Rainbow Warriors open fall camp with high expectations, key roster changes

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s football team is set to open the 2026-2027 season against Stanford in exactly one month.

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On Wednesday, the Rainbow Warriors opened fall camp.

The expectations are high for this Rainbow Warrior squad that completed a nine-win season last year, capped off with an epic victory in the Hawaii Bowl.

Despite that thrilling win, their signal-caller expects more.

“I don’t think we were really as good as we wanted to be,” said UH quarterback Micah Alejado. “I think scores could have been a lot different, results could have been different, so it’s just finding those errors and getting in the film room and focusing on the little details.”

Alejado is relying on camp to build chemistry after missing spring practices from an offseason surgery.

All eyes are on the now redshirt sophomore who was named the Preseason Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

“I missed spring ball, so I didn’t really get a lot of time with them, but got a lot of after-practice throwing throughout the summer,” said Alejado. “I think it’s gonna be humongous to get the continuity, to get the flow.”

Heading into fall camp, the quarterback room was down to just two when, days before camp, the team parted ways with freshman quarterback and Bishop Gorman alum Maika Eugenio.

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But the team quickly filled those spots with two walk-ons: freshman Hazyn Botelho from Kamehameha and a fifth-year transfer from a DIII school, Isaac Phe.

“I’m glad we got them out here,” said Alejado. “We been throwing so much, it started hurting our arms. Hazyn is from here. Everyone knows him, super good kid. Then Isaac, new guy is gonna be good. It’s their first day out here with us, so I gotta learn more about them.”

For now, the offense will be operating without wide receiver Pofele Ashlock, who suffered an undisclosed injury. At this time, it’s unknown when he will return.

“We’ll see how his progression goes, but he’s looking a lot better than what we ended spring with until now, so day-by-day for him,” said UH head coach Timmy Chang.

Alejado added, “A guy like Pofele is humongous, but he’s been coaching up the guys behind him. The guys behind him are ready to go.”

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Hawaii travels to Palo Alto to face Stanford Aug. 29.