Home for the Holidays, with Business to Handle: Cal’s Hawai‘i Natives Embrace Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl Return
For Cal freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, there’s only one place he’d rather be this holiday season than his home in Hawai‘i - and that’s leading the Golden Bears into the ACC Championship and a shot at the College Football Playoff.
But for now, he’ll gladly take the next-best thing: playing in front of family and friends on the islands in the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl.
“I'm happy that I get to come home and play in front of family and friends,” Sagapolutele said. “It’s really a blessing.”
The true freshman All-American headlines a group of four Hawaiian natives on Cal’s roster who are getting a rare chance to suit up back home - and they’re not taking it lightly. Alongside Sagapolutele, defensive back Aiden Manutai and defensive linemen Stanley Saole-McKenzie and LeBron Williams are all back on O‘ahu, ready to face a Hawai‘i team stacked with local talent.
And make no mistake - this one’s personal.
“I know all of the Hawaiian boys are trying to put on for our family and the last name on our jerseys, while also representing Cal in the best way possible,” Saole-McKenzie said. “Once we heard Hawai‘i was a possibility, we prayed on it every day. Then, when we got the news, we all immediately called our families and told them to go buy tickets - fast.”
Tickets are a hot commodity at the 15,000-seat Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, the temporary home for Hawai‘i football and the host of this year’s bowl.
Players typically get four tickets each, with the chance to swap and share among teammates. But with only four Hawai‘i natives on the roster, Saole-McKenzie figured he could secure enough for his extended ohana.
Manutai wasn’t so sure.
“He’s probably in the triple digits,” Manutai said with a laugh. “He just doesn’t know it.”
A Homecoming Tour
The return to Hawai‘i has been more than just a game week - it’s been a full-circle experience. Cal’s staff made it a point to practice at each of the four players’ former high schools, giving the team a deeper look into the roots of their island teammates.
It started with a three-hour round trip to Kahuku on the North Shore - home to Manutai and Williams - followed by a visit to Saole-McKenzie’s alma mater, Saint Louis School. Then, on Monday, the team made its way to Ewa Beach to practice at Campbell High School, where Sagapolutele just helped deliver a 2025 state championship.
“You can come to Waikiki and kind of get stuck between the Pacific and Ala Wai Canal - and that’s your whole Hawai‘i experience,” said interim head coach Nick Rolovich, who knows the island well from his time playing and coaching at Hawai‘i. “But by going out to their schools, we saw so much of the island and its beauty. Yes, we want to win the game, but there’s an experience here that enriches every player.”
Bonding, BBQs, and Zippy’s Runs
Practice has been part of the itinerary, but it’s far from the only thing filling the Bears’ schedule. The team’s been soaking up the full Hawai‘i experience - from a luau and a trip to Wet ’n’ Wild water park, to visits at a homeless shelter, a hospital, and Pearl Harbor. There’s also been plenty of time for team bonding, beach walks, and yes, food.
A highlight? A massive team BBQ at Ala Moana Regional Park hosted by Saole-McKenzie’s family. And no trip to the islands is complete without a stop at Zippy’s - something the D-line made sure to prioritize.
“Stan and LeBron have been making sure the D-line eats well,” said defensive lineman Derek Wilkins. “Whether it’s Stan’s family at the BBQ or tips on what to order at Zippy’s, it’s been amazing to have them guide us through this.
Getting to see their high schools, meeting the people who helped shape them - that’s been really special. And everyone’s been so welcoming.”
Still More to Explore
Despite the packed schedule, Manutai joked there’s still a long list of things he wishes they could do - including, as he put it, “safely jumping off something.”
But with the game still ahead and winter break waiting on the other side, there’s more time to enjoy home before heading back to Berkeley. And for these four island Bears, this week has already delivered something unforgettable - a chance to represent their school, their families, and their home, all in one place.
As Sagapolutele looks ahead to what he hopes will be a future of championship runs, this moment - a homecoming wrapped in competition and community - is one he won’t soon forget.
And if the Bears’ island boys have their way, this trip won’t just be about memories - it’ll be about making a statement, too.
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