‘It’s not like this everywhere else:’ Krista Peterson on playing for Hawaii

HONOLULU (KHON2) — There’s a UH women’s soccer star whose athletic career has taken some twists and turns over the years, allowing her to extend her time with the Rainbow Wahine.

Krista Peterson is a sixth-year graduate student, playing in her final season with the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine soccer team.

She transferred from North Carolina State and knew the minute she arrived in Honolulu that she’d made the right choice.

“As soon as I set foot on the island, I just knew that this was the place I was meant to be. I’ve never been happier since being here. Just the community here, the friendships that I’ve made, and ingraining myself in the culture has been the biggest blessing, and I think I’m my happiest self when I’m here,” Peterson explained.

Peterson is enjoying an extended UH career because of the pandemic and an injury that forced her to sit out last season.

Her career so far includes being named to the Big West Commissioners Honor Roll, Academic All-Big West and Honorable Mention All-Big West.

Adding to that, Peterson has a degree in business administration and a masters in marketing management. She’s currently earning her masters certificate in entrepreneurship.

But Peterson is most grateful for her place on the UH women’s soccer team.

“This team has something so special. We genuinely have that dynamic and it’s just the definition of ohana, I feel like. I genuinely think that everyone truly wants the best for each other. I’ve been elsewhere, and it’s not like this everywhere else.”

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, this proud Rainbow Wahine said the torn ACL that sidelined her last season showed her the strength of community within her team, the UH Athletics department and the UH fanbase.

“Just seeing the amount of love that not only my teammates and coaches gave me, but the community and the other staff in athletics. Support staff, everyone. I’ve never felt so valued as a person and so special. It just really showcased that my identity is not in who I am as an athlete, it’s really who I am as a person,” she added.

“I just think that it’s something truly special that we’re building here at UH, and I think that we get a unique opportunity here that no other athletes in the nation get, you know?”