1941 Hawaii Rainbows football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1941 Hawaii Rainbows football Independent 8–1 Eugene Gill (2nd season) Tom Kaulukukui (1st season) Honolulu Stadium 1946 The 1941 Hawaii Rainbows football team was an American football team that represented the University of Hawaii as an independent during the 1941 college football season. The team compiled an 8–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 280 to 83.Hawaii Rainbow Warrior Football 2018 Media Guide University of Hawaii 2018 January 22, 2019 124, 135 https://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/2018/7/17/2018-rainbow-warrior-football-media-guide.aspx The season was shortened by two games following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Tom Kaulukukui and Eugene Gill were co-head coaches. It was Kaulukukui's first year as a head coach; Gill had been head coach of the team in 1940 as well. During a September 24 game against Pacific (CA) in Stockton, California, a distressed army flying cadet tried to land his plane at the stadium, diving for 30 minutes "a few feet over the heads of terrified spectators and players and clipped the stadium power line, darkening the field." The cadet ultimately landed his plane safely in the stadium parking lot.Flier Attempts Landing During Football Game The Honolulu Advertiser September 27, 1941 3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35918087/flier_attempts_landing_during_football/ Newspapers.com Hawaii was ranked at No. 69 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System for 1941.Gophers Grid Kings Over 6-Year Span: Tennessee 2d, Pitt 3d Over Period Litkenhous Ratins Are Published The Courier-Journal Dr. E. E. Litkenhous December 26, 1941 Sports 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123088221/gophers-grid-kings-over-6-year-span/ Newspapers.com Schedule y y September 24 at Pacific (CA) Baxter Stadium Stockton, CA W 14-0 12,000 Rainbows Defeat Pacific, 14-0 The Honolulu Advertiser September 25, 1941 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35918203/rainbows_defeat_pacific_140/ Newspapers.com September 20 at Portland Multnomah Stadium Portland, OR W 33-6 9,000 Hawaiians Pass Pilots Dizzy To Win Season Opener 33-6 The Oregon Statesman September 21, 1941 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35069073/hawaiians_pass_pilots_dizzy_to_win/ Newspapers.com October 10 Hawaii Bears Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii W 20-6 20,000 Smith and Rainbows' Early Start Beat Bears Honolulu Star-Bulletin Loui Leong Hop October 11, 1941 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35918448/smith_and_rainbows_early_start_beat/ Newspapers.com October 17 Na Alii Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii W 19-6 15,000 Rainbows Win But Must Improve On Passing Honolulu Star-Bulletin Don Watson October 18, 1941 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35918980/rainbows_win_but_must_improve_on_passing/ Newspapers.com October 27 Healani Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii L 6-26 19,000 Heialanis Overpower U. of Hawaii 26 to 6 The Honolulu Advertiser Red McQueen October 28, 1941 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35918671/heialanis_overpower_u_of_hawaii_26_to_6/ Newspapers.com November 7 Na Alii Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii W 33-14 4,000 UH Has Long Workout At Na Allii's Expense Honolulu Star-Bulletin Loui Leong Hop November 8, 1941 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35919066/uh_has_long_workout_at_na_alliis/ Newspapers.com November 19 Hawaii Bears Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii W 27-13 5,500 Rainbows Trounce Bear Eleven 27-13 The Honolulu Advertiser Andrew Mitsukado November 20, 1941 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35918772/rainbows_trounce_bear_eleven_2713/ Newspapers.com November 26 Healani Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii W 21-6 11,000 December 6 Willamette Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii(Shrine Football Classic) W 20-6 25,000 University of Hawaii Downs Willamette 20-6: Rainbows Explode in Last Half to Conquer Invading Eleven The Honolulu Advertiser Red McQueen December 7, 1941 14, 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27546887/university_of_hawaii_downs_willamette/ Newspapers.com December 13 San Jose State Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii No contest January 1, 1942 Nevada Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii No contest Shrine Game and Pearl Harbor On the afternoon of December 6, 1941, in the Shrine Football Classic, Hawaii defeated Willamette at Honolulu Stadium. The game drew a crowd of 25,000 persons, the largest paid attendance in Hawaii history to that point.Record Crowd Takes In Colorful Shrine Show Honolulu Star-Bulletin December 8, 1941 18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27547210/record_crowd_takes_in_colorful_shrine/ Newspapers.com The attendees included Territorial Governor Joseph Poindexter, Honolulu Mayor Lester Petrie, and Lt. Gen. Walter Short, the U.S. military commander responsible for the defense of U.S. military installations in Hawaii; the game was preceded by a "spectacle" of marching bands, including performances by the U.S. Marine band and bands from the University of Hawaii, Royal Hawaiian, McKinley High, St. Louis College, Kamehameha, Roosevelt High, Punahou Academy, Honolulu Plantation Co., and others.14 Bands Play in Spectacular Benefit Affair The Honolulu Advertiser December 7, 1941 1, 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27547063/14_bands_play_in_spectacular_benefit/ Newspapers.com Early the following morning, the Attack on Pearl Harbor occurred, beginning the Pacific War. The team's remaining game against San Jose State and Nevada were cancelled.All Major Athletic Events Are Cancelled The Honolulu Advertiser Red McQueen December 9, 1941 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27547411/all_major_athletic_events_are_cancelled/ Newspapers.com The San Jose State team was already in Honolulu at the time of the attack. The San Jose State and Willamette players were stranded in Hawaii due to the emergency following the attack. The Hawaii, Willamette, and San Jose State football teams all volunteered to perform special police duties during the emergency.Visiting Grid Players Given Police Duties Honolulu Star-Bulletin December 8, 1941 18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27547210/record_crowd_takes_in_colorful_shrine/ Newspapers.com The Hawaii football program was suspended for the duration of the war.2018 Media Guide, p. 98. References Further reading McWilliams Bill 2019 Scrimmage for War: A Story of Pearl Harbor, Football, and World War II Guilford, Connecticut Stackpole Books 9780811738675 Hawaii Category:Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football seasons Hawaii Rainbows football