VIDEO: Polynesian college coaches and prep players gather for All-Poly football camp

While sometimes in the running for the same coveted prospects, they also tip each other off on hidden gems and make suggestions on how to get them on campus.

They also serve as mentors, job counselors and friends-in-need.

"It's a great brotherhood," said Brigham Young University defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi, referring to the Polynesian Coaches Association. "We have a great network, and there's a lot of camaraderie."

Nowhere is that more evident than at the nationally renowned "All-Poly Camp," which is being held in Hawai'i for the first time this week after eight highly successful years in Utah.

The three-day camp — featuring more than 300 mostly local high school players instructed by coaches representing more than 20 colleges — wraps up today at Kapi'olani Park with a full-pads scrimmage followed by an awards ceremony and barbecue lunch.

There are several, maybe dozens of NCAA Division I prospects attending the camp, and no doubt some will receive added recruiting attention after it is over.

But since its inception eight years ago, with only eight coaches and about 40 athletes attending the inaugural event, the All-Poly Camp is not so much about "who will go to what college" but more about all of them continuing their education, period.

"The bottom line is we want all of these kids to go to college," said Colorado associate head coach Brian Cabral, a former standout at Saint Louis School who played eight seasons in the NFL. "We'll pass names around, a lot of it is finding a place for all of them. Division I is not for everybody, but there can be a college for anybody ... We want them to leave this camp a better football player and understand the importance of academics."

The PCA network extends from coast to coast and beyond — from Annapolis, Md., (Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo) to Louisville, Ky., (Louisville graduate assistant Abu Ma'afala) to Jonesboro, Ark., (Arkansas State defensive backs coach Corey Batoon) to Logan, Utah (Utah State defensive line coach Chad Kaha'aha'a).

Cabral said the annual gathering of Polynesian coaches at the All-Poly Camp grew steadily to the point where an informal association already was forming.

"There was an increasing number of Polynesian football players, and an increasing number of Polynesian coaches," Cabral said. "We wanted to support each other. Then one year at the (NCAA) coaches convention in San Antonio, a bunch of guys got together and had their first (official) meeting, put together a founding board. We've got high school coaches and junior college coaches involved. The older coaches are mentoring the younger coaches.

"But even in Hawai'i, a lot of people are not aware that we're still growing."

Cabral said that "the center of the association is still the All-Poly Camp," but the communication is maintained long after the camp ends.

Even in the heat of intense recruiting battles, PCA members will call each other with news about prospects they know about.

"We'll exchange information, any way of helping the kids," Kaufusi said. "They know that the Polynesian coaches are here for them."

Kaufusi, who is Tongan, said the Polynesian values of strong family support carries over into coaching football, recruiting wars notwithstanding.

"For us, we're all friends in the coaching circle," Kaufusi said. "We want to help each other, and there's plenty of kids to go around. We want to turn every stone, because we think that every kid has a level of football he can play at. It's not just Division I, it's all levels, and we want to help find those levels for every kid.

"We put our agendas aside, because No. 1, we're here for the kids. For us Polynesians, it's about family, and we're all one big family."