Gib Arnold has a dual mission for practices these days.

Preparing the Hawaii basketball team for its upcoming summer tour of Asia tops the list. But savoring the experience to come isn’t far behind.

"We’re trying to learn as much as we can and enjoy it," the Rainbow Warriors head coach said after the second of two practice sessions on Tuesday. "This is an experience probably most of these guys will never have again, so we’re going to work hard at having fun too."

The on-court work began Monday, and the Rainbow Warriors had morning and afternoon practices Tuesday. Despite the return of 6 a.m. workouts, the Rainbows were eager to start the process of preparing for their two-week trip in August.

"It’s summer, it doesn’t really faze me," sophomore forward Trevor Wiseman said of the early-morning wake ups. "We got used to it last year."

The Rainbows are allowed 10 days of practice leading up their schedule departure on Aug. 5. They’re scheduled to play five exhibition games in China and another in Japan.

"I think it’s great in a lot of different ways," Arnold said. "It’s going to be a great experience for us, it gives us a chance to build relationships in Asia and it gives us a chance to build relationships within our team.

Part of the experience for the players is structured practices at a time of year when most of their work comes in open gym pickup games or the college summer league. Arnold said he’s installing the fundamentals of the team’s defense and motion offense this summer, which figures to help when practice for next season officially opens in October.

"It’s different," sophomore guard Bobby Miles said. "We get a jump on everybody, we get to practice as a team, get to know the plays, get a head start. It’s cool just getting used to playing with each other."

Wiseman, Miles, senior guard Zane Johnson and junior forward Joston Thomas are among the returnees helping newcomers — Shaquille Stokes, Hauns Brereton, Brandon Jawato and Tyler Brown — learn the Rainbows’ system.

"It’s kind of nice compared to last year, when you had to teach to everybody on the team," said Arnold, entering his second season. "Now I’m expecting the returnees to help in the teaching phase and they’re helping them along and showing them how we do it at the University of Hawaii. It’s like I’ve got seven more assistants."

Along with breaking in the newcomers, the trip is also a chance for last year’s redshirts, center Davis Rozitis and guard Pi‘i Minns, to get back into game situations.

Rozitis played sparingly as a freshman at USC and sat out last season as a transfer. Arnold said he might see extended minutes in Asia with Vander Joaquim, last year’s starting center, training with the Angola national team this summer.

"Maybe this trip is more important for (Rozitis) than anyone on the team," Arnold said. "He’s basically been two years without playing basketball."