UH-Hilo Women’s Basketball Squad Adds Six Newcomers For 2022-23

Reigning Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year David Kaneshiro, who leads the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo women’s basketball squad, is adding six new faces to the team for the upcoming 2022-23 hoops season.

The Vulcans will add four freshmen and two transfers to the roster this year, replacing six departures, three of which were to graduation.

“We are looking forward to working with all of our new players,” Kaneshiro, who enters his 13th year as head coach of the Vulcans this year, said in a press release. “They are high character, unselfish people who have accomplished a lot on the court and in the classroom. They will fit in very well with our returning players and the Hilo community.”

Transfers are Kamalu Kamakawiwo‘ole and Jaslyn Booker, with Keirstyn Agonias, Kaile Cruz, Melanie Hiu and Ayana Meyer rounding out the incoming freshmen class.

“We are very excited to welcome Kamalu, Jaslyn, Kaile, Keirstyn, Melanie and Ayana to our basketball ‘ohana,” Kaneshiro added in the press release. “They are hard workers and team-first players who will add skill and athleticism to our roster.”

UH-Hilo finished the 2021-22 season with a 14-10 overall record and an 11-8 in conference play to qualify for the PacWest Championships for the first time since the 2013-14 season. The highlight of the year was an overtime win against then-ranked No. 5 Alaska Anchorage.

Of the seven returnees on the 2022-23 women’s squad, three were starters, including All-PacWest First Team selection and 1,000-point scorer Mandi Kawaha.

For more information about each of the team’s newcomers, click here.