Inside Los Angeles Rams minicamp in Hawaii

WAILUKU, Hawaii — WHEN LOS ANGELES Rams receiver Puka Nacua stepped off the aircraft in Maui on Monday for necessary minicamp, he was greeted by a member of the welcoming committee with a giant hug and a “thanks a lot for the whole lot you do for the Polynesian neighborhood.”

Nacua, whose Polynesian background has made him beloved in Hawaii, mentioned working towards in Maui for minicamp “looks like house.”

The Rams traveled to Maui for minicamp partially for crew bonding and to assist a neighborhood affected by devastating wildfires practically two years in the past. The touring occasion included roughly 500 folks, together with gamers, coaches, crew workers, in addition to any relations who wished to come back.

The journey, head coach Sean McVay mentioned, was about “connection,” not solely between these on the crew but additionally between these within the Rams’ group and a Hawaiian neighborhood nonetheless recovering from the fires in Maui in 2023.

“It is about connection and having the ability to get a while,” McVay mentioned. “It is cool to have the ability to actually, for me, meet lots 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 extremely 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 neighborhood that went by some comparable issues that we are able to all perceive and sort 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 crew luau Monday night time famous they remembered the youngsters camps a number of Rams gamers held throughout 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 concept of holding the crew’s necessary minicamp in Maui.

After the Maui wildfires in August 2023, the Rams devoted a preseason recreation to boost cash for American Pink Cross reduction efforts for these in want.

Final month, Rams crew president Kevin Demoff mentioned the dedication to holding minicamp in Maui was only for this yr, however quarterback Matthew Stafford mentioned he would take pleasure in seeing it proceed.

“I’ve had a blast,” Stafford mentioned. “That is sort of above my pay grade; these folks that make these choices will determine that out, however we have had fun. I do know our crew has loved the expertise, and it has been lots of enjoyable.”

At Tuesday’s follow, 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 bunch engaged on routes with the women flag soccer gamers.

“I really feel prefer it’s virtually for me as a result of I am having time and connecting with the youngsters,” Adams mentioned. “… It is only a cool method to join and present appreciation for them for permitting us to be right here. And so they’ve gone by so much lately too, so it is simply good to carry some positivity to them.”

On the similar time, the Rams’ rookie class went to Lahaina to hitch Habitat for Humanity Maui because it rebuilt 4 houses in an space affected by the wildfires.

Demoff mentioned the Rams have seen “the keenness and gracious welcome from the neighborhood.”

“So many individuals [are] excited concerning the Rams being right here,” Demoff mentioned. “What it means for the youngsters who we labored with on the sector yesterday, the folks within the stands, and watching all the neighborhood gentle up across the NFL crew 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.”

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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 mentioned he discovered “it took a bit extra time for me to get built-in into the Jets crew than it did getting right here,” whereas acknowledging that he joined the Jets throughout the season and did not get pleasure from an offseason along with his new teammates.

The Rams hope that bond is continuous to strengthen in Maui, “whether or not it is the 30 or 40 gamers who had 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 mentioned. “Simply unbelievable crew bonding.

“I believe that can set a basis for the season, as we come again into coaching camp and hopefully have the possibility for an extended yr. But it surely’s uncommon you get all the crew in a relaxed surroundings the place they will go spend an evening collectively going out with out, and so they have their households right here, however they do not have the opposite duties that come at house of the whole lot else it’s important to do. And so I believe the crew unity, the crew bonding, together with simply the immense help we have had for the Maui neighborhood 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 sector Wednesday at Struggle Memorial Stadium, the gang roared. In entrance of hundreds, Nacua raced from one facet of the sector to the opposite, working alongside the far bleachers and high-fiving followers within the entrance row earlier than returning to the follow area.

When requested concerning the Polynesian gamers he grew up watching, Nacua listed quarterback Marcus Mariota, vast 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 may sooner or later be placing him in the identical dialog, Nacua mentioned, “It does not really feel actual.”

“I am having a blast,” Nacua mentioned. “And it does not really feel actual generally that persons are sporting my jersey, however I hope that they carry the issues which can be a part of our tradition: respect to have the respect and the self-discipline to symbolize your loved ones, but additionally these issues carry and translate instantly into soccer.”

Stafford known as the possibility to follow in Maui “a novel alternative,” saying the crew will hopefully encourage some younger Puka Nacuas.

“It is such a reciprocal relationship,” Demoff mentioned. “… Watching him on the autograph signing yesterday with strains out the door, watching his reception right here, watching him give his chain to the lady enjoying flag soccer, he is clearly the largest star we now have on the crew for this neighborhood.

“However then I believe for the folks right here, it is a reminder that they will develop into the following Puka Nacua and the truth that the crew is right here, whether or not it was women’ flag soccer or the blokes’ highschool groups that they had been interacting with yesterday. I believe seeing somebody like Puka offers them hope of what they will develop into and a task mannequin to aspire to while 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.”