HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Basketball will welcome five newcomers for the upcoming winter in head coach David Kaneshiro's 17th season.
"We are very excited about this year's recruiting class. Paisy, Aly, Kela, Faith, and Pua are hard-working talented players and good teammates," Kaneshiro said. "They will all fit in very well with our team, on our campus and in the Hilo community."
The Vulcans posted a 7-20 record last season and will look to replace seven departures from a year ago — five to graduation or exhausted eligibility.
The incoming class arrives as the NCAA Division II Executive Committee recently adopted emergency legislation establishing an age-based eligibility model to allow student-athletes up to five seasons of competition.
Upcoming 2026-27 schedule will be announced shortly.
2026-27 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTER
- Roster Total: 12
- Seniors: 1
- Upperclassmen: 3
- Returners: 7
- Newcomers: 5
- Freshmen: 4
- Incoming Transfers: 1
- 2025 Departures: 7 (5 Graduated / Exhausted Eligibility)
NEWCOMERS POSITIONS
- Guard: 2
- Guard/Forward: 2
- Center: 1
NEWCOMERS HOME STATE/COUNTRY
- Hawai'i: 3
- Arizona: 1
- California: 1
G | 5'5 | SR | 'Ewa Beach, HI | James Campbell HS / Alaska Anchorage + Southern Nevada
» One season at University of Alaska Anchorage (NCAA D-II)
» Played 23 games making 12 starts (19.6 minutes/g) through one season with the Seawolves
» 107 points (.336 FG), 65 rebounds, 27 assists, 26 steals
» Posted 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals in a 59-43 win over the Vulcans (Nov. 18, 2025)
» Two seasons at College of Southern Nevada (NJCAA) playing for coach Daniel Savage
» Played 61 games making 28 starts (17.0 minutes/g) through two seasons with the Coyotes
» 289 points (.347 FG), 260 rebounds, 264 assists, 77 steals
» Tallied 167 assists during the 2024-25 season to set a new program single-season record
» 2024-25 Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-America HM
» 2023 graduate of James Campbell High School (Hawai'i)
» Four seasons of varsity basketball for coaches Charlie Hiers, Jazmine Corpuz (Vulcans alum 2008-2013)
» Also played at Hanalani Schools
» 2019-20 Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Division II State Champion
» Honors: All-Defensive Team, All-Tournament Team
» Other Sports: Track & Field
» Club/Travel Teams: 76 South
» Sports Moment: "Hitting the game winner that took my team to the championship game."
» Siblings: 3 older brothers, 1 older sister
» Career Aspirations: Digital Marketing, Graphic Design
Major: Business Administration – Management + Art
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It offers a strong environment for both my academic and athletics goals. Coach David especially made me feel supported and believed in my potential, which gave me confidence that this was the right place to continue growing as a student and an athlete."
Coach's Words: "Faith is a tough, competitive point guard who will bring a lot of experience to our team. She accomplished a lot at the College of Southern Nevada and Alaska Anchorage and we are very happy that she decided to return to Hawai'i to finish her collegiate career."
G/F | 5'10 | FR | Canyon Lake, CA | Rancho Christian School
» 2026 graduate of Rancho Christian School (California)
» Four seasons of varsity basketball for coaches Marlon Wells, Haseen Williams
» 2024-25 California Interscholastic Federation Division 1 Champion
» Honors: 2024-25 CIF Division 1 Championship MVP, All-CIF First Team, All-State Third Team
» Club/Travel Teams: WhyNot Premier
» First Name: Alyson
» Siblings: 1 twin brother
Major: Communication
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I wanted to travel somewhere where I can experience a new perspective of playing the game of basketball in a different environment other than where I was living because I lived there my whole life. Stepping out of my comfort zone and making a name for myself somewhere where I'm not known. Playing at a place where I can be free, but also incorporate myself in the way of how the coaches want our team to play."
Coach's Words: "We are very excited to welcome Aly to our basketball 'ohana. She is an intense competitor who shoots the ball well and has a nice feel for the game. We can't wait to start working with her."
G/F | 5'10 | FR | Pana'ewa, HI | Maryknoll School
» 2026 graduate of Maryknoll School (Hawai'i)
» Four seasons of varsity basketball for coaches Chico Furtado, Aris Perez
» Honors: (4x) Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State Fab 15, (3x) All-State First Team, Interscholastic League of Honolulu Player of the Year, All-ILH First Team, (2x) Big Island Interscholastic Federation First Team
» Other Sports: Volleyball, Flag Football
» Club/Travel Teams: Hoop Dreams, Team Aloha
» Sports Moment: "When I moved to another island to play basketball."
» Nickname: Pua
» Siblings: 1 older brother, 1 younger sister
Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I'm from here and I would love to play in front of all my family. Also, to represent my island and play with some of my friends again."
Coach's Words: "We are very excited that Pua decided to stay home and be a Vulcan. She's a hard-working competitor who can impact a game in a lot of ways. Since she is from Hilo, we got a close-up view of her growth and development over the years and we're looking forward to working with her and continuing that process with her."
C | 6'2 | FR | Scottsdale, AZ | Horizon HS
» 2026 graduate of Horizon High School (Arizona)
» Four seasons of varsity basketball for coach Chris Young
» State Runner-Up
» Honors: All-Region First Team
» Other Sports: Swimming
» Siblings: 1 older sister
» Career Aspirations: "I will do great things."
Major: Marine Science
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I love the islands. It's been a goal for my whole life to go to school in Hawai'i. I love traveling and that's all I want to do. I want to go far from home. I wanted to go D2 and not D1."
Coach's Words: "We are very excited to have Paisy here at UH Hilo. She will bring good size, athleticism, skill, and toughness to our team. Paisy has a lot of potential and we are looking forward to working with her."
G | 5'7 | FR | Kailua-Kona, HI | Konawaena HS
» 2026 graduate of Konawaena High School (Hawai'i)
» Four seasons of varsity basketball for coaches Bobbie Awa, Kevin Yamasaki, Pat Baran-Primacio
» (4x) Big Island Interscholastic Federation Champion, 2022-23 Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Runner-Up
» Honors: 2025-26 BIIF Division I Player of the Year
» Club/Travel Teams: Stingrays
» Nickname: Kela
» Siblings: 2 older sisters
Major: Nursing
Coach's Words: "Kela is a hard-working fundamentally-sound guard who helps her team on both ends of the court. Having played at Konawaena, we got to watch her grow and develop as a player and leader throughout her high school career. We are very excited that she is a Vulcan and can't wait to start working with her."
