athletics | University of Hawai驶i System News /news News from the University of Hawaii Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:45:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 /news/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cropped-糖心视频News512-1-32x32.jpg athletics | University of Hawai驶i System News /news 32 32 28449828 糖心视频 Hilo women鈥檚 golf ranks among nation鈥檚 top 25 in academic excellence /news/2026/07/28/hilo-womens-golf-academics-ranks-nationally/ Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:37:17 +0000 /news/?p=238070 The Vulcans were the only Pacific West Conference team to earn national recognition.

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糖心视频 women's golf all-scholar honorees

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo ranked No. 23 for team GPA across all NCAA Division II women鈥檚 golf programs for the 2025鈥26 school year, with a 3.681 GPA.

The achievement for the 2025–26 school year was announced by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association.

The 2025–26 Pacific West Conference Champions were the only PacWest Conference team to land inside this year’s top 25, and also placed No. 23 in last year’s rankings.

2025–26 糖心视频 Hilo women鈥檚 golf honorees

  • Kieran Florino
  • Kiara Kimata
  • Trinity Ledgerwood
  • Kailee McKee
  • Elle Otani
  • Kiersten Saludares
  • Jaylen Wan
  • Erica Yokomoto

Read more at .

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One year in, 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics builds momentum for the future under AD Elliott /news/2026/07/21/matt-elliott-year-one/ Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:22:19 +0000 /news/?p=237760 Looking ahead, Elliott said enhancing the student-athlete experience, strengthening community partnerships and continuing to grow support for 糖心视频 Athletics remain his top priorities.

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three people smiling
Matt Elliott joins men’s volleyball head coach Charlie Wade and 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel following the Rainbow Warriors national championship win in May 2026.

Just over a year after becoming University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa鈥檚 athletics director, Matt Elliott said the department鈥檚 greatest accomplishments aren鈥檛 measured only by championships or fundraising records. They are measured by the opportunities created for nearly 500 student-athletes.

person smiling at a podium
Matt Elliott

Since officially taking the helm on June 30, 2025, Elliott has overseen one of the most successful years in history, while laying the foundation for what he believes is an even stronger future.

“This first year has really reinforced what makes 糖心视频 Athletics special,” Elliott said. “Our student-athletes inspire us every day with the way they compete, represent our university and serve our community. It鈥檚 been incredibly rewarding to see so many people across Hawaiʻi rally behind them, and that鈥檚 something we want to continue building.”

A record-setting year

The 2025–26 season featured milestones on and off the field. Rainbow Warrior volleyball captured the program鈥檚 third NCAA championship in six years, men鈥檚 basketball won its first Big West Tournament title in a decade to earn an NCAA Tournament berth, football capped a 9-4 season with a Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl victory, and 糖心视频 teams combined for five Big West championships.

Beyond competition, 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics recorded a historic fiscal year. Preliminary figures show the department raised a record $13.2 million—more than tripling the previous year鈥檚 total and surpassing the department鈥檚 previous fundraising record. Community support also reached new heights with more than 7,300 gifts during the fiscal year, while licensing revenue approached $930,000, another department record.

people smiling
Matt Elliott with university and community leaders following the announcement of a $5 million, five-year commitment to strengthen name, image and likeness opportunities for 糖心视频 student-athletes.

Momentum continued this summer with five Hawaiʻi business and community leaders committing $5 million over five years to strengthen name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for 糖心视频 student-athletes, helping the department recruit and retain talent in an increasingly competitive college athletics landscape.

“Our responsibility is to create an environment where student-athletes can thrive academically, athletically and personally,” Elliott said. “That means investing in the people, resources and opportunities that help them succeed while making sure they have an unforgettable experience representing the University of Hawaiʻi.”

Positioning 糖心视频 Athletics for long-term success

two people signing a media rights agreement
Matt Elliott and HNN General Manager Katie Pickman sign a new four-year media rights agreement that will bring more than 110 糖心视频 home events annually to free, statewide television on K5 beginning this season.

The department also expanded access for fans through several major media initiatives. Last fall, 糖心视频 eliminated pay-per-view for Rainbow Warrior football broadcasts, making games more accessible statewide, while adding broadcasts in Japan. Beginning this season, a new four-year media rights partnership with Hawaiʻi News Now will bring more than 110 home events annually to K5, moving local broadcasts from a subscription-based cable model to free, statewide television distribution. In addition, the new Mountain West鈥檚 MW+ streaming platform will carry more than 200 糖心视频 events worldwide. Revenue generated through Hawaiʻi subscriptions to MW+ will also directly benefit 糖心视频 Athletics.

Those changes coincide with another significant milestone as 糖心视频 officially joined the Mountain West as a full member on July 1, positioning most Rainbow Warrior and Rainbow Wahine programs in a new conference beginning this season.

collage of sports

Elliott has also reshaped the department鈥檚 leadership, hiring new women鈥檚 basketball coach Khalilah Mitchell and Rainbow Wahine volleyball head coach Joshua Walker, while adding former women鈥檚 basketball coach Laura Beeman to the senior leadership team as associate athletics director for student-athlete success. Contract extensions for football coach Timmy Chang, baseball coach Rich Hill and men鈥檚 basketball coach Eran Ganot have also helped provide continuity heading into the new conference era.

Looking ahead, Elliott said enhancing the student-athlete experience, strengthening community partnerships and continuing to grow support for 糖心视频 Athletics remain his top priorities.

“We鈥檝e made real progress over the past year, but we鈥檙e just getting started to navigate a new era of college athletics,” Elliott said. “As we begin this chapter in the Mountain West, we鈥檙e focused on creating even more opportunities for our student-athletes and our fans. ‘Our Team, Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Team’ is more than a slogan. It鈥檚 a commitment to bringing our community together and building a program the entire state can be proud of.”

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Hilo vs. M膩noa: Vulcans host Wahine in volleyball exhibition /news/2026/07/21/hilo-vs-manoa-volleyball/ Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:08:40 +0000 /news/?p=237735 The preseason exhibition match marks the Rainbow Wahine's first trip to Hilo in more than 40 years.

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Hilo vs. Manoa Athletics

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo women’s volleyball team will host the 糖心视频 M膩noa Rainbow Wahine in a preseason exhibition match on August 15, 2 p.m. at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

The match marks the Rainbow Wahine’s first trip to Hilo since the 1980s and continues a growing connection between the two 糖心视频 volleyball programs. Last year, the Rainbow Warriors men’s volleyball team traveled to Hilo for an intrasquad scrimmage.

“The last time we played them was in the ’80s, and I think it’s a great connection for us to play a Division I team,” said 糖心视频 Hilo head coach Reed Sunahara.

Sunahara hopes the exhibition will energize the local volleyball community and continue building support for the Vulcans program.

The Vulcans are coming off a 20-9 season in 2025, finishing tied for third in the Pacific West Conference and qualifying for the PacWest Championships. The Rainbow Wahine enter their first season under head coach Joshua Walker.

The two teams last met in an official match in 1990, with 糖心视频 M膩noa holding a 24-0 all-time series advantage.

For more information, visit the .

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糖心视频 Hilo men鈥檚 basketball team nationally recognized for academic excellence /news/2026/07/21/hilo-mens-basketball-recognized/ Tue, 21 Jul 2026 20:47:52 +0000 /news/?p=237706 Six Vulcans were honored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

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N A B C Men驶s Basketball Honorees

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo team earned the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Academic Excellence Award for the 2025–26 season. Individually, the team placed six student-athletes on the NABC Honors Court.

This year鈥檚 NABC honors court honorees are Charles Higby Jr., Fabio Da Rocha, Isaiah Hinds, Jamal Entezami, Julio Montes II and Telryn Villa.

NABC Team Academic Excellence Award recognizes programs with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The NABC Honors Court includes junior, senior and graduate student men’s basketball players who finished the year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.

Read more at .

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Wahine golfer joins All-American Scholar Team /news/2026/07/20/wahine-golfer-all-american-scholar/ Tue, 21 Jul 2026 01:26:19 +0000 /news/?p=237611 Chloe Ku was honored by the Women's Golf Coaches Association.

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U H golfer Chloe Ku

University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa women’s golfer Chloe Ku was selected to the All-American Scholar Team announced by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA).

Ku completed her freshman season in 2025–26 and ranked fourth on the team with a 77.25 scoring average, competing in eight tournaments.

Ku is the first Rainbow Wahine to receive WGCA All-American Scholar honors since three were honored in 2022–23.

The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 and having played in 50 percent of the team’s competitive rounds.

Learn more at

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糖心视频 Hilo women鈥檚 golfers earn All-American scholar honors /news/2026/07/20/vulcan-golfers-earn-honors/ Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:49:21 +0000 /news/?p=237612 The Women鈥檚 Golf Coaches Association highlighted five Vulcan student-athletes.

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Women's gold All-American Scholar team

Three University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo golfers were named to the 2025–26 Women鈥檚 Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team.

The awardees were: Trinity Ledgerwood, Kailee McKee, Elle Otani, Kiersten Saludares and Jaylen Wan.

To qualify, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, have amateur status, remain on the team鈥檚 roster through the conclusion of the season and participate in 50% of the college鈥檚 regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year through the team鈥檚 conference championship.

A total of 1,551 women鈥檚 collegiate golfers were nationally recognized with this honor.

Read more at .

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糖心视频 Hilo athletes set record GPA /news/2026/07/16/uh-hilo-athletes-set-record-gpa/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:55:56 +0000 /news/?p=237487 糖心视频 Hilo student-athletes earned a record 3.37 combined GPA, with 172 Vulcans receiving Academic All-PacWest honors.

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University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo student-athletes achieved a record-high 3.37 combined grade point average (GPA) during the 2025–26 academic year, surpassing last year’s department record of 3.32 across the university’s 12 varsity sports.

“I’m incredibly proud of our student-athletes for setting a new standard of academic excellence this past year,” 糖心视频 Hilo Director of Athletics Patrick Guillen said. “They prove every single day that championship performance happens both in competition and in the classroom.”

Women’s golf and women’s soccer were named the department’s Ramon Goya Academic Teams of the Year for posting the highest team GPAs in individual and team sports, respectively.

The Vulcans also ranked among the Pacific West Conference’s academic leaders, with women’s cross country (3.64), softball (3.50) and men’s golf (3.46) each finishing in the top three in their respective sports.

糖心视频 Hilo placed 172 student-athletes on the Academic All-PacWest Team, recognizing those who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

For more information, visit the .

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Wahine Volleyball announce 2026 schedule /news/2026/07/16/wahine-2026-volleyball-schedule/ Thu, 16 Jul 2026 22:44:50 +0000 /news/?p=237435 The 2026 Wahine volleyball season will feature three non-conference tournaments before the Big West conference season.

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Women's 2026 volleyball schedule

The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa announced its 2026 regular-season schedule, marking the start of a new era under first-year head coach Joshua Walker.

The 29-match regular-season schedule features three early season tournaments and a 11-match non-conference slate before beginning the inaugural season in the Mountain West Conference.

The Rainbow Wahine will open the season with the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic, set for August 28 to 30 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. 糖心视频 will officially open Walker’s tenure as head coach by taking on Georgia Southern, Baylor and San Diego.

The 鈥楤ows will then host the OUTRIGGER Invitational September 3 to 6 against Utah Tech, Loyola Marymount and UC San Diego.

糖心视频 caps its season-opening homestand with a two-match series against Central Arkansas on Sept. 10 and 11. The 鈥楤ows first road trip will take them to Las Vegas for matches against Texas A&M—Corpus Christi, Iowa State and UCLA.

The Rainbow Wahine鈥檚 first Mountain West campaign opens a home series with New Mexico on Sept. 25 and 26.

The final regular-season homestand features a two-match series against Nevada on November 5 and 7, followed by Air Force on November 12 and 13.

Senior Night is scheduled for November 13.

Season ticket sales are now live and may be purchased at or at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center box office.

For more details, visit .

2026 Schedule

Preseason

  • August 28, 7 p.m.—Georgia Southern, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • August 29, 7 p.m.—Baylor, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • August 30, 5 p.m.—San Diego, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • September 3, 7 p.m.—Utah Tech, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • September 4, 7 p.m.—Loyola Marymount, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • September 6, 5 p.m.—UC San Diego, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • September 10, 7 p.m.—Central Arkansas, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • September 11, 7 p.m.—Central Arkansas, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • September 18, 3:30 p.m.—Texas A&M—Corpus Christi, at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • September 19, 1:30 p.m.—Iowa State, at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • September 20, 11:30 a.m.—UCLA, at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada

Mountain West season

  • September 25, 7 p.m.—New Mexico, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • September 26, 7 p.m.—New Mexico, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • October 2, 3 p.m.—Grand Canyon, at Phoenix, Arizona
  • October 3, 3 p.m.—Grand Canyon, at Phoenix, Arizona
  • October 9, 7 p.m.—San Jos茅 State, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • October 10, 7 p.m.—San Jos茅 State, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • October 16, 2:30 p.m.—Wyoming, at Laramie, Wyoming
  • October 17, 2:30 p.m.—Wyoming, at Laramie, Wyoming
  • October 23, 7 p.m.—UNLV, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • October 24, 7 p.m.—UNLV, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • October 30, 3 p.m.—UC Davis, at Davis, California
  • October 31, 3 p.m.—UC Davis, at Davis, California
  • November 5, 7 p.m.—Nevada, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • November 7, 7 p.m.—Nevada, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • November 12, 7 p.m.—Air Force, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • November 13, 7 p.m.—Air Force, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
  • November 18, 3 p.m.—UTEP, at El Paso, Texas
  • November 19, 3 p.m.—UTEP, at El Paso, Texas
  • November 24–25, TBA—Mountain West Women’s Volleyball Championship, at Las Vegas, Nevada
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Alejado named pre-season player of the year, 3 others honored /news/2026/07/15/alejado-pre-season-player-of-the-year/ Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:13:12 +0000 /news/?p=237406 Four 糖心视频 athletes were recognized, with quarterback Alejado selected as preseason player of the year.

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U H football players and Preseason All Mountain West graphic

The Mountain West Conference announced its 2026 preseason all-conference football team, with four University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa student-athletes earning recognition.

Quarterback Micah Alejado, wide receiver Pofele Ashlock, defensive back Elijah Palmer and linebacker Jamih Otis were all named to the preseason All-Mountain West team. Additionally, Alejado took home the league’s top individual honor as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Alejado, the 2025 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,106 yards and 24 touchdowns, while adding 105 rushing yards and one touchdown in his first season as a starter. He closed the year by throwing for 274 yards and three touchdowns in Hawaiʻi’s 35-31 Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl win.

Ashlock remained one of the Mountain West’s top receivers in 2025, recording 76 catches for 827 yards and eight touchdowns. Over three seasons, he has totaled 220 receptions for 2,288 yards and 23 touchdowns as the leader of 糖心视频‘s Run-and-Shoot offense.

Palmer has earned All-Mountain West honorable mention in each of the past two seasons. He recorded 10 pass breakups as a junior and has 121 career tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and five interceptions.

Otis finished second on the team with 60 tackles and two forced fumbles in 2025. A two-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week, he started 11 straight games last season before missing the final two contests, ending a streak of 36 consecutive appearances to begin his career.

The Warriors open the 2026 season on August 29 at Stanford and play their home opener at Clarence T.C. Ching Complex on September 5 vs. UNLV.

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Men and women鈥檚 tennis earn All-Academic team, individual honors /news/2026/07/14/tennis-earns-all-academic-honors/ Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:40:33 +0000 /news/?p=237366 糖心视频 M膩noa's tennis teams earned ITA All-Academic honors, with nine student-athletes recognized as ITA Scholar-Athletes.

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D 1 Women's tennis All-Academic Award winners

The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa women’s tennis team was named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team for the 11th consecutive season. In addition, four Rainbow Wahine earned ITA Scholar-Athlete honors: Allaire Berl, Emma Forgac, Makeilah Nepomuceno and Sophie Rachor.

The men’s tennis team also earned ITA All-Academic honors. Five Rainbow Warriors earned ITA All-Academic awards: Adriano Dzhenev, Timothy Li, Toa Maeda, Kent Mueller and Hikaru Takahashi.

To be named an ITA Scholar-Athlete one must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year, and be listed on the institutional eligibility form.

To be named an ITA All-Academic Team, programs must meet the following requirements: have a team grade point average of 3.2 or above, all student-athletes included should be listed on the institutional eligibility form, and all varsity letter winners should be factored into the cumulative team GPA for the current academic year.

Read more about women’s tennis at , and men鈥檚 tennis at .

D1 Men's Tennis All-Academic Award Winners

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糖心视频 President Hensel selected to College Football Playoff Board /news/2026/07/14/hensel-college-football-playoff-board/ Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:59:09 +0000 /news/?p=237342 President Wendy Hensel has been appointed to the College Football Playoff Board of Managers.

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Alejado preparing to throw the football

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel has been selected to represent the Mountain West Conference on the College Football Playoff (CFP) Board of Managers, one of the most influential leadership bodies in collegiate athletics.

The appointment places Hensel among a select group of university presidents and chancellors from across the nation who oversee the governance and long-term direction of the College Football Playoff. The CFP Board of Managers is composed of chief executive officers representing the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and the University of Notre Dame.

As the Mountain West’s representative, Hensel will help guide major decisions related to the College Football Playoff, including governance, strategic direction and other significant matters affecting the future of college football.

“This is an exciting opportunity, both personally and for the University of Hawaiʻi,” Hensel said. “College athletics is undergoing significant change, and it is important that institutions like 糖心视频 and conferences like the Mountain West have a strong voice in shaping that future. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues from across the country to ensure that student-athletes remain at the center of decision-making while helping strengthen the long-term success and sustainability of college football.”

The CFP Board of Managers serves as the governing body for the CFP and has exclusive authority over major organizational matters, including the appointment of officers, approval of budgets and oversight of the playoff’s strategic direction.

“The CFP is fortunate to add a leader of President Wendy Hensel’s caliber to our Board of Managers,” said Rich Clark, Executive Director of the CFP. “Her extensive experience leading major institutions and her unwavering commitment to higher education and student-athlete success will strengthen the Board as it continues to guide the future of college football. We are excited to welcome her and look forward to the thoughtful leadership and perspective she will bring to our organization.”

Expanded leadership presence

Wendy Hensel
President Hensel

The appointment comes as 糖心视频 continues to expand its leadership presence within the Mountain West Conference. Hensel recently joined the Mountain West Board of Directors, which is composed of the presidents and chancellors of member institutions, and was selected to serve on the Mountain West Board Executive Committee, a smaller leadership group that works closely with conference leadership on strategic priorities and governance issues.

Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said Hensel’s appointment reflects both her leadership abilities and the growing role of the conference in the national athletics landscape.

“President Hensel has quickly established herself as a thoughtful and engaged leader within the Mountain West,” Nevarez said. “Her experience, vision and commitment to student-athlete success make her an outstanding representative for our conference on the College Football Playoff Board of Managers. We are proud to have her helping shape the future of college athletics on behalf of the Mountain West.”

糖心视频 officially became a full member of the Mountain West Conference on July 1, 2026, after competing as a football-only member since 2012. Full membership consolidated most of 糖心视频‘s athletics programs within a single conference and strengthened the university’s long-term position in Division I athletics.

For Hensel, the appointment reflects a broader commitment to ensuring 糖心视频 has a seat at the table during a period of unprecedented transformation in intercollegiate athletics.

糖心视频 Athletics plays an important role in bringing our communities together, creating opportunities for student-athletes and elevating the visibility of our university,” Hensel said. “I am committed to supporting our athletics programs and ensuring Hawaiʻi is actively engaged in conversations that will shape the future of college sports for generations to come.”

糖心视频 M膩noa is Hawaiʻi only NCAA Division I athletics program and sponsors 21 varsity sports with approximately 500 student-athletes. The university’s football program has competed in the Mountain West Conference since 2012 and is entering a new era as part of the conference’s full membership beginning with the 2026–27 academic year.

The College Football Playoff Board of Managers serves as the governing body for the CFP and has exclusive authority over major organizational matters, including the appointment of officers, approval of budgets and oversight of the playoff’s strategic direction.

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Atlanta Braves selects 糖心视频 M膩noa athlete in MLB draft /news/2026/07/13/zeigler-namoa-drafted-by-atlanta-braves/ Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:52:04 +0000 /news/?p=237267 Ben Zeigler-Namoa was drafted in the 10th round.

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Athlete giving shaka

University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa utility player Ben Zeigler-Namoa has been selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 10th round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, taken with the 292nd overall pick.

Zeigler-Namoa becomes the 113th Rainbow Warrior all-time to be drafted by a Major League organization. He is also the seventh Hawaiʻi player to be picked during the tenure of Head Coach Rich Hill, continuing the program’s strong pipeline to the professional ranks.

A versatile left-handed hitter who played outfield and first base, Zeigler-Namoa was a model of consistency and durability. He was the only Rainbow Warrior to start all 50 games in 2026, earning Honorable Mention All-Big West awards. He finished the year with a .294 batting average and a .433 slugging percentage, racking up 57 hits, 33 runs scored, 10 doubles, a triple, and five home runs.

Read more at .

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糖心视频 Hilo student-athletes earn 172 Academic All-PacWest honors /news/2026/07/13/uh-hilo-academic-all-pacwest-honors/ Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:42:38 +0000 /news/?p=237295 糖心视频 Hilo's Academic All-PacWest honorees highlight the university's commitment to academic and athletic excellence.

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A total of 172 University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo student-athletes have been named to the 2025–26 Pacific West Conference Academic All-PacWest Team, recognizing their success in the classroom while competing in collegiate athletics.

Eight Vulcans finished the academic year with a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average. Juniors Brandon Wada (baseball) and Lauren Otsubo (softball) were joined by first-year student-athletes Harley Acosta (softball), Johan Bjorken (men’s golf), Jeydon Moises (baseball), Everett Roach (women’s basketball), Johanna Roggenkamp (women’s tennis) and Ella Smith (women’s soccer).

To qualify for Academic All-PacWest honors, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, complete at least two semesters at their institution and be eligible to compete during the regular season, including redshirt student-athletes.

The conference honored 2,700 student-athletes across its 13 member institutions, setting a new conference record with an average of 208 honorees per school.

For the complete list of 糖心视频 Hilo’s 2025–26 Academic All-PacWest honorees, visit the.

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8 糖心视频 swimming and diving athletes earn national academic honors /news/2026/07/06/8-uh-athletes-earn-national-honors/ Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:01:44 +0000 /news/?p=237022 Eight 糖心视频 M膩noa swimming and diving team members earned recognition on the CSCAA Scholar-America Team for the 2025鈥26 season.

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C S C A A 2025-26 honorees list

Eight members of the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa swimming and diving teams earned recognition on the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America鈥檚 (CSCAA) Scholar-America Team for the 2025–26 season.

Two Rainbow Wahine earned First Team honors, and five earned Second Team honors. One Rainbow Warrior earned Second Team honors.

Rainbow Wahine honorees:

  • Lovisa Gustavsson (First Team)
  • Holly Nelson (First Team)
  • Keira Chandler (Second Team)
  • Avery Coates (Second Team)
  • Macie Wheeler (Second Team)
  • Carlotta Ingernerf (Second Team)
  • Ruby Pickron (Second Team)

Rainbow Warrior honoree:

  • Oliver Wignall (Second Team)

To qualify for First-Team Scholar All-America, student-athletes must earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher and participate in their national championship. Second-team selections also must have a 3.5 GPA and meet specific time standards for the national championship, or qualify for the zone qualification meet.

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糖心视频 women鈥檚 swimming and diving earns national team academic honors /news/2026/07/02/womens-swimming-diving-national-team-academic-honors/ Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:41:32 +0000 /news/?p=236965 The Rainbow Wahine earned recognition after recording a 3.66 team GPA during the spring 2026 semester.

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Rainbow Wahine Swimming team
糖心视频 Manoa women鈥檚 swimming and diving team

The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa women’s swimming and diving team was recognized as a Spring 2026 Scholar All-America Team by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America.

The Rainbow Wahine were one of 171 NCAA Division I teams to be recognized for its outstanding academic achievement during the spring semester. As a team, 糖心视频 M膩noa recorded a 3.66 GPA for spring 2026. The ‘Bows were one of 92 women’s DI teams to post a team GPA over 3.60. Teams were required to achieve a team GPA of 3.00 or higher to earn Scholar All-America recognition.

Collectively, 16,680 student-athletes from 714 teams representing 418 institutions were recognized for their outstanding academic achievement.

Read more at .

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Serving success: Ryan Kalei Tsuji’s journey from 糖心视频 to entrepreneurship /news/2026/07/01/ryan-kalei-tsuji-uh-journey/ Thu, 02 Jul 2026 01:11:15 +0000 /news/?p=236929 An award-winning graduate shares his path from broadcaster to business owner.

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Whether you recognize his voice from Spectrum Sports broadcasts, his face from local television newscasts, or his name from the award-winning production company RKT Media, Ryan Kalei Tsuji seems to be everywhere. But before he was an Emmy-winning CEO, a protocol officer for the governor, or the owner of a booming cocktail bar, Tsuji鈥檚 dynamic journey began at the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa.

Two news reporters
Tsuji on Hawaiʻi News Now

Growing up as a sports fan in Hilo, Tsuji wanted to be a TV reporter and always dreamed of attending 糖心视频. Driven by this passion, he earned bachelor鈥檚 degrees in communications and political science in 2007, followed by a master鈥檚 degree in public administration in 2009. During his time at 糖心视频 M膩noa, he also worked his way up from a manager to an assistant coach for the nationally ranked Rainbow Wahine volleyball team under legendary coach Dave Shoji.

“I was like Van Wilder, I was at 糖心视频 for eight years getting all these different degrees because 糖心视频 was paying for it,” said Tsuji. “It was an opportunity for me to just really be a part of the University of Hawaiʻi system and I just loved my experience and time there.”

Three people smiling at a volleyball game
Howard Dashefsky (BA ’84, 糖心视频 M膩noa), Lisa Strand (BA ’88, 糖心视频 M膩noa), and Tsuji covering 糖心视频 volleyball

Tsuji parlayed his education into a multi-faceted career. He launched the video production company RKT Media in 2016, co-hosts the interactive program Spotlight Now, and has been recognized with multiple honors, including being named to Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40. In 2022, he opened The Lei Stand, a bar and lounge, in Chinatown. Now located in Waik墨k墨, The Lei Stand will be expanding to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Celebrating alumni entrepreneurship

Person standing in front of Lei Stand sign
Lei Stand Waikiki

The Lei Stand is one of nearly 40 vendors confirmed for the 5th Annual 糖心视频 Alumni Makers鈥 Market on Wednesday, July 29, at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The event is dedicated to showcasing food, drinks and products from alumni-led businesses. .

“It鈥檚 a great way to reconnect with former alumni, but also an opportunity to just really be proud of where we came from and all the talent that stayed here in Hawaiʻi and is giving back to the community,” Tsuji said.

Presented by the 糖心视频 Office of Alumni Relations in partnership with the 糖心视频 Alumni Association, a portion of the proceeds will go toward addressing current 糖心视频 student needs statewide. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, email .

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糖心视频 M膩noa officially joins Mountain West as full member /news/2026/07/01/uh-joins-mountain-west-as-full-member/ Wed, 01 Jul 2026 23:44:19 +0000 /news/?p=236918 Beach volleyball, men鈥檚 volleyball, water polo and sailing will remain with their original affiliations.

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Aerial view of U H Manoa campus

The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa is officially a full member of the Mountain West Conference, effective July 1, 2026.

糖心视频 M膩noa joins new full members UC Davis and UTEP creating a 10-team conference for the 2026–27 season.

From July 2012 to June 2026, 糖心视频 M膩noa competed in the Mountain West in football only, while participating in the Big West Conference for most of its other men’s and women’s sports. Now, 糖心视频 M膩noa will compete in 15 sports in the Mountain West.

糖心视频 M膩noa will continue to compete in the Big West as an affiliate member in beach volleyball, men鈥檚 volleyball, and women鈥檚 water polo. Co-ed and women’s sailing teams will maintain their affiliation with the Pacific Coast Collegiate Sailing Conference. These sports are not available in the Mountain West.

糖心视频 M膩noa is the only Division I athletics program in the state of Hawaiʻi, featuring approximately 500 student-athletes across 21 teams. The school became an NCAA member in 1946 and joined its first major intercollegiate conference in 1979. Over its history, 糖心视频 M膩noa has captured seven team national championships and 11 individual national titles.

Read more at .

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77 糖心视频 M膩noa student athletes named to Academic All-Big West list /news/2026/06/30/uh-athletes-named-academic-all-big-west/ Tue, 30 Jun 2026 21:35:17 +0000 /news/?p=236781 Honorees from 10 different teams were named to the list.

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Manoa Campus

A total of 77 University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa student-athletes earned Academic All-Big West honors during the 2026 spring season. The sports included are baseball, beach volleyball, men’s golf, women’s golf, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, women’s track and field, men’s volleyball and women’s water polo.

The track and field team led all 糖心视频 M膩noa teams with 18 honorees, followed by softball (12), water polo (12) and baseball (10).

To be quality, student athletes must maintain a 3.0 GPA, complete one full year at the member institution and compete in at least 50% of their team’s contests (with some exceptions based on sport).

To see the full list of athletes, visit .

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糖心视频 M膩noa Athletics adds new system to simplify student-athlete payments /news/2026/06/29/manoa-athletics-new-nil-system/ Tue, 30 Jun 2026 01:24:42 +0000 /news/?p=236730 New platform helps 糖心视频 student-athletes receive NIL and revenue-sharing payments and manage their finances more easily.

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糖心视频 volleyball players
糖心视频 M膩noa volleyball

The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa Athletics Department is introducing a new system that will make it easier for student-athletes to receive Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) payments and future revenue-sharing payments while helping coaches and administrators manage scholarships, budgets and team planning.

糖心视频 Athletics has partnered with Teamworks to add two new tools鈥擳eamworks General Manager and Teamworks Wallet鈥攖o its existing Teamworks Influencer platform. Together, the system allows the department to manage athlete compensation in one place, replacing multiple spreadsheets and payment systems with a single, streamlined platform.

The new Teamworks Wallet gives student-athletes a secure digital account where they can receive payments directly, access their money quickly and use it through a physical debit card or digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. The platform also automatically sets aside a portion of NIL earnings to help student-athletes prepare for taxes.

“Our mission has always been to provide our student-athletes with the premier resources necessary to thrive both on and off the field,” said Hunter Niswander, director of development and NIL for 糖心视频 Athletics. “By adopting the Teamworks Wallet and GM infrastructure alongside Influencer, Hawaiʻi is putting institutional power directly into our student-athletes’ hands.”

For coaches and administrators, the Teamworks General Manager platform provides a centralized system to plan scholarships, NIL opportunities and future revenue-sharing payments. The tool helps the department make informed decisions about recruiting, roster management and budgeting as college athletics continues to evolve.

The partnership comes as colleges across the country prepare for expanded opportunities for student-athletes to receive compensation under the changing landscape of college athletics.

Read more at

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糖心视频 Hilo鈥檚 Koki Hamada named PacWest Men鈥檚 Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year /news/2026/06/25/hamada-pacwest-scholar-athlete-of-the-year/ Thu, 25 Jun 2026 23:29:07 +0000 /news/?p=236645 Hamada is 糖心视频 Hilo's first PacWest Scholar-Athlete of the Year since 2021鈥22.

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University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo standout Koki Hamada has been named the Pacific West Conference Men’s Soccer Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, recognizing his excellence in the classroom and on the field.

Hamada, a Tokyo native, graduated this spring with a bachelor of business administration and a 3.72 cumulative GPA after a four-year career with the Vulcans.

Last season, Hamada helped lead 糖心视频 Hilo to its first NCAA postseason appearance and victory in program history. He was named PacWest Defender of the Year, earned All-PacWest First Team and All-West Region honors, and received Academic All-America recognition.

Hamada shared the conference honor with Menlo College’s Martin Fiala and is 糖心视频 Hilo’s first PacWest Scholar-Athlete of the Year since 2021鈥22.

For more information, visit the .

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