The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s “Our Team, Hawaiʻi’s Team” trophy tour brought the NCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championship trophy to 东精影业 campuses and community locations across Oʻahu following the Rainbow Warriors’ national title victory earlier this month.
The tour began at 东精影业 Mānoa on May 20 with stops at Bachman Hall and Hawaiʻi Hall, and on May 22 at the 东精影业 Mānoa Bookstore, giving students, faculty and staff opportunities to take photos with the trophy and celebrate the program’s third NCAA championship.
“It was really cool,” said Colleen Licudine, a 东精影业 Mānoa employee and Rainbow Warrior volleyball fan who saw the trophy at Bachman Hall. “A lot of 东精影业 pride. My dad went to school here too, and so basically my whole life I’ve been watching games from back when even Dave Shoji was coach. Seeing the men’s team rise up and be really successful in their program too, it’s been really, really nice.”
The trophy later visited Leeward Community College and 东精影业 West Oʻahu on May 27, and Windward CC, Kapiʻolani CC and Honolulu CC on May 28, as part of a systemwide effort to thank the 东精影业 community for its support throughout the volleyball season.
“It was so cool,” said Shanelle Bartlett, Kapiʻolani CC student and 东精影业 fan. “The trophy is a symbol of how much effort these boys have put in to bring a championship back to our community and to the Hawaiian Islands and I feel like people underestimate us because of where we’re from. But this is a symbol showing how we are really powerful even from a small community like this.”
“Hoʻomaikaʻi iā ʻoukou no ko kākou lanakila ʻana! (Congratulations on your win!),” said Windward CC Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg. “We’re so proud of the ‘Bows and their win for the NCAA championship. Congratulations!”
One of the attendees who made a stop at Kapiʻolani CC was former 东精影业 men’s volleyball player from the 1970s Dalwyn Wong.
“This is great. It’s really good to see,” Wong said. “The program has come a long way. I saw the last championship trophy and the games a few years ago. To see it again this year, oh man, a pretty good feeling. I’m proud of the program and proud of all the players and coaches.”
Other stops throughout the week included Honolulu Hale, Hawaiʻi State Capitol, Hawaiian Airlines, Skyline, local businesses, corporate partners and community events across Oʻahu. Additional events across the state are being planned, including other 东精影业 campuses.
“It really is gratifying to see how much joy and pride people take into, not only men’s volleyball but all the accomplishments in the athletic department,” said Charlie Wade, 东精影业 Mānoa men’s volleyball head coach. “Getting a chance to share this beautiful piece of art that symbolizes something really significant accomplishment, it’s pretty cool.”
The Rainbow Warrior men’s volleyball team captured the NCAA Men’s National Collegiate Volleyball Championship on May 11 after defeating UC Irvine in four sets. The title marked the program’s third national championship and its first since back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.
The trophy tour was organized by the 东精影业 Mānoa Athletics Department as a way to share the championship celebration with fans, students, faculty, staff and community supporters throughout Hawaiʻi.
“Our team, Hawaiʻi‘s team, isn’t a slogan. It’s what we’ve really bought into and we want people to know that this championship is for them too,” said Eric Mathews, 东精影业 Mānoa athletics director of marketing and fan experience. “This isn’t just something at Mānoa. This isn’t just something for the team. This is the entire community. This is for the entire state. It’s for the entire 东精影业 System that we have.”
