Ian Monje is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Buckeye Union High School for AZPreps365.com.

 

Culture is a term used to describe the way of life for groups of people.

A culture can be set for groups such as families, the workplace, religious groups and a number of other groups that have a common interest.

Buckeye Union football head coach David “Puni” Ellis has put together a culture of togetherness with his assistant coaches Kalani (his brother) and Poki (his dad).

The culture of togetherness is also a staple in the Ellis family’s culture. 

The Ellis family is originally from Hawaii. Puni, Poki and Kalani all attended Kamehameha Schools, which Puni described as a “prestigious private high school.”

Polynesian culture is something that Puni takes pride in and he implements what he learned about his culture into his coaching techniques.

“It’s the whole family atmosphere back home that has really stuck with me throughout coaching,” Puni Ellis said. “I try to bring that to the kids here. It’s all about family, it’s all about having each other’s back.”

Puni thinks that the impact the culture has on them is similar. 

While the Polynesian culture is a big influence on the Ellis family, they are also a part of football culture. The culture taught Puni Ellis the importance of hard work and having a why when pursuing a goal.

“Every child’s dream in Hawaii is to get off that rock,” he said. “It’s a lot of hard work back home. We try to.… instill it in the kids and make sure the kids out here in Buckeye understand the hard work it takes (if you) want to play at the next level.

Ellis is entering his 18th season as a coach for Buckeye, but this is his first season as the head coach for the football team.

The Hawks (2-0) have begun the season with wins over Youngker and Deer Valley.

Back in August 2017, the football team flew out and spent five days in Honolulu. Buckeye played a game against Kailua High School, close to where the Ellis family is from. 

The players also attended the Pearl Harbor and USSR Arizona Memorial, as well as the Polynesian Cultural Center.

For Ellis, he loved that the players had the experience of visiting Hawaii.

“I explain to the parents and the football players, a lot of you, this is probably the first and last time you head out to Hawaii,” he said. “We made sure we had enough time… to do stuff for the kids (so that) they know a little bit about the Polynesian culture.”

Puni describes the trip for everyone as “an awesome experience” and he hopes that the trip can happen again within the next two years. He looks at the trip as not only a business and educational trip, but he wants the experience to be family oriented.

“(The coaches) love those trips out to Hawaii because we make it into a family trip, also,” Ellis said. “So we’re able to take our wife, our kids, so everybody can get to know each other out there in Hawaii and spend some time in paradise.”

The Hawks look to remain undefeated as they travel to Bradshaw Mountain in Prescott Valley for their next game Saturday.