USC quarterback Jayden Maiava and running back Waymond Jordan spent part of the offseason back in Honolulu, showing up for a meet-and-greet and fundraiser tied to the USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association and Aloha 1st Athletics.
The gathering was held July 25 at the ʻAlohilani Resort, where fans who attended had the chance to meet the two Trojans and take photos with them. After the reception, the event shifted into a silent auction to support a new project scheduled for May 2027: Sports Week Hawaii. Aloha 1st says the initiative is meant to promote “mental health and childhood trauma awareness through sports, community and connection” across the state.
Maiava and Jordan also addressed the crowd, speaking about how sports and community matter when people are going through hard times.
For Maiava, the appearance was another stop in a growing pattern of giving back in Hawaii. In May, he returned to Palolo Valley in Honolulu and ran a free football clinic for more than 350 local children and youth.
Money raised through t-shirt sales from that clinic was donated to Aloha 1st’s community work. During that same trip, he also visited Kaimuki High and other local schools, sharing a message built around faith, perseverance, hard work and sticking together through difficult stretches.
He has also been nominated to the AFCA Good Works Team.
Jordan used the visit to talk about his own recovery, and the timing matters for a player working his way back into form. Going into USC’s game against Michigan on Oct. 11, 2025, he was averaging 6.5 yards per carry and ranked among the FBS top four in yards after contact with 421 yards.
But in the second quarter, he suffered an ankle injury and missed the rest of his junior season after tightrope surgery. He finished that year with 576 rushing yards, 55 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
In March, Jordan had a minor proactive arthroscopic cleanup procedure that kept him out for the rest of spring practice. Now, though, he’s back on the path toward full recovery and has been cleared for summer sessions and fall camp.
According to Hawaii Sports Radio’s Michael Lasquero, Jordan said his body feels “better than last year” and that he’s mentally ready for his senior season.
“The rehab has been going amazing. Especially recently, just being able to test my ankle with all the tests that we do in the training room,” Jordan told Lasquero.
“Noticing sometimes that my left ankle is actually stronger than my right ankle now. Seeing all the hard work pay off, I think my body feels amazing and I’m ready to go for the season.”
USC’s connection to Polynesian players has been part of the program’s identity for decades. Since the 1970’s, the Trojans have drawn talent from Polynesian backgrounds including Samoan, Tongan, Native Hawaiian, Māori and others. Among the current Hawaii-heritage names tied to the program are Maiava, Alani Noa and Lofa Tatupu.
That footprint extends beyond the roster, too. USC has also stayed active at the Polynesian Bowl All-Stars in Honolulu, where the Trojans had five signees in the 2025 game and seven signees in 2026 across the last two recruiting cycles.
On campus, the Hawaiʻi Club keeps that cultural thread going with general meetings, social outings and events. For alumni, the Alumni Club of Hawaii provides another outlet, connecting local graduates through service projects, networking and cultural preservation efforts.
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