HONOLULU — When the invitation came, it was the affirmation that Tristan Waiamau-Galindo needed.

The Kamehameha defensive lineman learned in early August, just prior to his senior season, that he’d been invited to the 2024 Polynesian Bowl.

“I always looked up to it, especially once I saw the possibilities of me playing football in college,” Waiamau-Galindo said this week. “So … this means the world to me. I remember last year, just praying and hoping for the invitation.”

Friday’s 4 p.m. all-star game for high school seniors, a large number of whom have Polynesian ancestry, will be televised on NFL Network from Kamehameha’s Kunuiakea Stadium for the second straight year.

The game showcases some of the best in the country – its rosters are dotted by five- and four-star recruits bound for Power Five teams, such as Nebraska signee Dylan Raiola, the son of Saint Louis School alumnus Dominic Raiola. But this year’s game also features something a little closer to home.  

Waiamau-Galindo is one of a record seven future University of Hawaii players participating in this year’s game. The others are quarterback Micah Alejado (Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas); offensive lineman Josh Tavui (Campbell); defensive lineman Nazaiah Caravallo (Campbell); linebacker Noah Wily (Saint Louis); offensive lineman Tui Muti (Punahou); and linebacker Alika Cavaco-Amoy (Punahou).

“I really hope that not only me, but my future teammates as a group, we’re not only playing just for ourselves but we’re spreading the name, representing UH,” Waiamau-Galindo said. “I hope we can put that on the national scale to show that, hey, we got talent at UH. For us, that’s our way of giving back, our way of recruiting and being examples to the next generation of people watching on that TV.”

Mike Zimmer will coach Team Makai and Marvin Lewis will coach Team Mauka.

A capacity crowd of a few thousand at Kunuiakea is expected. There were 23 players from Hawaii high schools – about a quarter of the participants – on Friday’s gameday rosters.

Alejado is an Ewa Beach native who went to the mainland to get greater exposure as a high schooler. He went on to guide Bishop Gorman to the MaxPreps 2023 national championship.

For him, the Polynesian Bowl represents what people can accomplish if given an opportunity.

“I’ve watched this since I was a kid,” Alejado said. “Being able to represent Polynesian culture and just being able to spread all around the world, sending a message, it’s been a blessing to be able to finish my last year here.”

Waiamau-Galindo and Alejado both said players had been going at half speed during the week’s lead-up practices to the game.

“We ain’t trying to kill each other. I think we’re saving that (for) Friday,” Waiamau-Galindo said. “The energy’s going to really pick up on Friday, because nobody wants to lose a game.”

Rich Miano, a Spectrum Sports football analyst and the Polynesian Bowl director of football operations, said the game has continued to grow as a result of the NFL Network’s broadcast, and now sponsorship, of the game. The 2023 edition, the first on the network, was well received.

Spectrum Sports' Kanoa Leahey is handling play-by-play duties for the broadcast.

“Kids know that the network is awesome. It’s prime time on the East Coast,” Miano said. “You’ve got great announcers and just a great venue for Kamehameha. We’re blessed to be on NFL Network.”

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.