The Los Angeles Rams are in Maui for mandatory minicamp, and Puka Nacua is enjoying every bit of his time there. His show of appreciation drew the attention of Pro Bowl running back and teammate Kyren Williams.
Nacua posted a reel of images to his Instagram. He captioned it “The Middle Of The Ocean” and summarized the experience with “Yessuh” and even a hang loose emoji.
Williams offered him a motivational, “Keep going!!”
Williams has spoken about embracing a leadership role, and his encouragement reflects that.
Rams teammates and cornerbacks Charles Woods and Cobie Durant shared emojis in the comments. Both echoed the general vibe of Nacua’s post.
“It feels like home. As soon as we got off the plane, the first person, he gave me a big hug, and he had a big smile. He’s like, ‘Oh, thank you so much for everything you do for the Polynesian community.’” Nacua told reporters on June 17. “That’s how I expected it to be. To have a warm welcome, somebody [to] hug. And I thought he was going to have a Spam musubi, but he didn’t. But it was all right. We got him after.”
Puka Nacua Happy to Be Part of Rams’ Return to Hawaii
GettyPuka Nacua #17 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after a win over the Minnesota Vikings during the NFC Wild Card Playoff.
Nacua’s family actually hails from Western Samoa, some 2,500-plus miles away from the Hawaiian Islands.
Still, he is relishing the opportunity the Rams have.
“I think it’s something that we all can relate to. It’s something, being able to understand and have that empathy of, this is a similar situation to what we were in. And I wasn’t directly impacted by the fires, but to know of the support that you want to give to those people who are going through that issue, and to see how it can change and bring a community closer together in that time,” Nacua said.
“I think our team has felt that. And being able to come back and give back to these kids and see a smile on their face and to make sure they have a good time is something that I always want to be a part of.”
“I’m glad I was able to be a part of the first time we’ve come back in a little while,” Nacua said. “So, hopefully, minicamps here every year. It’ll be a good vacation for us all.”
Nacua and the Rams, who wrapped minicamp on June 18, were displaced by wildfires in LA. They forced the relocation of their NFC Wild Card matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The Rams will reconvene for training camp in LA at Loyola Marymount University on July 22.
Rams Maui Trip About Giving Back
GettyPuka Nacua #17 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates while running off the field after the game against the New Orleans Saints.
Nacua’s personal story is a subplot to the Rams’ trip. ESPN’s Sarah Barshop highlighted the other reasons the Rams decided to make their return to the islands this offseason.
“The Rams traveled to Maui for minicamp in part for team bonding and to help a community affected by devastating wildfires nearly two years ago,” Barshop wrote on June 20. The traveling party included approximately 500 people, including players, coaches, team staff, as well as any family members who wanted to come.”
“The Rams’ relationship with Hawaii goes back many years, and several members of the local community at the team luau Monday night noted they remembered the kids camps several Rams players held during the 1970s.”
Moreover, the Rams broadcast preseason games and have helped raise funds for Hawaii.
Barshop also noted that Nacua and other Rams players participated in flag and tackle football sessions. The team’s rookies helped Habitat for Humanity Maui rebuild homes in Lahaina.
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