University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s “Our Team, Hawaiʻi’s Team” trophy tour brought the men’s volleyball NCAA National Championship trophy to University of Hawaiʻi campuses and community locations around Oʻahu following the Rainbow Warriors’ national title victory earlier this month.
More than 150 people came out for the final tour stops May 28 at Windward Community College, Kapiʻolani Community College and Honolulu Community College.
“It was so cool. It really shows … 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,” said Kapiʻolani Community College student and University of Hawaiʻi fan Shanelle Bartlett in a release about the trophy tour. “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.”
The trophy found its way to University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on May 20 and 22 as well as Leeward Community College and University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu on May 27.
The Rainbow Warriors on May 11 won the NCAA Men’s National Collegiate Volleyball Championship after defeating University of California, Irvine in four sets, marking the program’s third NCAA championship and first since back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022.
Stops on the tour included Bachman Hall, Hawaiʻi Hall, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Bookstore, Honolulu Hale, Hawaiʻi state Capitol, Hawaiian Airlines, Skyline, corporate partners and local businesses.
“This is great. It’s really good to see. The program has come a long way,” said former University of Hawaiʻi men’s volleyball player from the 1970s Dalwyn Wong in the release. “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.”
Honolulu Community College stop on the “Our Team, Hawaiʻi’s Team” trophy tour. (Courtesy Photo: University of Hawaiʻi)- Kapiʻolani Community College stop on the “Our Team, Hawaiʻi’s Team” trophy tour. (Courtesy Photo: University of Hawaiʻi)
- University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu stop on the “Our Team, Hawaiʻi’s Team” trophy tour. (Courtesy Photo: University of Hawaiʻi)
- Leeward Community College stop on the “Our Team, Hawaiʻi’s Team” trophy tour. (Courtesy Photo: University of Hawaiʻi)
The trophy tour was organized by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Athletics to thank fans and supporters throughout Hawaiʻi for supporting the team during its championship season.
Additional events throughout the state, including other University of Hawaiʻi campuses, also are being planned.
“’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 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Athletics Director of Marketing and Fan Experience and “Captain of Fun” Eric Mathews in a release about the trophy tour. “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 [University of Hawaiʻi] System that we have.”
