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HONOLULU — Dayan Ghanwoloku grew up a BYU fan, watching the Cougars from his home in Layton with his family as the traveling fan base represented from coast to coast.
But one game stood out beyond few others: BYU’s old Western Athletic Conference fistfights with the University of Hawaii.
Maybe it was the fact that his parents both attended BYU-Hawaii, the Cougars' sister campus on Oahu's North Shore; maybe it was that the Cougars and Rainbow Warriors were regularly featured near the top of the WAC; or maybe it was just Hawaii’s cool jerseys, with matching pants featuring tribal markings, to boot.
“That was always cool to me, so to be able to play them now in the bowl game is everything,” said Ghanwoloku, a senior defensive back who will play in his final collegiate game Tuesday at Aloha Stadium (6 p.m. MST, ESPN). “I’ve always wanted to be in Hawaii, to play in Hawaii. Now it’s fun that I get to play in this game instead of watching it on TV.”
Like it or not, BYU and Hawaii playing a college football game means a little more — to both sides. No, it’s not the rivalry with Utah, nor do the Cougars and Warriors play for an old Wagon Wheel, like Utah State. But everything short of using the word "rivalry"? That’s on the table for a bowl opponent that will serve as the final game for 19 seniors and potential final game for a few more.
“It’s not even just the people here in Hawaii; it’s the people on the mainland who are connected to Hawaii and to this game. You could feel the energy with everyone around this game,” said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, who spent part of his childhood in Oahu. “The only difference is we don’t play against Hawaii every year like we used to.
"But the feelings, excitement and passion around the game from both fan bases is impressive to see, and we felt that back in Utah. There’s a connection between the University of Hawaii and our culture.”
In the islands, meanwhile, the rivalry is still real.
BYU wide receiver Micah Simon recalled a conversation with his Uber driver once he got to the islands. When the Texas-born former quarterback explained why he was in Hawaii, the driver responded with a nearly complete history of the series.
“How it goes back a long time, to when they were both in the WAC playing year in and year out,” Simon said. “It’s going to be a fun matchup, and I’m excited to be out here and to play in this game.”
You don’t need to motivate Hawaii head coach Nick Rolovich for the game, either. The fourth-year ‘Bows coach was the starting quarterback in 2001, when Hawaii spoiled BYU’s bid for a perfect season with a 72-45 win in Aloha Stadium in the regular-season finale. Rolovich threw eight touchdown passes that day and is still reminded regularly of one of eight wins Hawaii has incurred in the 31-game series with the Cougars.
But Rolovich didn’t want to talk much about the past Monday.
This series should be focused on the current version of the game, the one that could propel the Rainbow Warriors to a 10th win for just the seventh time in school history. That it is against BYU is a mere formality.
It’s also a series, though, that Rolovich would love to see played regularly. The two coaches boast a significant friendship, two fourth-year head coaches that are roughly the same age and with similar backgrounds in the West.
“On our staff, we really try to do things the right way — and I really feel the same way about Kalani and his staff,” said Rolovich, a California native who played quarterback in the AFL with the San Jose Sabercats, Arizona Rattlers and Las Vegas Gladiators. “I’ve enjoyed watching his career and the people he’s connected to along the way. I think there’s a mutual respect; we both work hard and we both try to do it the right way. That’s probably why each program’s mindset or focus is team-oriented.”
Hawaii Bowl Notes
Rainbow Warriors the visitors for postseason home bout with BYU
Head coach Nick Rolovich’s squad is 4-4 while playing a “neutral-site” game at its home stadium.BYU has won five-straight games in the series and 11 of the last 12. The Cougars won the last matchup at Aloha Stadium 30-20 in 2017, followed by a 49-23 win over the Rainbow Warriors in Zach Wilson’s first career start at quarterback in 2018.
So Hawaii will be looking to snap a sizeable winless skid — for themselves, their families, and the local community that is expected to draw well to the 50,000-seat stadium in Honolulu.
"Before we even accepted the Hawaii Bowl invite and BYU accepted the Hawaii Bowl, I’ve got family and I’ve got uncles who were talking about Hawaii-BYU," Hawaii defensive lineman Kendall Hune said. "The crowd is behind us. We’re excited, and we can’t wait to be out here."
How to watch, stream, listen
SoFi Hawaii Bowl: BYU (7-5) vs. Hawaii (9-5)
When: Tuesday, Dec. 24
Kickoff: 6 p.m. MST
Where: Aloha Stadium (50,000)
TV: ESPN (Jason Benetti, Rod Gilmore, Quint Kessenich)
Streaming: WatchESPN
Radio: BYU Radio, KSL 1160 AM (Greg Wrubell, Riley Nelson, Mitchell Juergens)
Series record: BYU leads 23-8
