Cal’s connection to Hawaii runs deeper than just a bowl game matchup or a few familiar faces. When the Bears (7-5) take the field against the Rainbow Warriors (8-4) in the Hawaii Bowl on Wednesday, there’s history, homecoming, and a whole lot of transition wrapped into one game.
This isn’t just a postseason trip to paradise - it’s the bridge between eras for Cal football. The Bears are moving on from the Justin Wilcox chapter after nine seasons, and while Tosh Lupoi has already been tapped as the program’s next head coach, he’s still finishing out his duties as Oregon’s defensive coordinator during the Ducks’ College Football Playoff run. That leaves interim head coach Nick Rolovich at the helm for one more game - a fitting location, considering his deep ties to the islands.
Rolovich, a former Hawaii quarterback and head coach, led Cal to a statement win in his debut - a 38-35 upset over No. 21 Louisville in the regular-season finale.
It was a game that showcased not just tactical adjustments, but a jolt of energy and belief. Rolovich is expected to stick around as quarterbacks coach, working closely with freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, though nothing official has been announced yet.
Sagapolutele, a Hawaii native from Ewa Beach, is getting a rare and meaningful opportunity: suiting up for his college team in his home state. The Clarence T.C.
Ching Athletics Complex, where Wednesday’s game will be played, is just a short drive from where he grew up. For the young QB, it’s more than just a bowl game - it’s a chance to share his roots with his teammates.
“Hawaii’s a great place and they’ll enjoy it,” Sagapolutele said. “I’m just going to let them take it in and just enjoy it as much as they can. Just make it the best experience for them.”
But make no mistake - this trip is still about business. Rolovich knows exactly how dangerous Hawaii can be on its home turf.
He lived it. Back in 2001, he stepped in for an injured Timmy Chang - now Hawaii’s head coach - and lit up defenses, throwing for 1,548 yards and 20 touchdowns over the final three games of the season.
He understands what it means to play for the Rainbow Warriors and how much pride the program takes in defending the islands.
“Timmy has done a great job,” Rolovich said. “They’ve got a confidence, they’ve got a toughness, a real obvious element of being together.
Hawaii’s a scary team on the island when they’re playing well. That will be conveyed to our guys.”
This isn’t the first time Cal has faced a coaching transition in Hawaii, either. The parallels go all the way back to 1934.
That year, Cal made the trip to the islands after a rough season capped by a 9-7 loss to Stanford - their seventh game scoring seven points or fewer. Head coach Bill Ingram resigned before the final two games, and Leonard “Stub” Allison stepped in to finish the season.
Sound familiar?
Cal lost both of those 1934 games - first to a Honolulu town team on Christmas Day, then to the University of Hawaii on New Year’s Day. Not exactly the fairytale start for Allison, but things turned around quickly.
The Bears opened the 1935 season with nine straight wins and, two years later, delivered one of the most iconic seasons in program history. The 1937 “Thunder Team,” led by Vic Bottari and Sam Chapman, went 10-0-1, blanked Alabama in the Rose Bowl, and claimed a share of the national title with Pittsburgh.
That remains Cal’s last New Year’s Day win in Pasadena.
No one’s predicting a repeat of 1937, but the echoes of the past are hard to ignore. A coaching change.
A trip to Hawaii. A young quarterback with promise.
And a chance to start something new.
Whether this Hawaii Bowl becomes a footnote or the first chapter in a resurgence under Lupoi, one thing’s clear - Cal’s not treating this like a vacation. They’re here to win, and they’re doing it with a coach who knows what this place means, a quarterback who calls it home, and a roster looking to turn the page with purpose.