ST. LOUIS, Missouri – Hawai'i Hilo Men's Basketball head coach Kaniela Aiona was inducted into the Webster University Athletic Department Hall of Fame earlier this month.
The Waimea native and 2001 Honoka'a High School graduate spent four seasons on the Gorloks Men's Basketball team from 2001 to 2005, helping capture two regular season titles with an appearance in the 2001-02 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. He was a two-team All-SLIAC Team selection and All-Academic Team honoree while being named team captain his senior season. Additionally, he earned the Webster Athletics President Award and received a bachelor's in Advertising and Marketing Communications in 2005.
"I am honored to join the Webster University Athletics Hall of Fame," Aiona said. "I had the greatest teammates and coaches during my time at Webster, and I'm proud to be considered in the same class as the other great athletes who have come through Webster."
Aiona was announced as part of the 2023 Hall of Fame Class back in July of 2023, along with Jaclyn Taylor Fearheiley (women's basketball and volleyball), Ally Niklaus (women's soccer) and Bryan Bernat (baseball).
Now in his fourth season as head coach of the Hawai'i Hilo Men's Basketball program, Aiona was initially recruited to play at the Division-III school in Missouri over 20 years ago by then-men's basketball head coach David Kaneshiro, who is in his 14th season as head coach of the Vulcans Women's Basketball team.
"Coach Dave was one of the first people I told when I got the call. In my induction speech, he's the first coach I mentioned because he's the one who gave me the opportunity and recruited me — without a visit, sight unseen and he took a chance. I'll always appreciate Coach for that," Aiona said. "Basketball has taken me all over the world but it is great to be back home working alongside Coach Dave and paying it forward to the next generation."
Although Kaneshiro departed Webster following his freshman season, Aiona continued on to appear in 84 total games (51 starts) to help lead the Gorloks to two St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) regular season championships (2001-02 and 2004-05 seasons). Aiona averaged 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds with 71 total blocked shots.
WEBSTER ALL-TIME PROGRAM RANKINGS
- No. 8 Block Shots (71)
- No. 8 Blocks Per Game (0.8)
- No. 16 Rebounds (387)
- No. 17 Offensive Rebounds (129)
- No. 19 Field Goals (336)
- No. 20 Points (852)
- No. 20 Defensive Rebounds (258)
Additionally, Aiona capped his career with 37 blocks his senior season to rank No. 9 all-time in the Gorloks' single-season program records.
Aiona joins former Gorloks teammates Brady Barke, Scott Spinner and Darin Hoggatt as inducted members in the Webster Hall of Fame.
"Above personal achievements, I am proudest of our team's success, camaraderie and shared memories," Aiona said. "I played with three other hall of famers so it's good to be joining them. Our individual success was a product of team success. That's the thing I'm most proud of, and still this day is still, it's something I value most about the game — being a part of something bigger than yourself, and I hope that that feeling comes through and rubs off on the players I get to coach."
Webster held its Class of 2023 Hall of Fame ceremony Feb. 17. Aiona, of course, was unable to attend. Accepting the honor on his behalf were his former coaches Mike Siener and Chris Bunch, who have continued to coach the Gorloks for over 20 years.
Aiona also started his coaching career as an assistant with the Gorloks during the 2005-06 season.
