BOULDER — It’s not unusual for Colorado starting offensive guard Kaiwi Crabb to grab his ukulele and play tunes for his teammates.
Especially when Crabb, a native of Honolulu, gets together with the three other players on CU’s roster from Hawaii: senior starting defensive lineman Juda Parker, senior backup linebacker K.T. Tu’umalo and defensive back Jaisen Sanchez, a redshirting freshman.
Crabb taught himself to play the ukulele when he was a high school junior at Punahou School.
“Sometimes I just need to hear some islands music,” he said.
A senior, Crabb looks forward to visiting with friends on the University of Hawaii roster when the Rainbow Warriors play in Boulder on Saturday.
Hawaiians have much to be proud of, with their heritage, history and culture — and, of course, the beauty of the islands.
Many, including Crabb, see football as part of their culture.
“In Hawaii, football is a pride thing,” Crabb said. “It’s about pride and work ethic. Growing up in Hawaii, those are instilled in us as young kids. It’s having pride for where you are from, and pride in what you love and what you believe in. Pride is why it’s a physical style of football in Hawaii.
“And there’s such a family-oriented culture in Hawaii,” he added. “Everybody knows everybody. Football just works with that culture. And for a lot of kids, football is their way off the island.”
Crabb, Parker, Sanchez and Tu’umalo (Punahou) each received a scholarship offer from the University of Hawaii, according to recruiting sites, but chose to leave the island.
“I had a lot of encouragement from my parents to see someplace else,” Tu’umalo said. “A lot of guys just stay in Hawaii and stay in a rut. My parents wanted me to explore.”
The quartet of Hawaiians on Colorado’s current roster spans three head coaches. Crabb was a member of CU’s 2010 recruiting class under Dan Hawkins. Jon Embree coached the Buffs when Parker and Tu’umalo signed national letters of intent in 2011. Sanchez was recruited by Mike MacIntyre’s staff and signed last February.
Any list of the most successful players for Hawaii to don a Colorado uniform would have to include linebacker Brian Cabral (1974-77), a longtime Buffs assistant coach who is credited with making Hawaii a priority for CU recruiting. But the Buffs were signing players from the islands decades earlier. Defensive end Sam Harris, from Kamehameha, became a three-year starter from 1964-66.
“Colorado is well known in Hawaii,” said Parker, a team captain. “Players from the islands have become successful in Colorado. Guys know that Colorado is a great place to play college football.”
In June, MacIntyre and his staff attended a three-day camp in Hawaii conducted by high school football coaches on the islands. Other Pac-12 staffs there to scout the talent included those from Oregon, Oregon State and Washington. More than 350 high school players participated.
“Those kids were hungry to get a college scholarship,” CU wide receivers coach Troy Walters said.
MacIntyre, formerly at San Jose State, has been recruiting the state for years. For a relatively small state in population, it produces more than its share of high-quality players. One reason is genetics, MacIntyre said.
“With the Polyneasian population, usually they’re pretty big men,” MacIntyre said. “Also, they have a great passion for the game. They love playing the game. High school football nights in Hawaii are a big deal. Football is important to them.”
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or twitter.com/tomkensler
