When it comes to local culture, Mike Edwards has trusted the advice from Hawaii football teammate Richard Torres.

But during an outing to the North Shore, Edwards was stung by a Portuguese man o’ war. Torres jokingly suggested, ahem, a man-made panacea to ease the pain.

"What?" Edwards recalled thinking, in horror.

"’Nah, nah, nah, just kidding,’" Torres said, laughing. "He gave me that look. … He wasn’t able to jump into the water. We’re going to try to make it back there one day."

The players with polar backgrounds — Edwards, a sophomore cornerback, was raised in Cleveland, and attended the University of Tennessee and Coffeyville (Kan.) College; Torres, a senior safety is a Kahuku High graduate — have become close friends.

"Rich could be my best friend for life," said Edwards, who moved to Hawaii in July. "He welcomed me in. He taught me a lot of things."

Torres said: "It’s tough when you’re far from home. It’s always easier to make a transition when people take you in and become a second family."

UH head coach Greg McMackin acknowledged that several people offered guidance when he first moved to Hawaii. In turn, McMackin said, he tries to foster a guidance atmosphere among his players. During training camp, the seniors and newcomers are assigned to the same living area.

"I always like to get a big-brother deal, where the non-island guys can understand the culture and appreciate the culture here," McMackin said. "I don’t say, ‘Look, you take this guy.’ But we let them know we don’t want to leave anyone behind."

Slotback Billy Ray Stutzmann, a Saint Louis School graduate, has been helpful in offering advice to teammates from the mainland and Australia.

Defensive end Desmond Dean, who was raised in Texas, has lived with defensive end Beau Yap’s family.

"He’s pretty much localized," Yap said, noting Dean has acquired "the taste for local food, Hawaiian food."

Right wideout Royce Pollard, who was born in Hawaii but raised in San Diego, volunteered to serve as a mentor to freshman wideout Trevor Davis.

The other day, Pollard recalled, "I taught him a route and — bam! — he executed it. He dominated. I teach him everything I know."

Pollard said it’s part of a pay-it-forward philosophy. Pollard said his mentors were former Warriors receivers Davone Bess, Jason Rivers, C.J. Hawthorne, Ryan Grice-Mullen, Mike Washington and Malcolm Lane.

Although Davis is expected to redshirt this season, he was on the travel roster for the first two trips. Davis and Pollard were roommates.

"He’s a brother from another mother," Pollard said, smiling. "He can join the family. Nothing wrong with that."

Edwards has become a hanai son of the Torres family. It is a bond rooted in a strong work ethic.

"When he first came, we knew he was a good athlete," Torres said. "He just had to get the defense down. Any time he had questions, he would talk to me. We just kind of clicked. … We work out together all of the time. I push him, and he pushes me."

Edwards said: "I get up in the morning, and I expect a text from him (saying): ‘Let’s get ready to work.’ He teaches me about things outside of football, how to keep my head straight. He’s a great person to be around."

Edwards said he now is hooked on plate lunches.

"I’m totally enjoying it out here," Edwards said. "When I got out here, I wanted to be a part of everything. I wanted to learn different cultures and meet different people."