The Hawaii football team’s preseason training can be heck.
There are days when freshman Hazyn Botelho, three months removed from his Kamehameha Schools graduation, wonders how a wide receiver drew the assignment of scout quarterback.
Or how the transition can be more mentally straining than physically.
And then there are days like last Friday, when the Warriors were in full dress rehearsal ahead of this Saturday’s opener against Stanford. The Warriors wore their white road uniforms for the practice at ‘Iolani School. Their surnames were on the back of their jerseys.
“That’s my ‘why,’” Botelho said of the reason he decided to turn down a junior college offer and join the Warriors as a non-scholarship player in July.
Botelho said he plays for his family.
“Make them proud,” he said.
And, more importantly, for the memory of his father.
“That’s been my ‘why’ every time I step on the field,” he said. “I think about him while I’m doing it … make him proud.”
Joel Botelho was a dynamic quarterback and shooting guard for Castle High. He was as humble as he was talented, and he was extremely unpretentious.
“I used to watch him play,” said UH head coach Timmy Chang, who was a Warriors quarterback at the time. “I always kept track of him. He was a great quarterback.”
Joel Botelho was named the 2001 OIA East Player of the Year. The Honolulu Quarterback Club chose him as Male Prep Athlete of the Year for 2001-02.
On Jan. 2, 2011, Joel Botelho, then 27, was shot to death in front of his family’s home in Kaneohe. He apparently was trying to serve as a peacemaker.
“He definitely was protecting (a family member) at the time,” said UH associate head coach Chris Brown, a longtime friend of the Botelho family. “He was a good one.”
Hazyn Botelho was 3 when his father died. He cobbles memories from his own patchy recollections, as well as stories from his father’s friends.
“There are a lot of people telling me, ‘Your dad was this’ and ‘Your dad was that,’” Botelho said. “I knew what he was like from hearing about him. … I still have all his game tapes. I watched the game tapes growing up.”
The younger Botelho played quarterback for Kamehameha’s junior-varsity team as a freshman. Promoted to the varsity as a sophomore, he incurred an injury to his right (throwing) shoulder, necessitating a move to receiver. As a senior receiver, he was named to the 2025 All-ILH first team.
With dismissals and transfers, UH entered late spring with two quarterbacks on the active roster. The Warriors were searching for a dual-skilled quarterback to run the scout team, to provide different looks for UH’s top-line defense in practices.
After discussions with Kamehameha coach Kaeo Drummondo, Chang and Brown decided to invite Botelho as a preferred walk-on.
“I told Coach Timmy what a great story it would be for (Joel Botelho’s) son to come out here and to make that family’s name proud again,” Brown said. “He comes from a good family. The kid just needed an opportunity. He’s one of those kids who’ll come out and give everything he’s got.”
Chang said: “He played the quarterback position (in the past), but he’s also fast enough to play receiver. We have a dynamic guy who can operate, which is fortunate for us.”
Botelho reported to the Warriors shortly ahead of the start of training camp in July. Two weeks into camp, Botelho regained touch on his throws. He developed a better understanding of the playbook. He had experiencing commanding a huddle. He also has gone off menu with scrambles.
“When things break down, I’m doing what God gave me to do, and continue to make plays, and take advantage of the opportunity,” Botelho said.
During this past Saturday’s scrimmage, the final play called for multiple stretch routes. Slotback Diezel Kamoku’s initial pattern was clogged, throwing off the timing and forcing Botelho to extend the play. Off a scramble, Botelho lofted a scoring pass to Kamoku in the end zone.
“I’m taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity,” Botelho said. “Wherever they want to put me, I’ll play wherever they ask me to play.”
Chang said: “When I look at Hazyn, I look at an opportunity to coach a friend’s son. I appreciate that. I don’t take that lightly.”
