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 .

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.

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.

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

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.

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.”

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 .

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

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 .

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 .

The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa men’s basketball team has earned the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Academic Excellence Award for the third consecutive year, recognizing the program’s success in the classroom.

The Rainbow Warriors posted a combined 3.20 team GPA during the 2025鈥�26 academic year, surpassing the 3.0 GPA required to receive the annual honor.

A school-record seven student-athletes also earned NABC Honors Court recognition: Dre Bullock, Tanner Cuff, Isaac Finlinson, Isaac Johnson, Isaiah Kerr, Gytis Nemeikša and Harry Rouhliadeff. Kerr led the group with a 3.90 GPA, while Nemeikša and Rouhliadeff received the honor for the second straight year.

The program also earned a perfect single-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 1,000 for the fourth time under head coach Eran Ganot. 糖心视频 recorded a multi-year APR of 988, exceeding the NCAA postseason benchmark and improving by 16 points from the previous year.

For more information, visit the .

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.

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.

.

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 .

Six University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa women’s student-athletes were named to the 2025–26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, recognizing their achievements in both academics and athletics.

The honorees are:

• Rose Forshaw
• Isabella Kneeshaw
• Catherine Touchette
• Lilian Turban
• Samaria Vital
• Tara Wyllie

This marks the fourth consecutive year that 糖心视频 M膩noa has had the maximum number of student-athletes recognized on the Academic All-District Team.

Among the recipients, Turban earned the honor for the fourth time in her career, while Wyllie received her third selection. Forshaw and Touchette each earned the recognition for the second time, and Kneeshaw and Vital were first-time honorees.

The six student-athletes helped lead the Rainbow Wahine to another successful season, highlighted by conference championships, school records and NCAA postseason appearances. Turban earned 糖心视频 M膩noa鈥檚 2026 Jack Bonham Award, Vital and Wyllie advanced to the NCAA first round, and Kneeshaw broke her own program record in the indoor 400 meters.

The CSC Academic All-District program honors student-athletes who excel both in competition and in the classroom. Honorees advance to the national Academic All-America ballot.

Guided by new leadership and competing under a unifying theme, the produced a historic 2025–26 season highlighted by championship moments, including a statewide celebration of a national title.

“Our Team, Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Team” was introduced shortly after Matt Elliott鈥檚 appointment as athletics director in June 2025, and 糖心视频 teams delivered moments that resonated throughout the state over the course of the sports calendar.

A Christmas Eve miracle to capture the Hawaiʻi Bowl title highlighted the fall season and the men鈥檚 basketball team claimed the program鈥檚 first Big West Championship title and accompanying NCAA Tournament appearance in a decade in March 2026. 糖心视频 dominated in the pool with the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 swimming and diving teams sweeping the Big West championships while the Rainbow Wahine water polo team went undefeated in conference play for a third straight year.

The Rainbow Warrior volleyball team then asserted its claim to dynastic status by capturing the program鈥檚 third national championship within the last six years. The title run included the program鈥檚 first NCAA Tournament match on its home court at a sold-out Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center and concluded with rousing victories over Long Beach State and UC Irvine.

Along the way from the soccer team鈥檚 opener in mid-August through the NCAA Track and Field First Round in late May, 糖心视频 student-athletes continued to rack up national and conference honors, including Kansei Matsuzawa becoming the first consensus All-American in the football program鈥檚 109 years of competition.

The department also bid aloha to three longtime coaches with Robyn Ah Mow (women鈥檚 volleyball), Laura Beeman (women鈥檚 basketball) and Andy Johnson (sailing) stepping away from their roles. The 2025–26 campaign also marked the farewell season to the Big West for 14 teams before joining the 糖心视频 football team in the Mountain West effective July 1.

.

Four University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo golfers have been named to the 2025–26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, recognizing their success in the classroom and on the course.

The honorees are:

• Jacob Torres (ʻAiea)—senior, chemistry鈥揾ealth sciences
• Kailee McKee (Kapolei)—sophomore, communication
• Elle Otani (Hilo)—senior, accounting and business administration
• Kiersten Saludares (Hilo)—senior, business administration

The CSC Academic All-District program recognizes student-athletes for combined excellence in academics and athletics. Honorees advance to the national Academic All-America ballot.

For more information, visit the .

Ten University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa student-athletes have been named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic At-Large All-District Team, honoring their achievements in the classroom and in competition.

The CSC Academic At-Large All-District Team recognizes student-athletes who maintain at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA while serving as starters or key contributors for their teams.

The 2026 糖心视频 honorees are:

• Gabrielle Doyle, women’s water polo
• Quintin Greenidge, men’s volleyball
• Julia Lawrenz, women’s beach volleyball
• Daisy Logtens, women’s water polo
• Raha Peiravani, women’s water polo
• Roni Perlman, women’s water polo
• Sydney Miller, women’s beach volleyball
• Nathan Szpakowicz, men’s golf
• Dane Watanabe, men’s golf
• James Whitworth, men’s golf

Several of the student-athletes also earned conference and national recognition during the 2026 season, including All-America honors, All-Big West selections and NCAA championship appearances.

The CSC Academic All-District program recognizes student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically and advances eligible honorees to consideration for Academic All-America honors.

For more information, visit the

Two University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo baseball student-athletes have been named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, recognizing their combined success in academics and athletics.

Junior communication majors Noah Darnell of Phoenix, Arizona, and Hunter Gatti of Riverton, Utah, earned the honor for the 2026 season.

The CSC Academic All-District program recognizes student-athletes who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher while making significant contributions to their team’s success during the season.

Academic All-District honorees advance to the national CSC Academic All-America ballot, where student-athletes are considered for additional recognition based on their academic and athletic achievements.

For more information, visit the .

Five prominent Hawaiʻi donors and organizations are making a transformative $5-million commitment to the via the to support name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for student-athletes and help ensure the long-term success and national relevance of 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics.

The commitment will provide $1 million annually over the next five years for NIL support, helping 糖心视频 Mānoa retain homegrown talent, recruit high-level student-athletes and provide equitable, Title IX-compliant opportunities across sports in an increasingly competitive Division I athletics environment. It will also strengthen a program that generates statewide pride, visibility and meaningful economic impact for Hawaiʻi.

The five contributors, each committing $200,000 annually for five years, are Bank of Hawaiʻi, First Hawaiian Bank, Matson, and longtime 糖心视频 supporters and community leaders Jack Tsui and Walter Dods.

“This extraordinary commitment reflects something that has always made Hawaiʻi special: people who deeply believe in 糖心视频 and understand the important role athletics plays in bringing our community together,” said 糖心视频 Mānoa Director of Athletics Matt Elliott. “College athletics has changed, and our objective is to adapt in a way that reflects the values of this university and our state. Our goal is to build a stable, student-centered foundation that supports academic success, competitive excellence and responsible NIL opportunities while ensuring 糖心视频 Mānoa remains ‘Our Team, Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Team.’”

Changing college athletics landscape

As NIL compensation has become a standard component of Division I athletics nationwide, universities across the country—including every member of the Mountain West Conference, which 糖心视频 Mānoa will officially join as a full member on July 1—have committed significant resources to support student-athletes. University leaders estimate 糖心视频 Mānoa needs approximately $5 million annually in NIL support to remain competitive in the Mountain West and on the national stage.

糖心视频 Athletics has united Hawaiʻi communities during moments of triumph in just the last year—from the men鈥檚 volleyball national championship and men鈥檚 basketball鈥檚 return to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big West title, to football鈥檚 thrilling Hawaiʻi Bowl victory over Cal before a sold-out crowd at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex and a national television audience that peaked at 3 million viewers.

University leaders say those moments of shared pride underscore the broader value athletics brings to Hawaiʻi: creating connection, visibility and economic impact beyond campus. A 2015 study by the 糖心视频 Mānoa Shidler College of Business, based on a $35 million athletics budget at the time, found 糖心视频 Athletics generated $66 million in direct spending, produced $128 million in statewide business sales, generated approximately $7 million in tax revenue and supported more than 860 jobs across Hawaiʻi. An updated economic impact study evaluating the department鈥檚 current contribution to the state economy is nearing completion and expected by the end of August.

Beyond its statewide impact, athletics creates meaningful educational opportunities, with nearly 500 student-athletes participating in 糖心视频 Mānoa programs and more than 170 degrees earned by student-athletes last year.

Hawaiʻi leaders unite behind 糖心视频 Athletics

The donors said they recognize college athletics has fundamentally changed and believe Hawaiʻi must adapt to ensure local student-athletes can continue representing their home state at the highest levels. Several said broader support—from the private sector, community and eventually the state—will be needed to ensure 糖心视频 remains competitive nationally.

Longtime 糖心视频 Athletics partner Jim Polk, president and chief executive officer of Bank of Hawaiʻi, said the new commitment builds on the bank鈥檚 longstanding support for 糖心视频 student-athletes and the broader university community.

“Bank of Hawaiʻi has proudly supported 糖心视频 Athletics for many years because we believe in the important role it plays in developing student leaders and bringing our communities together,” Polk said. “This commitment builds on that longstanding partnership and helps ensure 糖心视频 student-athletes have the resources to succeed in a changing collegiate athletics environment. 糖心视频 student-athletes represent the best of Hawaiʻi, and supporting them strengthens opportunities for young people while fostering pride across our state.”

Bob Harrison, chairman, president and chief executive officer of First Hawaiian Bank, said the university鈥檚 athletics program represents Hawaiʻi in ways that extend far beyond wins and losses.

“First Hawaiian Bank has long supported the University of Hawaiʻi because of the important role it plays in developing future leaders and strengthening our communities,” Harrison said. “Athletics is an important part of the university experience, creating opportunities for student-athletes while helping foster pride, engagement and visibility for the university. We are proud to support 糖心视频 and invest in the success of its student-athletes, helping create opportunities for them to grow as leaders while representing our university and our state.”

Matt Cox, chairman and CEO of Matson, said creating a competitive NIL program at 糖心视频 is needed to help keep local student athletes in Hawaiʻi.

“University of Hawaiʻi is a pillar of our community, and it鈥檚 critical that it remains competitive at the highest levels,” Cox said. “Today, that requires establishing a strong NIL foundation that will help 糖心视频 attract and retain top local talent, and we need to start now.”

Jack Tsui, longtime 糖心视频 supporter and chair of the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation and former First Hawaiian Bank president said that the private sector has an important role to play in assisting the 糖心视频 athletics department to continue to be competitive.

“My wife Frances and I are honored to participate in the fundraising project for NIL,” said Tsui. “We hope that our commitment will encourage other donors, large and small, 糖心视频 supporters, business and community leaders to stand up and be counted so that 糖心视频 can continue to be competitive and thrive.”

Walter Dods, former chief executive officer of First Hawaiian Bank and one of the university鈥檚 most prolific philanthropic supporters, said the changing landscape of college athletics requires Hawaiʻi to act.

“People can certainly have different opinions about whether college athletes should be compensated, but the reality is already here,” Dods said. “Every school we compete against is investing in NIL, and if we want Hawaiʻi teams to remain competitive and our student-athletes to stay home, then we—the state, the private sector and the broader community—need to step up in some way. We understand the pressures on the Legislature and that everyone is asking for support. That is part of why the five of us decided to act now and help create a foundation others can build on.”

Building a foundation for the future

Without a stable NIL foundation, 糖心视频 leaders say the university risks losing local talent, widening recruiting gaps and falling behind in a rapidly evolving Division I athletics landscape.

糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel said the $5-million commitment provides an important foundation for 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics, while emphasizing that broader support will ultimately be needed to sustain long-term success.

“We are deeply grateful to Bank of Hawaiʻi, First Hawaiian Bank, Matson, Jack Tsui and Walter Dods for stepping forward with this extraordinary commitment to our student-athletes and the future of 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics,” Hensel said. “College athletics has fundamentally changed, and this investment helps ensure 糖心视频 can continue to retain Hawaiʻi student-athletes and remain competitive while creating benefits that extend well beyond campus—from student success and statewide pride to the significant economic impact for our state.”

Elliott said the commitment represents a strong start, but emphasized continued investment will be critical to building long-term success.

“I genuinely believe we are only scratching the surface of what 糖心视频 Athletics can become,” Elliott said. “If we build this foundation the right way—with support from philanthropy, corporate partners and ultimately the state—we can retain local student-athletes, compete at a high level and continue creating opportunities for student-athletes who want to stay home, earn their degrees and represent Hawaiʻi the right way.”

Elliott added that 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics plans to launch a new giving society later this year to honor the individuals and organizations helping strengthen opportunities for student-athletes and support the department鈥檚 long-term future.

“The five leadership commitments announced today serve as an inspiring foundation for the giving society and underscore the momentum building for Our Team, Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Team.”

Joshua Walker was announced as the fourth head coach of the on June 5 by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Athletics Director Matt Elliott. Walker, an All-American as a student-athlete and national championship-winning assistant coach for the Rainbow Warrior volleyball team, returns to his alma mater to take the helm of the women’s program.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Joshua Walker back to the University of Hawaiʻi to lead our Rainbow Wahine volleyball program,” said Elliott. “Joshua embodies the very best of Hawaiʻi volleyball tradition and knows firsthand what it takes to win at the highest level here. His deep roots in our community, combined with his proven championship pedigree as an athlete and coach, and passion for his alma mater, make him the perfect person to lead this program. This is a homecoming, and we couldn鈥檛 be more excited that Joshua, Tehane, and their beautiful ʻohana are coming back to the islands.”

Walker comes back to 糖心视频 following a successful tenure at Baylor, where he joined the staff as an assistant coach in spring 2022 before being promoted to associate head coach in February 2023.

“I feel extremely blessed and thankful for this opportunity,” said Walker. “I鈥檇 like to thank Matt for all his diligence in making this happen, and (糖心视频 President) Wendy Hensel for her support. I’d also like to thank my wife, the rest of my family, and friends who have helped me be ready for this opportunity. Hawaiʻi has been home for a while, but I love that it gets to be our workplace again. I’m excited to get going and will work to make this program truly one of a kind.”

During his time at Baylor, Walker played an integral role in steering the Bears to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, extending their streak to 10 consecutive tournaments by the 2025 season. In addition to his collegiate coaching success, Walker has gained valuable international experience serving as an assistant coach for USA Volleyball’s women’s team.

Walker is best known to Hawaiʻi fans for his extensive and decorated history with the Rainbow Warrior men’s volleyball program in which he was both an All-American player and national assistant coach of the year selection.

As a student-athlete from 2006 to 2011, Walker was an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American and a two-time All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation standout. He was a consistent leader on the court, finishing his four-year career with 1,428 kills (3.91 kills per set), which ranks fifth in program history. He graduated from 糖心视频 with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2011.

Following an impressive professional playing career with Team USA and overseas in the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Denmark, and Finland—where he earned MVP and All-Star honors—Walker returned to 糖心视频 Mānoa in 2016 to begin his collegiate coaching career under head coach Charlie Wade.

During his seven seasons as an assistant coach for the 糖心视频 Mānoa men’s program, Walker helped transform the team into a national powerhouse. He accumulated a stellar 149-36 record on staff and helped guide the Warriors to back-to-back NCAA national championships in 2021 and 2022. His coaching prowess was recognized nationally in 2019 when he became the first 糖心视频 assistant to be named the AVCA Assistant Coach of the Year.

.

The announced that it has selected Hawaii News Now (HNN) as its official broadcast partner. The four-year agreement, which begins July 1, 2026, marks a major shift in how fans across the islands will access 糖心视频 Mānoa sports, moving the primary home for local broadcasts from a subscription-based cable model to free, statewide television distribution and expanding how and where fans can watch 糖心视频 Mānoa sports.

The partnership returns 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics to its original broadcast home, K5, which served as the “Home Team” for 糖心视频 Mānoa sports for nearly two decades beginning in 1994, will once again serve as the primary home for live games, original programming, and year-round coverage of the 鈥楤ows. The expanded distribution of K5 will make 糖心视频 Mānoa sports more accessible than ever to fans across the islands.

K5 broadcasts will also be available nationally through鈥痶he new Mountain West app, significantly expanding access to Rainbow Warrior and Rainbow Wahine athletics beyond Hawaiʻi. More information on how to subscribe to this service will be forthcoming. In addition to HNN鈥檚 110-game broadcast schedule, dozens of additional 糖心视频 Mānoa events will be available through the app via productions led by 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics. HNN and 糖心视频 will also explore opportunities to showcase select campus productions across HNN stations.

By leveraging HNN鈥檚 broad statewide reach across K5, KGMB (CBS) and KHNL (NBC/Telemundo), 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics will significantly expand access to its programs across Hawaiʻi, nearly doubling the number of television households able to watch local broadcasts of the 鈥楤ows. Beyond the islands, Gray Media’s (HNN鈥檚 parent company) national footprint will create new opportunities to showcase 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics through special programming distributed to audiences across the country.

“This partnership is about maximizing exposure for our programs and ensuring every fan in Hawaiʻi and beyond can watch our games,” said 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics Director Matt Elliott. “Over-the-air broadcast television is the ideal platform for the ‘Our Team, Hawaiʻi‘s Team’ theme and will make it easier than ever for our community to connect with our student-athletes. This level of reach is vital for the growth of our brand and our future success.”

As the official broadcast partner of 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics, HNN has committed to broadcasting a minimum of 110 home sporting events per year, including all available football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s volleyball and women’s volleyball games, plus broadcasts of baseball, softball and women’s soccer.

The agreement represents an estimated annual partnership value of approximately $7.5 million, reflecting a model designed to create broader long-term value for 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics rather than a traditional rights-fee model. The partnership includes expanded statewide access, significantly more televised events, year-round storytelling and promotion, student development opportunities, initiatives that support NIL community value for student-athletes, and shared revenue opportunities tied to campus productions and the Warrior FAST Channel.

For the entire story, visit the .

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa鈥檚 “Our Team, Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Team” trophy tour brought the NCAA Men鈥檚 Volleyball National Championship trophy to 糖心视频 campuses and community locations across Oʻahu following the Rainbow Warriors鈥� national title victory earlier this month.

The tour began at 糖心视频 Mānoa on May 20 with stops at Bachman Hall and Hawaiʻi Hall, and on May 22 at the 糖心视频 Mānoa Bookstore, giving students, faculty and staff opportunities to take photos with the trophy and celebrate the program鈥檚 third NCAA championship.

“It was really cool,” said Colleen Licudine, a 糖心视频 Mānoa employee and Rainbow Warrior volleyball fan who saw the trophy at Bachman Hall. “A lot of 糖心视频 pride. My dad went to school here too, and so basically my whole life I鈥檝e been watching games from back when even Dave Shoji was coach. Seeing the men鈥檚 team rise up and be really successful in their program too, it鈥檚 been really, really nice.”

The trophy later visited Leeward Community College and 糖心视频 West Oʻahu on May 27, and Windward CC, Kapiʻolani CC and Honolulu CC on May 28, as part of a systemwide effort to thank the 糖心视频 community for its support throughout the volleyball season.

“It was so cool,” said Shanelle Bartlett, Kapiʻolani CC student and 糖心视频 fan. “The trophy is a symbol of how much effort these boys have put in to bring a championship back to our community and to the Hawaiian Islands and I feel like people underestimate us because of where we鈥檙e from. But this is a symbol showing how we are really powerful even from a small community like this.鈥�

“Hoʻomaikaʻi iā ʻoukou no ko kākou lanakila ʻana! (Congratulations on your win!),” said Windward CC Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg. “We’re so proud of the 鈥楤ows and their win for the NCAA championship. Congratulations!”

One of the attendees who made a stop at Kapiʻolani CC was former 糖心视频 men鈥檚 volleyball player from the 1970s Dalwyn Wong.

“This is great. It鈥檚 really good to see,” Wong said. “The program has come a long way. I saw the last championship trophy and the games a few years ago. To see it again this year, oh man, a pretty good feeling. I鈥檓 proud of the program and proud of all the players and coaches.”

Other stops throughout the week included Honolulu Hale, Hawaiʻi State Capitol, Hawaiian Airlines, Skyline, local businesses, corporate partners and community events across Oʻahu. Additional events across the state are being planned, including other 糖心视频 campuses.

“It really is gratifying to see how much joy and pride people take into, not only men’s volleyball but all the accomplishments in the athletic department,” said Charlie Wade, 糖心视频 Mānoa men鈥檚 volleyball head coach. “Getting a chance to share this beautiful piece of art that symbolizes something really significant accomplishment, it鈥檚 pretty cool.”

The Rainbow Warrior men鈥檚 volleyball team captured the NCAA Men鈥檚 National Collegiate Volleyball Championship on May 11 after defeating UC Irvine in four sets. The title marked the program鈥檚 third national championship and its first since back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.

The trophy tour was organized by the 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics Department as a way to share the championship celebration with fans, students, faculty, staff and community supporters throughout Hawaiʻi.

“Our team, Hawaiʻi‘s team, isn’t a slogan. It’s what we’ve really bought into and we want people to know that this championship is for them too,” said Eric Mathews, 糖心视频 Mānoa athletics director of marketing and fan experience. “This isn’t just something at Mānoa. This isn’t just something for the team. This is the entire community. This is for the entire state. It’s for the entire 糖心视频 System that we have.”

Five members of the earned recognition for excellence both on the field and in the classroom, earning 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors.

Junior shortstop Milan Ah Yat, sophomore pitcher Taryn Irimata, junior infielder Jamie McGaughey, senior infielder Carys Murakami and senior pitcher Hannah Pitts were all recognized for combining strong academic achievement with standout athletic performances during the 2026 season. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average while also meeting competition requirements.

The group helped lead the Rainbow Wahine to a successful season that included multiple all-conference and regional honors. Irimata was named Big West Pitcher of the Year after posting one of the league’s top pitching performances, while McGaughey paced the team offensively and earned all-region recognition. Ah Yat, Murakami and Pitts also played key leadership roles throughout the season.

Beyond athletics and academics, the student-athletes were also active in community service efforts across Hawaiʻi and their hometowns. Their volunteer work included food distribution, environmental cleanups, youth sports coaching and support for local families and kūpuna.

McGaughey was also selected as a CSC Academic All-America finalist, advancing to the national ballot.

.