If Moanalua's football jerseys had collars, they would definitely be blue. And not because it's one of the school colors.

Na Menehune, who lead the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White with a 6-0 record and clinched a playoff berth, have taken a blue-collar approach this season. A player deemed the hardest working in a game by the assistant coaches is given a hardhat.

It's the most unusual of the various rewards given to players for a well-played game. Besides awarding a game ball, there are awards for getting a "Big Hit" and being a "Playmaker." There also is a Na Menehune of the Week award for working the hardest at practice, as well as an academic award based on weekly grade checks. But the hardhat is special.

"I'd say this is one of the top awards," said junior defensive lineman Richard Villasenor, who got his from the 28-25 win against Pearl City.

"It's a privilege" to be awarded the hat, said junior receiver Michael Egami, the most recent recipient after a two-TD reception game in a 42-6 win against Waialua last weekend. "Everybody on the team wants to work hard, maybe not to get the hardhat, but to prove to the team they can play."

Moanalua coach Arnold Martinez initially bought hardhats for the coaching staff, which wears them at practices, but not at games. It was a way to remind the players about working hard to build the football program.

"We wore them the first day of practice," Martinez said. "The players thought it was funny."

Soon, the players began realizing it was cool to have the authentic hardhats, which Martinez purchased at a construction supply store. Martinez and his children painted the hats blue and Moanalua decals were added. (The hats the coaches wear are the original white.)

"You gotta earn one," Martinez told his players if they wanted a hat. "The first one (we gave out) was a surprise."

The hardhats were given out after each regular season game, so there are six to date with two more games, plus postseason to go. The assistant coaches make the picks, Martinez said.

Linebacker Darren Apo is the only nonstarter among the six to earn a hardhat. Martinez removed his starters early in the 41-0 win against Kalani. He said Apo was all over the field making plays coming off the bench.

Martinez added that Jordan Tanioka was especially busy against 'Anuenue in a 28-8 win as an inside defensive lineman because the majority of Na Koa's offensive plays are run between the tackles.

Linebacker Kainoa Kaholoa'a was asked to blitz frequently in a 34-33 win against Radford. One of the results was teammate Xavier Peterson returning an interception 99 yards for a TD.

The players said they wear their hats on Fridays at school.

"People ask us about it," said running back Tahje Canyon, the hardhat recipient in a 26-22 win against Kalaheo in which he had a game-deciding TD reception. "We explain it to them. They say, 'That's cool.' "

But the key to the team's success aren't the rewards. The players said there is good chemistry this season.

"Everybody's having fun," Tanioka said. "We hang with each other outside of football."

Canyon, who transferred from Texas as a military dependent, said football is huge in the Lone Star State. But he said there's something special here.

"Coming from Texas, my team was never this close," Canyon said. "We're more of a family. It's electrifying up there, but it's great fun here. That's what it's about: having fun."