HONOLULU (KHON2) — The athletes who choose to don the green and white for the University of Hawaii do more than just represent the school; they become ambassadors for the state.
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Landon Sims is a second-generation University of Hawaii football star. His father is Travis Sims, the record-breaking running back who played for the Rainbow Warriors from 1989 to 1992.
Landon clearly remembers when he first considered following in his dad’s footsteps. He was in the third grade when his father spoke at his school’s career day.
“He came in with a football and a dictionary and said, ‘These two things are what made me who I am, and brought me where I am today.’ And a big part of that was Hawaii football. I’d say a majority of that shaped who he was,” Landon explained. “And I wanted a piece of that. I had a great childhood growing up, I wanted to repay that debt and I figured what better way than go play for his alma mater.”
Landon said his father had no idea he would choose Hawaii over Washington State University to play football.
“He had nothing to do with it. He completely stayed out of it. It was a total shock to him when I made my decision,” he said.
Landon was a UH freshman in 2021, majoring in finance and walked on with the UH Rainbow Warriors. He’s now playing his last season and said the team and this place have become his ohana.
“The group of guys that I met out here to begin with were really what kind of got my roots down, so it felt like my home away from home. The guys who choose to stay here, there are so many arms pulling them in other directions, and so many people offering them money. Me included. The decision to stay home really represents something bigger than football. You’re representing the pride of Hawaii and that really speaks to how great a culture we have here, when you have guys turning down six-figure dollar amounts for nothing, in reality. Just to play for the pride.”