University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa pitcher Hekili Robello was named to the National Collegiate Pitcher of the Year watch list.

Robello has emerged as one of the top pitchers in the country during the first month of the season. He leads the Big West with a 1.14 ERA and holds a 3-0 record across four starts. In 23.2 innings, he has struck out 27 batters while issuing just three walks, limiting opponents to a .228 batting average.

Robello also ranks second in the Big West and 36th nationally with a 9.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He is second in the conference in both walks allowed per nine innings (1.14) and total wins.

Robello is one of six Big West pitchers named to the watch list.

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University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa baseball player Isaiah Magdaleno earned his first career Big West Pitcher of the Week award following a dominant performance in the series opener against Ball State on February 26.

Magdaleno had the best start of his career against the Cardinals, setting a personal record with 12 strikeouts over 8.1 innings pitched. Magdaleno retired 17 batters in a row from the third through ninth innings, striking out seven in an eight batter stretch at one point during that run.

This outing set the tone for an incredible weekend for the Rainbow Warrior pitching staff, as the ‘Bows pitchers allowed just one earned run over 36.0 innings for a 0.25 ERA while striking out 46 batters and walking just seven.

Magdaleno ranks 22nd nationally and is tied for first in the Big West with 25 total strikeouts.

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The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa baseball team celebrated legendary head coach following a 4–2 win over Wichita State on February 20.

A sold-out Les Murakami Stadium saw the man who built the program from nothing into a national powerhouse take his place among college baseball’s all-time greats.

The winningest coach in school history and the namesake for the home of Rainbow Warrior baseball, Les Murakami Stadium, he built the program up from nothing into a national powerhouse over his 30-year coaching career that he finished with a record of 1,079-570-4. He took the program to 10 NCAA Regionals and won six Western Athletic Conference titles. He led the ‘Bows to their only College World Series appearance in 1980, in which they came one win shy of a national title.

More than 50 of Murakami’s former players, assistant coaches and staff members attended his induction into the College Baseball Hall Of Fame. Derek Tatsuno, a 2007 Hall Of Fame inductee, and Gene Stephenson, former Wichita State coach and long-time rival and friend of Murakami, welcomed the coach into the Hall Of Fame at the end of the pregame program.

Visit the for a full video of the pregame ceremony honoring Murakami.

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After being selected in the 19th round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, Elijah Ickes faced a choice many young baseball players only dream about—sign a professional contract or bet on himself in college. The former Kamehameha Schools standout chose to stay home and continue his development with the team.

Now a draft-eligible junior, Ickes is projected to take over as the starting shortstop in 2026 and has emerged as one of the state’s top professional prospects. He said family played a major role in his decision, valuing the opportunity to represent �鶹��ý and compete in front of loved ones at Les Murakami Stadium.

Drafted while playing summer ball in Canada, Ickes described the moment as “awesome, hectic and relieving,” but ultimately trusted the Rainbow Warrior coaching staff to help him grow. He said college baseball has provided greater exposure and development than he would have received out of high school.

“In the end, you just have to trust yourself, believe in yourself,” Ickes said. “For me, it was the coaching staff here — they had the tools and the experience that helped me get so much better. These past years, they’ve done so much for me, and I feel like I made that right choice of coming to college and experiencing it all.”

A former fan in the stands, Ickes now embraces a leadership role in the clubhouse, mentoring younger teammates in the era of NIL and the transfer portal.

As he enters a pivotal junior season, Ickes is focused on winning games and enjoying his time in a �鶹��ý uniform, knowing that wherever baseball takes him next, he will continue to represent the Islands.

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University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year preseason watch list, an award presented annually to the nation’s top relief pitcher.

A first-team All-Big West selection in 2025 and a preseason all-conference pick heading into 2026, Magdaleno emerged as one of college baseball’s most effective relievers last season. He finished fifth nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio, while also ranking among the top 30 in ERA (2.70), saves and walks allowed per nine innings.

Magdaleno appeared in 24 games, all in relief, posting a 4-1 record with nine saves. He struck out 77 batters against just 11 walks over 60 innings and held opponents to a .205 batting average.

Entering the 2026 season, he is expected to compete for a role in the starting rotation while remaining a key bullpen option.

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University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa veterans Elijah Ickes, Isaiah Magdaleno and Ben Zeigler-Namoa earned preseason All-Big West honors ahead of the 2026 season. The Rainbow Warriors were the only program to place three players on the preseason team.

The Rainbow Warriors were also picked to finish tied for fourth in the Big West preseason poll, behind UX Santa Barbara, Cal Poly and UC Irvine, and alongside Cal State Fullerton. All three honorees have previously earned postseason All-Big West recognition.

Ickes, a versatile infielder, has a .289 career batting average and was a Cape Cod League All-Star in 2025. Magdaleno, a standout reliever, earned first-team all-conference honors last season after ranking among national leaders in strikeout-to-walk ratio. Zeigler-Namoa, a second-team selection in 2025, led UH in RBIs and doubles last year while serving as a true utility player.

�鶹��ý opens the 2026 season on February 13, against Gonzaga at Les Murakami Stadium.

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University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa head coach Rich Hill received a contract extension through the 2029 season, Director of Athletics Matt Elliott announced on December 19.

“The winning culture that Coach Hill has created has made Rainbow Warrior baseball one of the most exciting programs in the country,” said Elliott. “We are thrilled that Coach will continue to develop student-athletes both on and off the field here in �鶹��ý, and look forward to his leadership contributing many more memorable moments to a storied program.”

Through four seasons with UH Mānoa, Hill has led the Rainbow Warriors to a record of 129–81, including a 73–41 record in Big West play. Hill led the ‘Bows to their first four winning seasons since joining the Big West and has guided the program to back-to-back 35-win seasons.

“I really want to express my sincere and enthusiastic gratitude to President Wendy Hensel and Athletic Director Matt Elliott. With this next step for �鶹��ý baseball it is clear we mean business,” said Hill. “I am honored to serve as the Rainbow Baseball head coach and look forward to continuing to bring out the best in our student-athletes, represent the amazing community of �鶹��ý, and foster excellence in the classroom.”

Under Hill, �鶹��ý has turned Les Murakami Stadium into one of the toughest places to play in the nation. The ʻBows are 70–27 at home over the last three seasons.

Hill starts his fifth season leading the Rainbow Warrior baseball program on February 13 with the opening game of a four-game series against Gonzaga.

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has named Garett Yukumoto as interim head coach for the upcoming 2026 season.

Yukumoto has been on the Vulcans staff as associate head coach since 2019 after serving 13 seasons as head coach at his alma mater �鶹��ý Pacific University.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to accept the position of interim head baseball coach at the University of �鶹��ý at Hilo,” Yukumoto said. “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Director of Athletics Patrick Guillen for his trust and for giving me this incredible opportunity to lead the Vulcans. I also want to thank coach Kallen Miyataki for his guidance, mentorship and dedication to this program. He has laid a strong foundation, and I am grateful for the standard he set.”

“We have been putting in significant work this fall, and I am eager to continue building on that progress,” Yukumoto added. “I can’t wait to get on the field with this group and get our first games started in a few months. Go Vulcans!”

Long-time Vulcans head coach Kallen Miyataki is set to retire from his position at the end of the current calendar year after 12 seasons as the program’s second-ever head coach—finishing with a 192–306–1 record.

Yukumoto officially begins his duties on January 5, 2026.

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The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa unveiled its 51-game 2026 regular-season schedule, marking the program’s final year in the Big West before moving to the Mountain West Conference.

The Rainbow Warriors enter the spring coming off back-to-back 35-win seasons for the first time in more than three decades.

The team will open the year with 16 straight home games, beginning February 13 against Gonzaga at Les Murakami Stadium. The ‘Bows begin their Big West farewell with a home series against defending champion Cal Poly.

Last year, fans sold out Les Murakami Stadium 12 times and led the West with an average attendance of 3,928. Fans have until Friday, December 12, to renew season tickets. New season tickets will go on sale in the coming months.

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The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa will get the rare opportunity to take a team trip out of the country, heading to Japan for a week-long stay, November 4–10.

In partnership with the �鶹��ý Tourism Authority (HTA), the Rainbow Warriors will travel to the Tokyo area to play two exhibition games against Waseda University and Keio University. The trip will also include practices and cultural and sightseeing activities.

“What an amazing opportunity for our young people and our university to represent the great state of �鶹��ý in Japan, playing two of the top universities in Keio and Waseda,” said Head Coach Rich Hill. “I’d like to thank Sen. Glenn Wakai and HTA for their commitment to fostering and furthering relations with Japan in this exciting era.”

Japan tour games:

• November 7 (November 8 in Japan) — vs. Waseda University, 5 p.m. HST
• November 8 (November 9 in Japan) — vs. Keio University, p.m. HST

“The UH baseball team is going to Tokyo as Ambassadors of Aloha. The goal is to develop relationships, which will lead to a pipeline of athletes, cultivation of a fan base and eventually corporate sponsorship,” said Wakai.

UH Mānoa has a number of key players returning from last year’s team, including pitchers Isaiah Magdaleno, Sebastian Gonzalez and Liam O’Brien. Leading the position players will be multi-year veterans of the program Ben Zeigler-Namoa, Elijah Ickes and Kamana Nahaku.

“�鶹��ý’s athletes have long served as our ambassadors to the world, carrying our values, our culture, and our aloha wherever they go,” said interim president and CEO of HTA Caroline Anderson. “When our University of �鶹��ý athletes travel to Japan, they will help nurture relationships and shared experiences that inspire dreams of visiting �鶹��ý. A dream trip to �鶹��ý is rarely sparked by a single ad or commercial. The dream builds through friendships, connection and a true sense of welcome.”

The �鶹��ý baseball program has begun to open up a pipeline from Japan, with a handful of Japanese players in recent years starring for the program. Two-way standout Itsuki Takemoto was a fan-favorite for the program from 2024–25 before being selected by the Athletics in this year’s MLB Draft. Maaki Yamazaki was a two-year starter at shortstop from 2018–19 and later returned to the program as a graduate assistant in 2024, while Shunsuke Sakaino was born in Japan and lived there during his early childhood before moving to the U.S.

“This is a unique opportunity for our Rainbow Warriors to have a memorable cultural and athletic experience that is at the core of being a student-athlete,” said Director of Athletics Matt Elliott. “They will represent �鶹��ý, build relationships, and bring the Aloha spirit to Japan. I want to thank HTA and Sen. Wakai for helping make this possible.“

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