Starting tomorrow, the youth of Hawaii get to see something few in the islands have witnessed: the leadership style of new UH basketball coach Gib Arnold.

That’s when Arnold’s first Rainbow Warrior Basketball Camp begins at lower campus for boys and girls ages 6 to 17 — and he’s pledged plenty of hands-on attention.

It’ll also serve as a change of pace for Arnold, who’s announced most of his coaching staff and eight new players for next season since his hire in March.

"It’ll get me back in the gym. I haven’t been in the gym for a while, since the last workouts, which were well over a month ago," he said. "We’ll be in there every day, working with the kids. I like (the camps). I grew up going to them."

He may be new at UH, but he’s no camp neophyte after running more than 50 in nine different countries. This one goes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow through Thursday at UH’s various gyms.

"I’ve done lots of camps, not just here in the United States but overseas as well, and I think it’s a great way to gets the kids involved," Arnold said. "We teach a lot of fundamentals during the day and work on skill sets and things like that. And in the afternoon, after lunch, we play some games too."

Camps are the only time the NCAA allows coaches to work out players besides a coach’s own. There’s always the chance to find a "diamond in the rough," as Arnold referred to the occasional Division I prospect in Hawaii.

"For high-school-aged kids, it’s a great time for a coach to see some of the local talent," Arnold said. "But these days camps are more geared toward the youth and the development of your elementary and middle school kids."

Among those participating in the program are assistant coach Benjy Taylor and junior guard Zane Johnson, as well as outgoing forward Ji Xiang, who graduated this summer. Arnold said some players from the UH women’s basketball team would participate, as well.

"A lot of our local basketball players will be involved in some way or another," Arnold said. "Whether they’ll be counselors or coaches, or coming by to say hi to the kids."

The camp costs $250 per person, or $130 for half-day sessions. Arnold added that some camp scholarships remain for kids at the sixth-grade level or younger. Walk-ups tomorrow are welcome; go to the Stan Sheriff Center between 8 and 8:30 a.m. to sign up. There is no cap on the number of campers.

Call Johnny White at 956-6502 or e-mail johnnywh@hawaii.edu for more information about the camp.