A Colorful Legacy: Tracing the History of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Football Jersey
The uniforms of a team are defining characteristics, along with gameday traditions and mascots. The history of each team's uniform and where they are headed is important. The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team, representing the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, boasts a vibrant and evolving jersey history. From the colorful "Rainbow Warriors" era to the modern "Warriors," the team's uniforms have reflected both the cultural heritage of the islands and the changing trends in college football.
Early Years: Green and Gold (1970s)
While the University of Hawaii existed earlier, comprehensive records and full college schedules weren't consistently maintained until later. In 1970, the Warriors sported a simple yet tasteful all-green uniform. This design featured white numbering and a gold helmet.
Embracing the Rainbow (1974-1998)
In 1974, Hawaii adopted a style more reflective of their island identity. The helmet featured a Hawaiian warrior running or surfing on a rainbow wave. The green uniforms were enhanced with red, yellow, and white stripes, and the white pants mirrored this design with a green, red, and yellow stripe down the side.
The surfing warrior helmet design saw minor changes, with the multi-colored stripes on the arms and pants simplified to white. The rainbow remained a constant feature, even when the helmet design transitioned in 1982. The surfing warrior was replaced with a "UH" logo, but the rainbow element was retained. During this period, the word "Hawai'i" first appeared on the uniform.
The June Jones Era: A Shift in Identity (1999-2007)
The arrival of coach June Jones in 1999 marked a turning point for the program, both on and off the field. The "Rainbows" moniker was dropped, officially becoming the "Warriors" in 2001. Jones transformed the team into a pass-happy offense. The helmets became black, still featuring the surfing Hawaiian. The main uniforms remained largely unchanged initially.
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A year later, a more radical change occurred. The team embraced a different aspect of Hawaiian culture. The cartoonish warrior figure and rainbows were replaced with a large island-style "H" on green helmets (and silver for away games from 2005-07). The solid green uniforms returned, adorned with island bands at the bottom of the jersey.
Under Armour and the Tapa Design (2008-Present)
In 2008, Under Armour introduced a new design incorporating the tapa pattern, a traditional island design. The tapa extended to the arms and numbers. The home uniforms became black and green. Alternative uniforms also emerged in green and black. "HAWAI'I" was prominently displayed across the top front of the jerseys.
Lessons from the Past and Future Outlook
The Hawaii football jersey history demonstrates that drastic change can occur within a program while still honoring the surrounding culture. While the rainbow once defined Hawaii football, the introduction of the tapa design and the move away from the "Rainbow Warrior" name reflected a shift towards a different expression of island culture.
Hawaii is currently under an eight-year sponsorship contract with Under Armour. The most recent major change occurred in 2008, so drastic changes are not expected in the near future. However, a one-game "Rainbow Warrior" throwback could be a popular option.
Honoring the Past
A memorabilia display honoring past athletes was established at the University of Hawaii. This display includes football helmets representing different eras. The initiative aims to showcase the rich history of UH athletics to current fans. Alumni and volunteers contributed to the project.
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Key Moments in Hawaii Football History
The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football program has a long and storied history, marked by significant moments and achievements:
- 1923: A rainbow appears over Moiliili Field after Hawaiʻi upsets Oregon State, 7-0.
- 1924-25: The Rainbows, under coach Otto Klum, complete back-to-back undefeated seasons, outscoring their opponents 606-29 in 18 games.
- 1926: The Rainbows play their first game at Honolulu Stadium.
- 1935: Tom Kaulukukui becomes Hawaiʻi's first All-American player.
- 1946: Hawaiʻi resumes football play after a four-year hiatus.
- 1955: The Rainbows upset Nebraska 6-0 in Lincoln after suffering a 50-0 loss to them the previous year in Honolulu.
- 1961: The UH Board of Athletic Control votes to abolish the football program due to a lack of finances.
- 1966: Phil Sarboe guides the team to a 4-6 record playing its first all-collegiate schedule.
- 1968: Dave Holmes begins a successful coaching tenure, winning 67% of games from 1968-1974.
- 1973: The Rainbows defeat Washington 10-7 in Seattle.
- 1974: Hawaiʻi becomes an NCAA Division I member. The team's new nickname becomes the "Bow's."
- 1975: Aloha Stadium becomes the new home of Hawaiʻi football.
- 1976: The NCAA reclassifies its divisions and drops Hawaiʻi to Division I-AA (now FCS).
- 1982: Dan Audick becomes the first Warrior to have graduated from the university and started for a Super Bowl champion.
- 1986: Al Noga becomes the first Hawaiʻi player to be named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press.
- 1989: Hawaiʻi plays in the program's first major bowl game - the Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl.
- 1990: The Rainbows rout BYU, 59-28.
- 1992: Hawaiʻi wins a share of its first-ever WAC championship and earns their first bowl victory, defeating Illinois in the Thrifty Car Rental Holiday Bowl.
- 1998: Hawaiʻi suffers through the program's first-ever winless season, going 0-12.
- 1999: June Jones becomes the new head coach and guides the Rainbow Warriors to a nine-win season and a share of the WAC championship.
- 2001: Hawaiʻi changes its nickname from "Rainbow Warriors" to simply "Warriors."
- 2002: Hawaiʻi is invited to play in the inaugural ConAgra Foods Hawaiʻi Bowl.
- 2003: Hawaiʻi defeats Houston in a triple-overtime game in the Hawaiʻi Bowl.
- 2004: Hawaiʻi triumphs over UAB in the Hawaii Bowl.
- 2006: Colt Brennan sets NCAA single-season records for touchdown passes (58) and passer efficiency rating (185.78). The Warriors defeat Arizona State in the Hawaiʻi Bowl.
- 2007: The Warriors are unbeaten and win their first outright WAC title. They earn a berth in the Sugar Bowl after finishing No. 12 in the BCS rankings.
- 2008: June Jones resigns to become the head coach at Southern Methodist University. Greg McMackin becomes the head coach.
- 2010: Hawaiʻi wins its 4th WAC Championship. The University of Hawaiʻi accepts an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference for football only and the Big West Conference for all other sports.
- 2012: Norm Chow implements a more balanced pro-style offense.
- 2016: The college football season starts with a game between the Cal Golden Bears and the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors in Sydney, Australia, the first international football game for UH.
- 2018: Nick Rolovich switches to the run and shoot offense.
- 2019: Hawaii wins their final regular season conference game against San Diego State 14-11, clinching their first division title in the history of Hawaii's play in the Mountain West Conference.
- 2020: Nick Rolovich departs to take the head coaching position at Washington State University. Todd Graham is hired as head coach.
- 2021: Todd Graham resigned after multiple reports surfaced of player mistreatment.
- 2022: Hawaii signs former quarterback Timmy Chang to be head coach.
Rivalries
Hawaii has developed several rivalries over the years:
- BYU: While the rivalry has diminished since BYU left the WAC in 1999, it remains a part of Hawaii's football history.
- Fresno State: This rivalry has intensified in recent years, with both teams regularly contending for the conference championship.
- Air Force: The rivalry began in 1978 and is marked by the Kuter Trophy, symbolizing sportsmanship and friendship.
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