HONOLULU — The Hawaii Restaurant Association announced a new program Tuesday to sponsor meals for the Hawaii football team this summer through the NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness legislation.

Through “Braddahhood Grindz,” four restaurants — Giovanni Pastrami, Gyotaku Hawaii, Kuhio Food Hall and Ruby Tuesday Hawaii — will combine to cover one meal a week for 150 Rainbow Warriors players and staff over eight weeks in June and July.

HRA estimates the value of the 1,200 total meals at upward of $30,000.

“This is phenomenal and it is about connecting with our community,” first-year UH coach Timmy Chang said in a statement through HRA. “Every person. Every business. We need our state to rally around our team and players.”

In accordance with NCAA guidelines, HRA must enter into an NIL agreement with each Rainbow Warrior player participating in the program. The players must promote the Braddahhood Grindz program on social media to uphold their end of the deal.

The UH athletic department will also receive $2,500 in restaurant gift certificates that it may use for coaches to join players for meals or for recruiting purposes.

“Nutrition is integral for training especially at the level these players compete at to represent our state,” said Ryan Tanaka, HRA chairman and owner of Giovanni Pastrami, in a statement. “It was heartening to see restaurants come together so quickly to get behind the Braddahhood Grindz program and get it off the ground. Our hope is to grow this program into the future.”

Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.