NORMAN, Oklahoma – Hawai’i Hilo men’s golf was among nearly 250 collegiate golf teams to earn recognition by the Golf Coaches Association of America for achieving outstanding team academics for the 2023-24 school year.
The Vulcans were named a GCAA All-Academic Team as one of 25 NCAA Division II squads and 137 overall collegiate teams to attain a combined grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Additionally, 103 teams received Presidents Special Recognition for a GPA of at least 3.5.
The back-to-back Pacific West Conference Champions were one of just two teams from the conference to earn academic accolades.
Last week, Nicholas Gomez, Junsu Im, Jordan Sato and Jacob Torres were named Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars for averaging round scores under 78.0 while achieving at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA.
Hawai’i Hilo was also named the 2023-24 Vulcan Team of the Year this past April at the All-Sports Banquet.
Trio of local hoopers
to join Vulcans
Hawai’i Hilo women’s basketball welcomes four newcomers for the upcoming 2024-25 season, headlined by a trio of local Big Island products.
The Vulcans signed UC Irvine transfer Caiyle Kaupu (Konawaena ‘20) along with freshmen Tavina Harris (Konawaena / Waimea HS ‘24) and Keanu Marie Huihui (Kamehameha Schools Hawai’i ‘24).
Also joining the team will be freshman Kylie Wade from San Diego, California (Point Loma HS).
“We are very excited that Caiyle, Tavina, Keanu and Kylie will be joining our basketball ‘ohana,” Kaneshiro said. “They are hard working, talented players who will add a lot to our team. Their competitiveness, confidence and toughness has enabled them to accomplish a lot on the court. They are also unselfish, humble teammates who will fit in well with our returning players.”
Hawai’i Hilo returns eight players from a squad that won seven of its last nine games and just barely missed out on qualifying for the Pacific West Conference Championships postseason tournament. Of the returnees, only one will be an underclassman. The Vulcans had four departures from last season’s team — one to graduation.
David Kaneshiro enters his 15th season as Hawai’i Hilo head coach.
First game will be at the end of October. More details and full schedule to be released at a later time.
Caiyle Kaupu
F | 6’0 | 5TH | Holualoa | Konawaena HS / UC Irvine
• Spent four years at University of California, Irvine playing for coach Tamara Inoue
• Played in 92 games over four seasons with the Anteaters, contributing to 64 total wins
• 2023-24 Big West Conference Tournament Champion
• 2024 (Spring) B.A. Education Sciences
• 2020 graduate of Konawaena High School (Hawai’i)
• Played four seasons of varsity basketball for coach Bobbie Awa
• HHSAA Division I State Champion (x2), Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I Champion (x3)
• Honors: 2019-20 HHSAA Hall of Honor, 2019-20 Hawai’i Gatorade Player of the Year, 2019-20 BIIF Division I Player of the Year, All-BIIF First Team (x4)
Major: Communication
Why Hawai’i Hilo: “To be closer to home and to be able to represent the University, the state and my family at this level of college sports.”
Coach’s words: “Caiyle is a strong, skilled forward who can play inside and on the perimeter on both ends of the floor. In addition to her size and talent, Caiyle will also bring a lot of experience having been a two-time Big West Conference Champion at UC Irvine. When she played in the BIIF (at Konawaena HS) it was great to watch her development as a player and leader. I remember thinking at the time it would be great to coach a player/person like that. I’m really excited to have that opportunity next year.”
Tavina Harris
C | 6’1 | FR | Kaua’i| Waimea HS
• 2024 graduate of Waimea High School (Hawai’i)
• Played three seasons of varsity basketball for coaches Bobbie Awa + Dawnyelle Awa (Konawaena HS), •olani Kaniho and Todd Rickard (Lahainaluna HS)
• 2023-24 Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I Champion, Maui Interscholastic League Division I Champion (x2)
• Averaged 14 points per game
• Honors: 2023-24 BIIF Player of the Year, 2023-24 Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State Fab 15, 2023-24 HHSAA Division I State Championships All-Tournament Team, 2022-23 MIL Division I Player of the Year, 2022-23 MIL All-Stars First Team, 2021-22 MIL All-Stars Second Team
• Played club for Kona Stingrays
• Other Sports: Softball (Waimea HS)
Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai’i Hilo: “I love how family-oriented the school and community is.”
Coach’s words: “Tavina is a hard working, strong player who is a great addition to our front court. She can score in the low post, is a willing passer and a strong rebounder. It was great to watch her at Konawaena this past season and see her growth throughout the season, especially on the offensive end of the court. She’s very coachable and always trying to improve. We can’t wait to start working with her.”
Keanu Marie
Huihui
G | 6’0 | FR | Puna | Kamehameha Schools-Hawai’i
• 2024 graduate of Kamehameha Schools-Hawai’i
• Played three seasons of varsity basketball for coaches Dominic Pacheco, Donald Yamada
• Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II Champion (x2)
• Averaged 25 points per game
• Honors: Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State Fab 15 (x2), 2023-24 HHSAA Division II State Championships All-Tournament Team, 2022-23 BIIF Division II Player of the Year, All-BIIF Team (x2)
Coach’s words: “Keanu is a skilled, versatile player with a really nice feel for the game. She scores in a variety of ways and also has the ability to create opportunities for her teammates with her vision and passing. She is a gym rat who has improved and added to her game each year through her high school career. We are looking forward to working with her to continue that growth at UH Hilo.”
Kylie Wade
G | 5’9 | FR | San Diego, Calif. | Point Loma HS
• 2024 graduate of Point Loma High School (California)
• Played three seasons of varsity basketball for coach Curtis Norwood
• Averaged 19 points and 5 rebounds per game
• Honors: All-League Team, Mission Bay Classic Tournament MVP
• Played club for San Diego Sol
• Other Sports: Track &Field
Major: Biology
Why Hawai’i Hilo: “I really connected with the coach and it is a good school for my major.”
Coach’s words: “Kylie is a guard with good size and athleticism who fits well with our style of play. She is a hard worker who is very coachable and very dedicated both on the court and in the classroom. We are looking forward to working with her and excited to see her develop in our program.”
