Hawaii Volleyball Champs Share Trophy Across 6 Campuses

When the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors won their third NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship on May 11, they knew the trophy belonged to more than just the team. So they packed it up and took it on a tour across Oahu that turned into a statewide celebration.

The "Our Team, Hawaii's Team" trophy tour kicked off May 20 at UH Mānoa before visiting Leeward Community College, UH West Oahu, Windward CC, Kapiʻolani CC, and Honolulu CC. Students, faculty, staff and community members lined up at each stop to snap photos with the gleaming trophy and soak in the victory.

"A lot of UH pride," said Colleen Licudine, a UH Mānoa employee whose father also attended the university. She's watched Hawaii volleyball for decades, and seeing the men's program reach this level of success felt especially sweet.

Among the crowd at Kapiʻolani CC was Dalwyn Wong, who played for UH men's volleyball in the 1970s. "The program has come a long way," he said, recalling the team's previous championship just a few years ago. "To see it again this year, oh man, a pretty good feeling."

The Ripple Effect

For student Shanelle Bartlett at Kapiʻolani CC, the trophy represented something bigger than volleyball. "This is a symbol showing how we are really powerful even from a small community like this," she said, noting how people often underestimate Hawaii athletes.

Head coach Charlie Wade said the joy radiating from every campus stop exceeded his expectations. "Getting a chance to share this beautiful piece of art that symbolizes something really significant, it's pretty cool," he said.

The tour also made stops at Honolulu Hale, the Hawaii State Capitol, Hawaiian Airlines, and local businesses. More visits across the state are being planned for other UH campuses.

Eric Mathews, UH Mānoa's athletics director of marketing and fan experience, emphasized that bringing the trophy to the community wasn't just good PR. "Our team, Hawaii's team, isn't a slogan. It's what we've really bought into," he said. "This championship is for the entire state, for the entire UH System that we have."

The victory marks Hawaii's first NCAA volleyball championship since back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, proving the Rainbow Warriors aren't just champions but a lasting powerhouse in college volleyball.