The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team represents the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in NCAA Division I FBS college football. It was part of the Western Athletic Conference until July 2012, when the team joined the Mountain West Conference. From 2000 until 2013, the team was known simply as the Warriors. The Rainbow Warriors were the third team from a nonautomatic qualifier conference to play in a BCS bowl game, playing the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2008 Sugar Bowl and lost 41–10.

History

Early history

Otto Klum era (1921–1939)

Eugene Gill era (1940–1941)

Tom Kaulukukui era (1946–1950)

Hank Vasconcellos era (1952–1960)

Jim Asato era (1962–1964)

Shaughnessy-Sarboe-King era (1965–1967)

Dave Holmes era (1968–1973)

Larry Price era (1974–1976)

Dick Tomey era (1977–1986)

Bob Wagner era (1987–1995)

Fred von Appen era (1996–1998)

June Jones era (1999–2007)

Greg McMackin era (2008–2011)

Norm Chow era (2012–2015)

Nick Rolovich era (2016–2019)

Todd Graham era (2020–2021)

Timmy Chang era (2022–present)

Conference affiliations

Championships

Conference championships

† Co-champions

Division championships

Bowl games

Bowl games played from 1934 to 1952 were not NCAA-sanctioned. In December 1941, just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi was scheduled to play in a three-team round robin tournament called the Shrine Bowl, which included Hawaiʻi, San Jose State, and Willamette University of Salem, Oregon. Only one game was actually played, with Hawaiʻi defeating Willamette 20–6.

Head coaches

Rivalries

Fresno State

Battle for the Golden Screwdriver With the BYU rivalry losing steam after the Cougars left the WAC in 1999, the rivalry with Fresno State has increased greatly in recent years, with both teams being the oldest members of the WAC contending regularly for the conference championship. Coaches from both schools have accused each side of various episodes of poor sportsmanship over the years, and both schools have some of the nation's rowdiest home fans. The rivalry has featured some lopsided results, including a 70–14 Fresno victory over Hawaiʻi in 2004 and a 68–37 Warriors victory in 2006 over Fresno. In 2007, allegations that Fresno State fans were physically and verbally abused by hometown Hawaiʻi fans circulated the internet and television media added to this rivalry. It was being reported that several Fresno State fans attempted to warn Boise State fans from attending Hawaii football games due to potential violence against them, however no incidents were reported by Boise State fans and many photographs from Hawaii-based publications covered incidents where Hawaii and Boise State fans were seen mingling together before and after their 2007 game. The rivalry still continues to be one that is anticipated by both sides and continues to the present, with Fresno State having joined the Mountain West Conference in 2012, reuniting it with Hawaiʻi and other former WAC members in Nevada and Boise State. It is Hawaii's most-played rivalry series. The two teams have met 56 times, with Fresno State leading the all-time series 30–25–1 through the 2024 season.

Air Force

Battle for the Kuter Trophy This is one of the oldest rivalries involving Hawaii, along with the Fresno State rivalry. This rivalry is attributed to the late General Laurence S. Kuter, who was stationed on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam as commander of the Pacific Air Forces. This led to the creation of the Kuter Trophy, a symbol of sportsmanship and school pride, but also the eternal friendship between the Air Force and Hawaii. The Falcons are in possession of the trophy following a 56–26 win in Honolulu in 2019. The two teams have met 22 times, with Air Force leading the series 14–7–1.

Wyoming

Battle for the Paniolo Trophy The rivalry began in 1978, when Hawaii joined the Western Athletic Conference, and was played annually until 1997, shortly before Wyoming departed from the WAC and joined the newly formed Mountain West Conference. The rivalry was renewed in 2013 when Hawaii joined the MW as a football-only affiliate member. The teams have met 26 times, with Wyoming leading the series 16–11. Wyoming and Hawaii play for the Paniolo Trophy. 'Paniolo' is a Hawaiian word meaning “cowboy”, and the trophy featured a bronze cowboy on horseback, twirling a lariat. The trophy was donated to the two schools by the Wyoming Paniolo Society, a group of Hawaii residents with Wyoming roots. Because the two teams could not find the original trophy, a new trophy was modeled after a statue that stands in Waimea on the Big Island at the Parker Ranch Center. Wyoming won that game in Laramie 59–56 in overtime. Before that, the last time the two schools met was in 1997 in the old Western Athletic Conference with Wyoming winning 35–6 in Honolulu. Hawaii holds the Paniolo Trophy as they won the most recent meeting, 38–14 in Laramie, their first since 1991.

San Jose State

Dick Tomey Legacy Game The two schools were each led by legendary coach Dick Tomey, who died in 2019. The winner of the rivalry game each year takes possession of the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy. San Jose State currently holds the trophy after winning the last 4 meetings, the most recent in Oahu, Hawaii in 2023. The two schools first met in 1936. The Rainbow Warriors and Spartans have played each other 46 times as of the 2023 season. As of 2023, the Spartans lead the series 23–22–1.

UNLV

Ninth Island Showdown Beginning in 2017, the annual game between UNLV and Hawai'i, 'Ninth Island Showdown' or, 'The Battle for the Golden Pineapple' gained a rivalry trophy when the California Hotel and Casino donated the "Golden Pineapple" to the winner of the game. Las Vegas, Nevada has long been a popular destination for Hawaiians for both pleasure and relocation, so much so that it has been dubbed "the Ninth Island", with the Cal Hotel in particular aggressively marketing itself to Hawaiian tourists. UNLV is one of Hawaii's two protected Mountain West Conference rivalries when the conference shifts to one division in 2023, meaning they will play every year. The 'Bows lead the all-time series between the two schools 19-13 as of 2022.

Stadiums

Individual awards and recognitions

Retired numbers

All-Americans

AP All-Americans AP Little All-Americans Other All-Americans Scripps/FWAA Freshman All-Americans CoSIDA Academic All-Americans

Awards

Mosi Tatupu Award Sammy Baugh Trophy Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year

Super Bowl Performers

Notable players

Notable coaches

Future non-conference games

The NCAA permits Hawaii to play one more than the normal 12 games during the regular season to recoup its unusually high travel costs to and from the mainland. The team's opponents who play at Hawaii each season are also allowed one more game than their normal limit. This rule was modified before the 2016 season; Hawaii is now open to play before Labor Day Weekend (during FCS Kickoff Week). The exemption was modified to avoid a 13-game schedule with no bye weeks. Announced schedules as of August 11, 2024.