Update July 7, 2021: UH Hilo’s Tokyodachi character won its Sweet 16 matchup against Fresno State and plays the University of Houston (defeated UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹) in the Elite 8 today. To vote, log on to and click on its profile photo in the upper left. This will open Tokyodachi¡¯s Instagram stories where you can select one of two options on a poll at the bottom of each post. To skip through the Instagram stories, tap either side of the post. The polls for the Elite 8 opened at approximately 4 a.m. HST on July 7 and will remain open for 24 hours.
Original story:
Cast your votes now and help ¡¯s and ¡¯s Tokyodachi characters win in the Sweet 16 and advance into the Elite 8 of the !
UH Hilo plays Fresno State, and UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ is up against the University of Houston in a rematch of the 2020 Â鶹´«Ã½ Bowl. To vote, log on to and click on its profile photo in the upper left. This will open Tokyodachi¡¯s Instagram stories where you can select one of two options on a poll at the bottom of each post. To skip through the Instagram stories, tap either side of the post. The polls for the Sweet 16 opened at approximately 4 a.m. HST and will remain open for 24 hours.
The Tokyodachi contest began on June 15 with 256 teams. The light-hearted competition is an opportunity to spread the word about UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯s and UH Hilo¡¯s characters, and stay engaged on social media with fellow ‘Bows and Vulcans supporters. The winning campus will earn its own custom Tokyodachi merchandise line. Zephyr designed and created both characters with input from UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯s and UH Hilo¡¯s athletic departments.
This is UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯s second appearance in the tournament after losing in the quarterfinals in 2020, while UH Hilo is appearing in the Tokyodachi tournament for the first time.
Road to the Sweet 16
UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ advanced into the final 16 after defeating Southern Oregon (round 1), Indiana State (round 2), Santa Barbara City College (round 3) and Alabama (round 4). UH Hilo¡¯s journey into the Sweet 16 included wins over Normandale Community College (round 1), Texas State (round 2), USC (round 3) and Arizona (round 4).
Possible Elite 8 matchup
If UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ and UH Hilo both win their Sweet 16 matches, they will face each other on Wednesday, July 7. Teams already into the quarterfinals (Elite 8) are UC San Diego (knocked off defending champs UC Irvine in the round of 16), Washington, Jacksonville and Grand Canyon.
- Related UH News story: Vote for UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹, UH Hilo in 2021 mascot mania challenge!, June 15, 2021