{"id":239639,"date":"2026-08-26T12:35:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T22:35:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=239639"},"modified":"2026-08-26T12:38:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T22:38:56","slug":"ikaika-aki-rainbow-wahine-water-polo-head-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/08\/26\/ikaika-aki-rainbow-wahine-water-polo-head-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Ikaika Aki named Rainbow Wahine water polo head coach"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> minute<\/span><\/span>

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Honolulu native Ikaika Aki has been named the fifth head coach of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa women\u2019s water polo program, UH<\/abbr> Athletics Director Matt Elliott announced.<\/p>\n

Aki returns home after four years as head coach at Loyola Marymount University (LMU)<\/abbr>, where he earned Golden Coast Conference Coach of the Year honors in each of the last two seasons. He led LMU<\/abbr> to back-to-back conference championships and consecutive appearances in the National Collegiate Women\u2019s Water Polo Championship in 2025 and 2026.<\/p>\n

“We are thrilled to welcome Ikaika back home to Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>,” Elliott said. “His proven track record of building a championship-caliber program at LMU<\/abbr>, combined with his deep roots in our local community, makes him the perfect leader for the Rainbow Wahine as we look to build upon our legacy of success.”<\/p>\n

Over his final three seasons at LMU<\/abbr>, Aki led the Lions to a 70-20 overall record and a perfect 20-0 mark in conference regular-season play. Twelve LMU<\/abbr> players also earned national recognition during his tenure.<\/p>\n

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to return home to lead the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> women\u2019s water polo program,\u201d”Aki said. “As someone who grew up here, I know exactly what it means to represent this state and this community.”<\/p>\n

Aki takes over a Rainbow Wahine program entering the 2027 season as three-time defending Big West champions. Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> is 61-15 over the past three seasons and has won 29 consecutive Big West matches.<\/p>\n

For more information, visit the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Athletics website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ikaika Aki has been named head coach of the Rainbow Wahine water polo program as Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> prepares for the 2027 season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":239642,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1362],"tags":[58,9,550,1575],"class_list":["post-239639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-athletics","tag-athletics","tag-uh-manoa","tag-manoa-athletics","tag-water-polo","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t