A total of 127 University of �鶹��ý at Hilo student-athletes have excelled in the classroom, earning academic honors for maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher through the end of the fall 2025 semester.

The Vulcans were honored at a reception at the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center Moanahoku Hall. Women’s volleyball senior Emerson Reinke served as this year’s scholar-athlete speaker.

Honorees came from a variety of majors and sports, including basketball, baseball, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.

Read the full list of honorees at .

In the wake of the recent Kona low storms that swept across the state, the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa community rallied together in a show of support—turning a weekend of men’s volleyball into a meaningful effort to help those in need.

Over two nights, March 27–28, fans packed the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center for Rainbow Warrior volleyball games, with attendance reaching more than 8,000 on both nights. But beyond the excitement on the court, there was a deeper purpose in play.

Partnering with Spectrum Sports, raised awareness for a campus-wide food drive, encouraging fans to donate essential items as the state recovered from recent storms and historic flooding.

“We’re incredibly proud of how our UH Mānoa community showed up, not just to support our team, but to support one another,” UH Mānoa Vice Provost for Student Success Katrina-Ann Kapā Oliveira said. “In the aftermath of these storms, it’s moments like this that remind us what it means to be part of something bigger than sports. Seeing our fans, student-athletes and staff come together to give back in such a meaningful way speaks volumes about what it means to be part of this university.”

Nearly 20 volunteers, including student-athletes, university staff, Food Vault student workers and members of the , worked together to collect, sort and weigh donations. By the end of the drive, they gathered 2,984 pounds of food and toiletries.

“It was really inspiring to be part of this. Knowing that these donations are already going directly to students and families who need them makes all the effort worth it,” said Micah Kaonohi-Kaihenui, a UH Mānoa student-athlete and volunteer.

The donations were then distributed to maximize impact. Food Vault �鶹��ý retained 491.5 pounds of toiletries and 1,246.25 pounds of food to support students facing food insecurity on campus. The remaining 1,246.25 pounds of food was directed to the �鶹��ý Foodbank, extending the reach of the effort to communities across the state.

Even before the final totals were announced, the impact was already being felt. Several tubs of donated goods had made their way onto pantry shelves at Food Vault �鶹��ý the very next morning, where students quickly began picking up much-needed supplies, highlighting the strength of a community who rallied in the face of devastation.

The No. 13 seed (24–9) saw its 2026 season come to an end in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to No. 4 seed Arkansas 97–78 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

Senior guard Dre Bullock led the ‘Bows with 21 points and eight rebounds. Senior center Isaac Johnson added 15 points, and junior forward Isaac Finlinson contributed 12.

“It’s an honor to go through this battle with this group who represented our state, our university, athletic department, basketball, the NCAA, the incredible Big West Conference,” Head Coach Eran Ganot said.

The Rainbow Warriors earned the Big West’s automatic bid after winning the conference championship on March 14 over UC Irvine in Henderson, Nevada, 71–64.

Three players from UH Mānoa earned All-Big West conference honors after a standout 2025–26 season. Johnson was named to the All-Big West First Team, while Bullock earned a spot on the Second Team and Hunter Erickson received honorable mention. The trio helped lead UH Mānoa to a major turnaround this season. After finishing ninth in the conference a year ago, the Rainbow Warriors posted their third 20-win season in the past four years and entered the Big West Tournament as a No. 2 seed.

“Shout out our fans. They showed up in Portland, they showed up in Vegas, they show up in �鶹��ý, Cali, wherever we’re going to,” Bullock said. “Our fans are always there supporting us—definitely meant a lot. I mean, didn’t get the job done what we wanted to, but I’m just happy to put on this uniform, play our hearts out there and leave it all out there on the floor.”

Johnson added, “It’s been an amazing experience and we’re just so grateful for every opportunity that we’ve had to represent the state of �鶹��ý.”

This season marked UH Mānoa’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 10 years. In 2016, the Rainbow Warriors upset the Cal Golden Bears in the opening round, marking the program’s only victory in the NCAA Tournament.

For more on the Rainbow Warriors’ history in the NCAA Tournament, .

The �鶹��ý House Committee on Higher Education, and Senate Committees on Education and Economic Development and Tourism, advanced bills on February 11 related to proposals to establish a statewide framework for name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation for University of �鶹��ý student-athletes. The house hearing was held at the UH Mānoa campus, and the senate hearing was at the State Capitol.

would create a comprehensive NIL framework for UH student-athletes. The measure affirms that student-athletes may earn compensation for the use of their name, image and likeness and requires the university to adopt policies governing institutional NIL agreements, third-party disclosures, athlete education and compliance with federal law and NCAA rules. The bill includes reporting requirements to the Legislature, protections for student-athletes who enter NIL agreements and a sunset date of June 30, 2030, allowing lawmakers to review the law’s impact.

“In the Mountain West, every single school has committed to an NIL budget,” Elliott said. “Every single school is using NIL as part of its package to retain and recruit student athletes, and the reality is that these conversations are happening in the official visit process as well—so transfer students, high school students. As you try to think about what you are selling to a possible recruit or to a student who’s already here, NIL is one piece of it.”

Elliott added, “But what’s amazing about this place, and I think what all of these student-athletes articulated so well is that is not at all the only thing that matters. We believe as an institution that it is so vital for us to have students who want to stay here, be a part of this community and get their degrees.”

Several coaches and student-athletes also delivered passionate testimony in support of the bill.

“I believe this program is only scratching the surface, and with the right backing, what �鶹��ý can achieve will be something great—not just on the field, but for the people, the culture, and the future generations who come from places like mine,” said Rainbow Warrior Football player Dean Briski.

“At the University of �鶹��ý, our athletics department will hold fast to the core values that shaping our student-athletes lives is and will always be the number one goal,” Rainbow Wahine Basketball Head Coach Laura Beeman. “�鶹��ý has always been different. It is time for the university to lead in the area where college sports can remain a positive and impactful influence on our student athletes and our community.”

Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Head Coach Robyn Ah Mow, a UH alumna and three time Olympian, added, “College athletics is different now, and we need to make sure we can continue to be competitive in order to offer the same opportunities that I received to our future generations.”

would establish a UH-administered NIL endowment fund with an initial corpus of at least $10 million to create a long-term revenue stream for student-athlete compensation. The bill appropriates $5 million in state funds, contingent on a dollar-for-dollar match raised specifically for NIL. It also requires annual reporting to the Legislature on fund balances, revenues and compensation distributions.

focuses on athlete agents. It would prohibit individuals from providing professional representation related to endorsements, marketing, social media branding and other NIL activities unless they are registered as athlete agents in �鶹��ý and have a valid agency contract. The bill updates state law to clarify definitions, contract requirements and disclosure obligations, aiming to strengthen oversight and consumer protections for student-athletes.

Elliott told the senate committee, “That’s why we have set our target to be the best we can be at the level that we’re at. I don’t think of it as mediocre in athletics. I think of it as being very successful in the Mountain West Conference, the Big West Conference, the teams that we play against. And because of the way college sports is structured, if you do really well at the level that you’re at, it does give you opportunities to go on and compete at the highest level.”

The hearings took place as UH is seeking broader legislative support during the 2026 session to strengthen athletics and support student-athlete success.

The is drawing early national attention heading into the 2026 college football season, with .

In its preliminary outlook released January 22, ESPN projected UH as the top-ranked Group of Six conference champion, a designation that would currently earn an automatic berth in the playoff field. The projection places the Rainbow Warriors in the No. 12 spot and among teams from the nation’s power conferences in the sport’s most high-profile postseason format.

“This is a nice acknowledgment for our players and the work they’ve put in, but we realize that it’s just a projection. It doesn’t change what we have to do day to day,” Head Coach Timmy Chang said. “We know there’s a lot of work ahead, and everything still has to be earned on the field.”

2025 breakthrough season

The early recognition follows a breakthrough 2025 campaign under Chang. UH Mānoa finished 9-4, earned a thrilling �鶹��ý Bowl victory and posted wins against power-conference opponents, helping elevate the program’s national profile.

ESPN’s projection cited the Rainbow Warriors’ challenging schedule as a potential advantage in the Group of Six race. UH Mānoa is scheduled to face Stanford and Arizona State during the 2026 regular season, matchups that could bolster its postseason résumé against Power Four opponents while competing for a conference title in a reconfigured Mountain West Conference.

The playoff projection envisions UH Mānoa opening the postseason on the road against USC, a matchup that would pair the Rainbow Warriors with one of college football’s most recognizable brands. Final playoff selections remain subject to on-field results, conference championships and committee rankings.

“This kind of early attention brings visibility to our University and reflects the momentum we’re building,” Athletics Director Matt Elliott said. “We understand there are still countless hours of preparation ahead of the team before a down is played next season, but it speaks to the growing excitement surrounding �鶹��ý’s football program and UH Mānoa Athletics overall.”

The Rainbow Warriors are scheduled to begin spring practice in February. UH Mānoa opens the 2026 season on the road at Stanford out of the Atlantic Coast Conference on August 29.

Twenty-five University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa student-athletes were recognized for their academic achievements with 2025 Fall Academic All-Conference honors from the Big West Conference.

The Rainbow Wahine soccer team led the way with 15 honorees, the most among the conference’s 11 women’s programs. Cross country earned seven honorees, while women’s volleyball had three.

The awards highlight student-athletes who maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, have completed a full year at UH Mānoa and participated in at least half of their team’s contests.

The Big West honors athletes academically each season, with winter and spring recognitions covering basketball, swimming, golf, track and field, water polo, tennis, men’s volleyball, softball and baseball.

See the full list of athletes at .

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams were named Scholar All-America Teams for the fall 2025 semester by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

To qualify, teams were required to hold a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher. The Rainbow Wahine’s 24 student-athletes posted a cumulative GPA of 3.66, while the Rainbow Warriors maintained a cumulative average of 3.00 among 28 student-athletes.

“The academic commitment demonstrated by these teams is exceptional,” said Samantha Barany, executive director of the CSCAA. “These student-athletes continue to set a standard for excellence by succeeding at the highest level both in the pool and in the classroom, and the CSCAA is proud to recognize their dedication and achievement.”

Read more at .

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa junior Anson Cabello gained valuable experience on the world golf stage at the Sony Open in �鶹��ý, closing his first PGA Tour appearance with a strong second-round performance at Waiʻalae Country Club, January 15 and 16.

The Kahului, Maui native finished the tournament with rounds of 77 and 71 to post an 8-over par total, missing the weekend cut. Cabello earned his spot in the field by winning a local qualifier in November. Cabello’s caddie was fellow teammate Nathan Szpakowicz.

“It was so cool,” Cabello said. “This week didn’t turn out the way I had hoped, but the whole experience with my caddie, my teammate—that was big. Just being able to experience this kind of event just means the world because there aren’t that many opportunities for me to do this…hopefully more in the future.”

Battling back

After a challenging opening round that included seven bogeys, Cabello responded in the second round. After starting with bogeys on holes 1 and 2, he settled in quickly, carding birdies on holes 3, 6, 8 and 9 to turn at 2-under par for the round. Cabello battled on the back nine to finish the day with a 1-over par 71.

“I’m not going to lie, after those first two holes I thought I was going to shoot 80. I mean, to come back and start making solid swings down the stretch, it was big,” Cabello said. “Yesterday, that kind of happened and just couldn’t get anything going. After that start and the way I finished, couldn’t be more proud of myself.”

Cabello became the seventh Rainbow Warrior to qualify for a PGA Tour event. He followed Blaze Akana, who competed in the tournament in 2023 and 2024.

In his third season with the Rainbow Warriors, Cabello is enjoying his best collegiate campaign to date. During the fall portion of the 2025–26 season, he averaged a team-best 70.33 strokes per round, shooting par or better in eight of nine rounds. His 10-under 203 finish at the Kāʻanapali Classic by OUTRIGGER tied for the second-lowest 54-hole score in program history.

The Rainbow Warriors return to collegiate competition February 5-7 at the Amer Ari Intercollegiate in Waimea, �鶹��ý.

A record-tying five University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa players were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, recognizing their excellence both on the field and in the classroom.

Jackson Harris, Kansei Matsuzawa, Aiden McComber, Josh Sagapolutele and Landon Sims earned the distinction, matching a program high last achieved in 2022. It also marked the second consecutive year that Matsuzawa and Sims were honored.

Harris, a first-team All-Mountain West wide receiver, led the Rainbow Warriors with 963 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 19.7 yards per catch. Matsuzawa, a senior placekicker who graduated in December 2025, capped a historic season as UH’s first consensus All-American, setting multiple school records and earning Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year honors.

McComber and Sagapolutele, both sophomore defensive linemen, were key contributors to the Rainbow Warrior defense. Sims, a senior running back, completed his finance degree and is pursuing a master’s, while leading the team in rushing for the second straight season.

To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must carry at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA and meet strict participation benchmarks during the season.

Read more at .

Call it a Christmas Eve miracle in Mānoa.

A Sheraton �鶹��ý Bowl matchup already brimming with storylines and local connections saved its most dramatic moments for last when a backup quarterback threw the winning touchdown pass with 10 seconds left to lift the to a thrilling 35-31 win over California on December 24 at a sold-out Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

After UH Mānoa quarterback Micah Alejado orchestrated a comeback from a 21-point deficit, backup Luke Weaver wrote himself into program lore by lofting a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nick Cenacle in a holiday wish come true to provide an emphatic punctuation on a breakthrough season for the Rainbow Warriors.

The Rainbow Warriors (9-4) faced their largest first-half deficit of the season when Cal scored on its first three possessions to jump out to a 21-0 lead in the second quarter. UH Mānoa stormed back by scoring on four consecutive drives to score 21 unanswered and tied the game early in the fourth quarter after �鶹��ý Bowl MVP Pofele Ashlock caught his second touchdown pass of the game. After a Cal field goal, UH Mānoa took its first lead of the game when Brandon White pulled in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Alejado.

Cal see-sawed ahead on a quarterback sneak just after the 2-minute timeout, and the Rainbow Warriors delivered one more holiday wish come true with Alejado leading the Warriors deep into California territory before having to go to the sideline with an injury with 15 seconds showing. Weaver, who had stepped in for Alejado twice earlier in the game, then connected with Cenacle to electrify the sellout crowd.

The Rainbow Warriors tied the largest comeback in program history—matching rallies against Michigan State in 2004 and Washington in 2007—in UH Mānoa’s ninth bowl win.

Alejado completed 32-of-46 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Two scores went to Ashlock, who tied the game record with a career-high 14 receptions covering 123 yards. Cenacle caught eight receptions for 59 yards, the last 22 coming on the game-winner from Weaver, who completed two throws in place of Alejado on the final drive.

The Rainbow Warriors reached the nine-win mark for the first time since 2019 and the 16th time in program history. Timmy Chang has been part of four of those seasons, three as a player (2001–03) and now as head coach. The only two-time MVP in �鶹��ý Bowl history, Chang, prevailed in the 2025 coaching duel with former UH Mānoa teammate and interim Cal head coach Nick Rolovich.

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