With four months to go before the start of the 2026 men’s basketball season, the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors are using their offseason not only to train, but to connect.
Led by new general manager and longtime Hawai‘i resident Patty Mills, the team has launched “Roots and Reach,” a cultural, community, and leadership initiative designed to deepen players’ understanding of the Hawaiian Islands.
The program includes hands-on experiences meant to honor and educate about the land, ocean, and people of Hawai‘i. So far, the Rainbow Warriors have taken part in activities such as swimming with sharks, learning about ancient Polynesian voyaging and navigation, and most recently, completing a junior lifeguard course at Waimea Bay.
“It’s the foundation,” Mills, an NBA veteran told KHON2 Sports reporter Mitch Riberal. “All of these student-athletes come from elsewhere, the mainland, overseas, so for them to come to such a unique and special place like this, it’s very important for them to understand where they are, the people here, and who they represent.”
Wahiawā native and sophomore guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor sees the program as both a personal source of pride and a team-building opportunity.
“Being from Hawai‘i, it means a lot to show the team and those who aren’t from here just how much this program means to the islands,” Hunkin-Claytor said. “There’s a lot of new guys, so chemistry is important. Doing things like swimming with sharks or training with lifeguards, it’s helped us grow together.”
According to Mills, pushing the team out of their comfort zones has paid off.
“How the boys handled it, how they came together and respected every part of this activation, it was great,” he said. “It’s one thing to wear ‘Hawai‘i’ across your chest. It’s another to understand what that means and serve the community. Watching our guys interact with lifeguards and local kids, seeing how others serve by saving lives, it’s been really special.”
Mills added that this is only the beginning of what he hopes becomes a foundation for lasting connection and team unity.
“For me, this is just the start,” he said. “By the time they hit the court, that bond will be strong, and it’ll mean something.”
For more on the Rainbow Warriors’ “Roots and Reach” initiative and video highlights of the program’s activities, click here.