We're not always aware of a disconnection before it's too late. Maybe it isn't for Hawaii baseball coach Mike Trapasso as he heads into his ninth season at Manoa.

The biggest criticism of Trapasso—mostly whispered, and hence, part of the problem—is that he has failed to embrace the history of the Rainbows' program, and relations with alumni and longtime supporters thus decayed.

The program's illustrious past includes a College World Series runner-up finish, multiple WAC championships and regional appearances, NCAA records, All-Americans and nearly enough major leaguers to fill out a lineup card.

Established standards were high, and so are Trapasso's. The Rainbows have won a few more than they've lost on his watch, but not enough for the old guard who wants a return to the glory days.

Things haven't been terrible on the field, they just haven't reached the high bar often enough. And Trapasso admits to a “;lack of communication”; on his part that some in the islands' baseball community interpreted as aloofness or arrogance from a mainlander.

“;I didn't think there was a disconnect,”; he said yesterday. “;It's my fault.”;

That takes guts, and although I questioned whether he should be around after last season, I think that kind of courage makes Trapasso worthy of another shot. Not all will agree with that, but if the weekend's alumni activities are an indicator, many close to the program are open to forgiving and forgetting ... and Trapasso is open to remembering.

“;Sam Kakazu's done a great job on that,”; he said of the former UH pitcher, who had a big hand in rallying the old troops.

The game, which used to be a huge event, wasn't even played last year; it was held quietly the previous fall. It was a pleasant surprise to see so many former Rainbows on the field Saturday. A guy in his 40s, Lance Belen, and 39-year-old Chris Walz hit back-to-back singles. Walz came all the way from Washington, D.C.

Trapasso's legendary predecessor, Les Murakami, was there, and that means a lot.

THEN THEY swung the real sticks yesterday, at the golf tournament.

“;We've got 17 guys, including Jon Hansen from 30 years ago. Some of the young ones, too,”; Kakazu said.

There was some confusion Saturday as to the location of the postgame gatherings, and there will always be generational cliques ... that's just how it is, fellas who played together have the most stories to share, the most in common now. It's a comfort zone, like a 2-0 fastball.

But the lasting image I took away from Les Murakami Stadium on a beautiful day for baseball (or even an alumni game) was this: A young ballplayer getting into his car, telling a graying, potbellied one, “;Follow me, I know where it is.”;

If the Rainbow Reconnect continues its current trend, that will be reciprocated in many ways. Like Walz, who came in from the cold, said, “;We are all part of this program. It really belongs to all the players and all the fans.”;

As for Trapasso, he seemed on his way out just a few months ago. “;This is where I want to be,”; he said Saturday.

His recent actions and attitude fully back those words.

Reach Star-Bulletin sports columnist Dave Reardon at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), his “;Quick Reads”; blog at starbulletin.com, and twitter.com/davereardon.