After eight fast-growing years in Utah, the nationally renowned "All-Poly" football camp is coming to Polynesia.

The camp — rooted in the aim to help high school athletes of Polynesian ancestry but now open to students of any nationality — will be held June 29, 30 and July 1 at the Ko Olina Resort.

Space is limited to 300 student-athletes and about 100 players have already shown interest, according to All-Poly Camp founder and director Alema Te'o.

The camp features a staff that includes University of Hawai'i head coach Greg McMackin and his assistants, UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, Colorado associate head coach Brian Cabral and others (see fact box on page C2).

"It was a natural fit to come to Hawai'i," said Te'o, whose grand-nephew — Punahou senior linebacker Manti Te'o — was the nation's No. 1 linebacker recruit this past season. "Numbers-wise, so many of the kids from our past camps were from Hawai'i, and when we give out awards, the majority of them go to Hawai'i players."

But with the cost involved in traveling to Utah, Te'o said many other Hawai'i kids never had the opportunity to attend the All-Poly Camp.

"For every Hawai'i kid we've had, there probably were 25 more who wanted to come but couldn't afford it," Te'o said. "Sometimes the airfare alone is $600 or $700, so for everything you're talking about over $1,000."

Te'o attended the inaugural Hawai'i/Polynesia Mainland Bowl at Aloha Stadium last December, and began discussions with Hawai'i High School Athletic Association executive director Keith Amemiya about bringing the All-Poly camp to Hawai'i. The HHSAA Foundation, Polynesian Coaches Association, Samoa Bowl and Vili the Warrior Inc./Project Hope eventually teamed up to make it happen.

"We're using the camp as a way to help legitimize student-athletes in Hawai'i, and we want to work with the community," Te'o said. "With Keith being the director of the HHSAA, I told him, 'We want to be endorsed by you guys.' "

Te'o said he already received responses from 23 Hawai'i high school coaches and about 100 of their players have signed up to attend the camp.

McMackin and the UH coaching staff also got on board to participate, despite the double-edged sword of more exposure of local recruits to Mainland coaches.

"I think it's very positive," McMackin said after Monday morning's spring practice. "I can't think of a better place to have the All-Poly Camp than Hawai'i. I think it's great, it gives us a chance to look at different players."

Te'o added, "We want to work with UH, we want them to succeed."

Two current UH freshmen players from Kahuku, linebacker Paipai Falemalu and defensive lineman Alema Tachibana, attended past All-Poly Camps while in high school.

"It's good because you get more of a variety of coaches watching you," Falemalu said after Monday's practice. "When you go to a (college's) camp, it's just their coaches watching you, but at the All-Poly Camp there's more of a chance to get recruited by others. Before I went there, I only had one or two (scholarship) offers, but afterward I had five or six offers."

Falemalu said he received financial help from family members to attend the All-Poly Camp in Utah, but realizes other local athletes may not have that option.

"There's a lot of talent in Hawai'i, but not everybody has the money to go to Mainland camps," Falemalu said.

Te'o said he started the All-Poly Camp eight years ago with eight coaches and about 40 athletes. Last year's camp attracted 300 athletes with 73 coaches from 38 colleges attending.

SIGN-UP DEADLINE APRIL 15 FOR 'KICKNATION' CAMP

The registration deadline for the "KICKNATION" camp May 23-24 at Waialua High School for kickers, punters and long-snappers is April 15. KICKNATION coaches Chris Shaw and Clinton Greathouse have trained several All-Americans, Lou Groza and Ray Guy Award winners, including 2008 Ray Guy Award winner Matt Fodge of Oklahoma State. A minimum of 50 participants are required or else the camp will be canceled, and Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance director Doris Sullivan said only half the slots have been filled so far. For more information, log on to www.pacificathleticalliance.com or call 261-5000.