Matsunaga concocted the mini mahalo tour in which a Rainbow Warriors group would surprise three season-ticket subscribers with at-home visits.

“It was a great deal,” Rolovich said. “The plan was executed perfectly. The plan was incredible.”

The first visit was to Paul Nelson’s Kahaluu home. Nelson, who is in a wheelchair, was lost in emotion as he received a hug and football from Rolovich.

Nelson, 28, began attending UH games in 2006 to cheer on former Castle High classmate Blaze Soares. Nelson and his mother, Gwen, attended one road game a year until three years ago, when they began taking two trips annually. They traveled to Michigan and San Diego State last year — earning a sheepish apology from Rolovich. Both were blowout losses. The Nelsons will travel to the UMass and UCLA games this season.

The next stop was to Salt Lake, where the UH group surprised Russell Nakamura, who emerged sleepy-eyed from his townhouse.

“I was shocked,” said Nakamura, who has attended UH games since 1980.

Melody Nakamura said she struggled to keep the visit a surprise from her husband. “When I started raising his suspicions, I had to back up,” she said, smiling.

The visit to Kimura, who is undergoing a back procedure this week, was well timed. “This made his day,” Jamie Kimura said of her husband. Kimura, 67, said he has followed UH sports since he was 8.

“It was awesome for them to welcome us into their house and support us like this,” Brown said. “We’re on the field so much, we don’t get this interaction with the fans, and I think it’s huge.”

Torres said: “It’s pride rock, and you can feel the pride coming from all the fans we meet.”

Told there were thousands of other season-ticket holders, Rolovich said: “I wish there were 40,000 more. That’s our next job.”