Hawaii’s "Aunties" are in the midst of all the weird and wonderful things that make up the unique atmosphere surrounding Rainbow Wahine volleyball. They will be there Saturday, just as they have for many years, when ninth-ranked Hawaii plays San Jose State.
They are always in the same four seats behind the endline. Florence Kim, the only one who still works and does not live in Wahiawa, is in the corner behind the endline, hovering over the players. Next to her are Lenora Yagi, 74, Lauretta Sewake, 75, and 60-something Ellen Tamura.
Yagi — Kim’s teacher at Leilehua — has been in from the start, celebrating and chattering with other friends for many years. But for the past 12 years this foursome has religiously shown up before the Stan Sheriff Center doors are unlocked every night. They sit in the same front-row seats and stay until the last handmade lei and hug have been handed out to every Wahine and, often, every opposing player.
It is the first place the Wahine head after slapping hands with the opposing team. Every player pulls herself up to the rail to say hi and receive a lei and whatever else the NCAA is allowing this week … mostly just smiles and hugs, which mean the most to the Wahine without family here.
"We only give them leis and hugs," Sewake said. "They all want their hugs."
The Aunties — a group UH coach Dave Shoji "doubts can happen anywhere else" — have become part of Hawaii volleyball lore. Utah State coach Grayson DuBose puts them high on his list of what he will miss next year when UH leaves for the Big West.
"I have always enjoyed heading over there and competing in the wonderful environment that is such a huge part of the culture," DuBose said. "The Aunties that give our kids and my staff leis are amazing people.
"One of my first years here at USU we were playing and I was complaining about a call and I used the word ‘crap!’ to describe my feelings. They told me that they were going to call my mother."
The Aunties are such a fixture opponents know them by their adopted name. Those that make regular trips here wait patiently for the Wahine to climb the wall and peek their heads over the rail, then do precisely the same drill. If an opponent doesn’t show, the Aunties send their lei to the locker room.
Early on, the Aunties bought the lei, but when it got too pricey Sewake started looking for flowers in the neighborhood. Gail Harimoto has been contributing crown flowers for nearly a decade, and another fan, Glenda Chong, sometimes donates lei. Sewake strings the flowers and ribbon up to two weeks ahead and heads out with Yagi to every match with her load of lei and signs for every Wahine.
"Signs and ti leaves," UH sophomore Mita Uiato said. "My sign is ‘Mita Gold.’ I asked them about it and they said it was because my hands were golden."
Senior Kanani Danielson has gone through several signs in her career. Emily Hartong is "Strong Arm Hartong" and "Hart Attack."
"They make you smile," Hartong said. "Always having them there, at every home game, in the front row, smiling, always happy … it’s comforting."
The Aunties leave Wahiawa at 4:30 p.m., often eat at the campus L&L and wait for the doors to open, talking story with other early fans. They continue talking story most of the match.
"People always ask why we’re laughing," Sewake said. "I don’t know. We just laugh about everything. We have a lot of fun and because we’re getting old we talk about it. We always have fun. Win or lose we’re still there and just enjoy volleyball."
The men’s team also gets the Auntie treatment and the four attend Wahine basketball games on a more low-key basis. Yagi is a baseball fan, but their sport of choice is always volleyball.
"I love the sport," Sewake said. "That’s why I’m so happy I got a permanent seat."
