A Movement Lab program
Knucklehead Academy
Develop the player. Honor the person.
Knucklehead Academy is a youth rugby and athletic-development program serving young athletes across Koʻolauloa and the North Shore. It gives local players access to skills development, coaching, and growth — while strengthening, not replacing, the clubs they already play for. Young people come first here: the goal is to develop capable athletes and good people. The Academy has already begun with inclusive flag/tag rugby, with more programming growing from there.
The Name
Knucklehead Academy is named for "My Knuckleheads" — Branch Nautu's twin sons and the Academy's founding coaches, athletes who started a rugby club at their own school, ran clinics across several states, and competed nationally. The name carries what the Academy stands for: family, toughness, humor, humility, hard work, resilience, and belonging.
What's Happening — and Where It's Headed
Programming is underway with inclusive, low-contact flag/tag rugby — coed and open to a wide age range — a welcoming entry point for new and experienced players alike. As the Academy grows, it’s building toward skills clinics, position-specific coaching, rugby IQ, leadership and character development, and college and recruiting education. Looking further ahead, a separate competitive pathway — Team Pride — is a future goal, envisioned to give selected athletes opportunities to represent and compete beyond the islands. (Knucklehead Academy and Team Pride are distinct: the Academy develops players; Team Pride is the future competitive pathway.)
Development Without Displacement
Knucklehead Academy is not a club and does not pull athletes away from their teams. It's a resource that makes players better for whatever club they return to — an asset to the whole local rugby community, not a competitor within it.
Reducing the Cost Barrier
Knucklehead Academy works to reduce financial barriers so more young athletes can participate. CH³’s goal is to reduce financial barriers — for clinics, coaching, equipment, and, in time, travel — through grants, sponsorships, donations, contracts, and partnerships. (CH³ does not guarantee that all competition or travel expenses will be covered.)
Be Part of Knucklehead Academy
Whether you're a family with a young athlete, a coach, club, school, referee, sponsor, or funder who wants to help build this pathway, reach out and let's connect.