Hawaiian music lyrics often speak of aloha. ‘Aloha’ in Hawaiian means affection, love, peace, compassion, mercy, goodbye, and hello. Colt Brennan, Coach June Jones and the Hawaii Warriors football team know this word ‘Aloha’ well. The voices from these college locker room men, who hoped for so much for the state of Hawaii sang out Aloha.

OK.. so Colt Brennan and Hawaii Warriors did not win the Sugar Bowl, but WOW they gave the State of Hawaii so much to be proud of!

Hawaii Warriors did not win the Sugar Bowl, score was 41-10, but they have indeed won the hearts of the people of Hawaii. The team showed Aloha, often offering their hand to the other team. You would have to live in Hawaii for awhile to understand this.. you really would.

“If you go to Hawaii, I’ll guarantee I’ll be there.”

~Colt Brennan

The tears from Brennan are now being criticized. The pressure on Colt Brennan was tremendous, not only for the game but because to the whole State of Hawaii he was made a hero. Every child knows his name. Hawaii also considers Colt Brennan and the Warrior football team as part of their ‘Ohana. In Hawaiian culture, ohana means family, both blood-related or extended. It is an honor. it means caring for one another. It has been used to describe not just what Warriors players feel about each other but also how the state has come to feel about them.

“This is everybody’s team, which I knew would happen if we got it going. It could take over the whole state. And it has.”

~ Coach June Jones

Colt Brennan’s career, nonetheless, is still one of the best in college football history.

Outside of the 41-10 loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, Colt had an outstanding 2007 season. Hawaii has now won 22 of its last 24. Colt Brennan broke Tye Detmer’s TD record of 122 touchdowns and has broken 33 other NCAA records. This season he has a 71.40 completion percentage and has thrown for 4,174 yards and 38 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. Brennan has completed an NCAA-record 70.4 percent of his passes for 14,193 yards and was responsible for 146 total touchdowns.

Also to be taken into consideration in their loss to Georgia is the fact that UH recruiting budget is only $50K, barely a tenth of Georgia’s. Coach June Jones had one team, while Georgia had what was equivalent to several, able to swap out team players continually, while Hawaii could not. All those players from Hawaii played their hearts out for the whole game.

There were penalties that should have been noted as well. Brennan was often sacked even after he had thrown the ball. Hawaii players were often knocked down after time was called. Because of their experience of brotherhood within their team and the understanding of what ‘aloha’ means in Hawaii, they were stunned by it. Hawaii Warriors were seen offering their hand to Bulldogs when they were on the ground after time was called. Their hands of ‘Aloha’ were refused.

“I’m proud of him and the career he had,” Jones said. “I wish he could have finished, obviously, better than he did tonight. But I think that had a lot to do with Georgia and not so much him.”

~ Coach June Jones

Aloha, does this matter? Is the ’spirit of aloha’ within football or outside of Hawaii something that has no place? Or is it a reminder that society has somehow lost its way? Has winning become the only thing that is important? In the State of Hawaii, people have taken their champions and embraced them as they always have. Why? Because in Hawaii the ’spirit of aloha’ is indeed the most important thing. These young Warriors have learned something that cannot be compared to and that is a love for their fellow man and all that encompasses. Hawaiian music lyrics often speak of aloha because the spirit of aloha IS Hawaii. The voices from these college locker room men, who hoped for so much for the state of Hawaii sang out Aloha and did us proud!

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ABOUT Kathy Ostman-Magnusen

I paint and sculpt female fantasy art and map fairy tale adventures. I dream of beautiful women on canvas and art of exotic women.

I have illustrated for Hay House Inc.,”Women Who Do Too Much” CARDS, taken from Anne Wilson Schaef’s book. I also illustrated for Neil Davidson, who was considered for the Pulitzer Prize in feature writing, and several other publications. My paintings are collected worldwide.

Giclee canvas art work, greeting cards and posters are available for sale on my website:

http://www.kathysart.com

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