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Coach Okamura
Gene Okamura
Head Coach
Since 2016
Two PacWest Conference Championships (2021, 2022)
Three NCAA Postseason Appearances (2021, 2022, 2024)
26 Major Awards, Four All-Americans, 49 All-PacWest Team Selections
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Grace (VerHage) DeSmyter
"The coaching staff was unlike any other I'd played under. They looked at us as people first, then soccer players, and that made all the difference in how we played as a team on the field and the relationships we built off the field."
Grace (VerHage) DeSmyterForward · Otsego, Michigan · Transfer from Ferris State · 2022
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Viviana Poli
"The unwavering belief and support from Coach Gene and the coaching staff inspired me to push myself and reignited my love for the game. Their guidance and the incredible team environment helped me grow not just on the field, but in every aspect of my life, and for that, I will forever be grateful."
Viviana PoliGoalkeeper · Ontario, California · Transfer from Biola · 2021-2022
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Maisie Paulson
Maisie Paulson
Forward/Defender · Highlands Ranch, Colorado · Transfer from Jacksonville State (D1) · 2019-2022
B.A. Sociology
2022 PacWest Champion, 2021 PacWest Co-Champion
2022 All-PacWest Third Team
"My overall experience with the program was amazing, period. I met my best friends, found new mentors, and played the game I always loved as it should be played.
Transferring was scary. It can be intimidating moving to a place you've never been, all the way across the ocean. But when I got on the phone with the head coach, in the middle of our conversation he asked, 'Have you ever had a papaya?' Not a single other college coach had talked to me about anything besides soccer. I felt seen by the program as a person, not just a player.
My team at Hilo was the closest group of people I've ever been around. Not only were we teammates, we were friends too. There were no cliques. I'd lost a lot of love for the game and confidence at my first school, and the culture at Hilo truly saved me from quitting soccer altogether. I got myself back here.
If I could do it all again, I would in a heartbeat."
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Grace (VerHage) DeSmyter
Grace (VerHage) DeSmyter
Forward · Otsego, Michigan · Transfer from Ferris State · 2022, Fifth-Year Transfer
B.A. Communication
2022 PacWest Champion
2022 PacWest Conference Newcomer of the Year, 2022 All-PacWest First Team, 2022 CSC Academic All-America Second Team
"After finishing my undergrad, I still had my COVID 5th year to use, and choosing to finish my career at UH Hilo was easily the best decision I could have ever made. The coaching staff was unlike any other I'd played under. They looked at us as people first, then soccer players, and that made all the difference in how we played as a team.
I actually turned down Gene's first offer, unsure if I wanted to try playing overseas instead. When he called a second time, it was the easiest yes of my life. He helped me find an apartment that looked right over the soccer field and paired me with another new transfer who is now a lifelong friend. I booked a one-way ticket without ever touring campus or meeting the coaches in person, and it turned out to be the best choice I ever made.
As soon as I got on campus, Hilo felt like home. Between waterfalls, hiking, stargazing on Mauna Kea, sunrise at Honoli'i, and becoming conference champions and reaching the NCAA tournament second round for the first time in program history, there was no shortage of memories. Coming from a successful D2 program in Michigan, I can say the level of play at Hilo was that much better, and the culture is unmatched."
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Filippa Graneld
Filippa Graneld
Midfielder · Stockholm, Sweden · Transfer from Colorado (D1) · 2021-2024
B.A. Geography
2021 & 2022 PacWest Champion, Program All-Time Leader in Career Assists, No. 2 in Points
2021 PacWest Conference Newcomer of the Year, 2023-24 & 2024-25 Sakai and Harue Wakakuwa Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
"I truly could not have wished or dreamed of a better college experience. Hilo is such a special place for many reasons: Gene has created a team with not only great soccer players but more importantly great people, the small class sizes at UH Hilo allow for close relationships with professors who go above and beyond, and the natural beauty of the Big Island allows for free time that's meaningful and intentional.
Entering the transfer portal after my freshman year, I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue playing soccer or even continue going to college. I reached out to Coach Gene, and our conversations ultimately led to my decision to come to Hilo. The transition was much easier than expected. Many of the girls were transfers too, and we were all welcomed with open arms by the coaching staff and team.
To me, Vulcan athletics stands out for its close-knit community. The athletics program at Hilo truly is one big ohana, where you're valued for who you are rather than what you do. What's most unique about the team here is that it's found a balance between being extremely competitive while also celebrating each other's successes.
The most rewarding part has been watching the program grow. In 2021 we won the PacWest conference for the first time in program history, to many people's surprise. Since then, we've established Hilo as a program that competes for the title every year and is consistently ranked among the top programs in the West Region and the country.
If given the opportunity to do it all again? Yes. I could not have imagined a college experience more impactful and enjoyable than the one I had at Hilo."
