The University of Hawai‘i women’s soccer team is set to open its 2025 season with a two-match road trip to California, beginning next week.
The Rainbow Wahine, who return 20 players from last year’s Big West Conference championship team, will kick off the new campaign next Thursday at Long Beach State, followed by a match at Pepperdine on Sunday.
Among the returnees is Kamehameha graduate Leila Kahoano, a redshirt sophomore transfer from San Diego. While she did not appear in any games last season, Kahoano made her mark off the field by sharing her passion for hula with the team.
“Hula for me is just like soccer, another opportunity to showcase the gifts I’ve been given,” Kahoano said. “I’ve been so blessed to grow up playing soccer, and also learning hula under my grandma. Both hula and soccer give me cultural grounding and a sense of who I am.”
Kahoano taught her teammates a hula that was performed at the team banquet last year, bringing a deeper sense of identity and unity to the program.
“Both soccer and hula are part of my identity,” she said. “It’s an honor to have both in my life and skill set.”
Known for her grace on the dance floor and her intensity on the field, Kahoano said both practices have shaped her mindset.
“In high-pressure situations, whether in life or in a game, hula reminds me to go through it with grace and patience,” she said. “When the game’s on the line, you’ve just got to breathe and go with the flow. We’ve been doing this all our lives. Now it’s time to perform and have fun.”
Hawai‘i opens its 2025 season on Thursday, Aug. 14, at Long Beach State.
For continuing Rainbow Wahine soccer coverage throughout the season, stay with KHON2 Sports on-air and online.