Ka‘u Graduate Pua Kailiawa Joins Rainbow Wahine

The University of Hawaii at Manoa announced Thursday that Ka‘u High School graduate Pua Kailiawa will transfer to the University of Hawaii, where she will have two years of eligibility to play for new head coach Laura Beeman.

Kailiawa spent the last two seasons with Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, where she was named to the 2011-2012 Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Southern Region all-defensive team. She also set a school record last season with 100 blocks. In her two years at Umpqua, Kailiawa averaged 7.9 points per game, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. She also accumulated 3.33 blocks per game.

In a release by the University on Thursday, Beeman spoke highly of her fifth recruit for this coming season, saying “Pua is a rebounding machine with the capability of being a dominant post player in the Big West Conference. She is a strong ‘back-to-the-basket’ post that can shoot the three and welcomes contact. Pua has great experience after playing two seasons at Umpqua which is a highly successful JC.”

Kailiawa joins two former Big Island Interscholastic Federation alumni on the Rainbow Wahine roster. Kanisha Bello played her first season for Hawaii last season after transferring from the University of Idaho. The Waiakea High School graduate will be a junior this coming season, along with former Hilo High School graduate Vicky Tagalicod, who transferred from USC.