WAILUKU, Hawaii — WHEN LOS ANGELES Rams receiver Puka Nacua stepped off the airplane in Maui on Monday for obligatory minicamp, he was greeted by a member of the welcoming committee with a giant hug and a “thanks a lot for every part you do for the Polynesian group.”
Nacua, whose Polynesian background has made him beloved in Hawaii, stated working towards in Maui for minicamp “appears like house.”
The Rams traveled to Maui for minicamp partially for staff bonding and to assist a group affected by devastating wildfires practically two years in the past. The touring social gathering included roughly 500 folks, together with gamers, coaches, staff employees, in addition to any relations who needed to return.
The journey, head coach Sean McVay stated, was about “connection,” not solely between these on the staff but additionally between these within the Rams’ group and a Hawaiian group nonetheless recovering from the fires in Maui in 2023.
“It is about connection and having the ability to get a while,” McVay stated. “It is cool to have the ability to actually, for me, meet plenty of these guys’ households that perhaps I have not met fairly but or see their wives or girlfriends or their children, and in order that’s been a very cool factor thus far.
“That is about having the ability to get some good high quality time with one another after which having the ability to use the platform that we’re blessed with to have the ability to get again to a group that went via some comparable issues that we are able to all perceive and form of empathize with, and also you see how excited they’re to see our gamers and that is enjoyable.”
THE RAMS’ RELATIONSHIP with Hawaii goes again a few years, and a number of other members of the area people on the staff luau Monday night time famous they remembered the children camps a number of Rams gamers held in the course of the Nineteen Seventies.
Extra lately, the Rams started broadcasting preseason video games throughout the Hawaiian Islands in 2018 and performed a preseason recreation in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu in 2019. Final offseason, the Rams started to debate a partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, with the thought of holding the staff’s obligatory minicamp in Maui.
After the Maui wildfires in August 2023, the Rams devoted a preseason recreation to lift cash for American Purple Cross reduction efforts for these in want.
Final month, Rams staff president Kevin Demoff stated the dedication to holding minicamp in Maui was only for this 12 months, however quarterback Matthew Stafford stated he would get pleasure from seeing it proceed.
“I’ve had a blast,” Stafford stated. “That is form of above my pay grade; these folks that make these selections will determine that out, however we have had fun. I do know our staff has loved the expertise, and it has been plenty of enjoyable.”
At Tuesday’s observe, the Rams’ offensive gamers took half in a women’ flag soccer camp on one area whereas the protection hosted a boys’ deal with soccer clinic on the opposite area. Davante Adams was a part of a gaggle engaged on routes with the women flag soccer gamers.
“I really feel prefer it’s nearly for me as a result of I am having an excellent time and connecting with the children,” Adams stated. “… It is only a cool solution to join and present appreciation for them for permitting us to be right here. They usually’ve gone via rather a lot lately too, so it is simply good to deliver some positivity to them.”
On the identical time, the Rams’ rookie class went to Lahaina to affix Habitat for Humanity Maui because it rebuilt 4 properties in an space affected by the wildfires.
Demoff stated the Rams have seen “the passion and gracious welcome from the group.”
“So many individuals [are] excited in regards to the Rams being right here,” Demoff stated. “What it means for the children who we labored with on the sphere yesterday, the folks within the stands, and watching all the group mild up across the NFL staff coming and spending the week with them right here in Maui and serving to them not solely rebuild however simply give them a spark of pleasure and confidence.”
WHEN ADAMS JOINED the Rams this offseason, one factor that stood out to him was the “college-type of camaraderie” that exists within the group.
Adams stated he discovered “it took just a little extra time for me to get built-in into the Jets staff than it did getting right here,” whereas acknowledging that he joined the Jets in the course of the season and did not get pleasure from an offseason together with his new teammates.
The Rams hope that bond is constant to strengthen in Maui, “whether or not it is the 30 or 40 gamers who have been within the ocean collectively yesterday, the karaoke movies I’ve seen, watching the gamers hula dance on the luau collectively on Monday night time,” Demoff stated. “Simply unbelievable staff bonding.
“I feel that can set a basis for the season, as we come again into coaching camp and hopefully have the prospect for an extended 12 months. Nevertheless it’s uncommon you get all the staff in a relaxed surroundings the place they’ll go spend an evening collectively going out with out, and so they have their households right here, however they do not have the opposite obligations that come at house of every part else you need to do. And so I feel the staff unity, the staff bonding, together with simply the immense help we have had for the Maui group have left a mark on all of us.”
The Rams are particularly well-equipped to develop their relationship with Hawaii as a result of they’ve a Polynesian star in Nacua. The receiver’s recognition among the many crowd confirmed early and sometimes throughout his time in Maui.
As he ran onto the sphere Wednesday at Warfare Memorial Stadium, the gang roared. In entrance of hundreds, Nacua raced from one aspect of the sphere to the opposite, working alongside the far bleachers and high-fiving followers within the entrance row earlier than returning to the observe area.
When requested in regards to the Polynesian gamers he grew up watching, Nacua listed quarterback Marcus Mariota, extensive receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and Corridor of Fame security Troy Polamalu.
When requested what it feels wish to know that sooner or later the followers and highschool soccer gamers watching him within the stands in Maui would possibly sooner or later be placing him in the identical dialog, Nacua stated, “It would not really feel actual.”
“I am having a blast,” Nacua stated. “And it would not really feel actual generally that individuals are carrying my jersey, however I hope that they carry the issues which can be a part of our tradition: respect to have the distinction and the self-discipline to signify your loved ones, but additionally these issues carry and translate instantly into soccer.”
Stafford known as the prospect to observe in Maui “a singular alternative,” saying the staff will hopefully encourage some younger Puka Nacuas.
“It is such a reciprocal relationship,” Demoff stated. “… Watching him on the autograph signing yesterday with traces out the door, watching his reception right here, watching him give his chain to the woman enjoying flag soccer, he is clearly the largest star now we have on the staff for this group.
“However then I feel for the folks right here, it is a reminder that they’ll grow to be the subsequent Puka Nacua and the truth that the staff is right here, whether or not it was women’ flag soccer or the fellows’ highschool groups that they have been interacting with yesterday. I feel seeing somebody like Puka provides them hope of what they’ll grow to be and a task mannequin to aspire to if you see how real he’s, the best way he interacts with them with coronary heart and intention, it solely makes the entire story higher.”
