It was definitely not a bored meeting for the University of Hawaii football team.

Defensive end KK Padello, a specialist with the Hawaii Army National Guard, was narrating a slide show on his unit’s work with fissure 8 on Hawaii island when a picture of his brother appeared on the screen.

“I was like, why would they put up my high-school picture when I was 170 pounds?” Kaimana Padello wondered.

And then teammates cheered joyfully when the photo caption announced Kaimana Padello had been awarded a football scholarship.

“I was like, wow,” he said. “It was a great blessing to finally receive one. It was a sigh of relief knowing I helped my family out a lot and they didn’t have to pay for my schooling anymore.”

KK Padello also could exhale. He had kept the secret for more than a week. “I was ready to tell everybody,” KK said. “I was so stoked when Coach (Nick Rolovich) told me to present it to him and make it a big surprise.”

It also was announced slotback Tristin Kamaka, receiver Jason-Matthew Sharsh and running back Elijah Dale would receive scholarships.

When Kaimana Padello joined the Warriors as a 6-foot, 200-pound defensive end from Mililani High two summers ago, his goal was to earn a scholarship. But the focus changed when he was told he had a chance to start as a rush end this season.

“It turned into a chance I have to make an impact here,” Padello said. “It turned into more than just, ‘Oh, get a scholarship.’ It turned into, ‘Hey, you have a chance to play. Let’s go.’”

Padello credits his pass-rushing skills to his father, Kimo Padello, and Mililani defensive line coach Steelz Malepeai. His father emphasized that Padello’s quickness would outweigh his size disadvantage. Of Padello’s battles against offensive linemen, his father would say:“If that guy can back-pedal faster than you can run forward, you shouldn’t be playing football.”

In 2016, his first season with the Warriors, Padello was Bends-level on the depth chart. “I remember getting only three snaps per practice as a sixth-string linebacker,” Padello said. “I was on the look team getting no reps. I was on kick returns. I was getting blasted. But to come from that, to actually get more reps every practice, and coaches calling my name, shoot, what an evolution of everything that’s happened to me in just two years.”

Padello gained weight (he’s now 223 pounds), strength (maximum bench press of 365 pounds) and the guile to avoid heat-seeking blockers.

“I try to use my speed and height,” Padello said. “I try to stay low. When I’m going against dudes who are 6-7, I have to make them bend down to 5 feet. That can wear on them eventually.”