It might be easy to take things for granted.
The Hawaii women’s volleyball team knows decades of success has created an atmosphere where the Rainbow Wahine continue to be seen as volleyball royalty.
Hawaii knows it will be treated as such when traveling to Molokai for the first time in program history, giving clinics today and holding an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at Molokai High Gym. But if there is a theme for the trip, it is “Reciprocity” — the Wahine expect to get back more than they give.
“I see this as a blessing for us,” incoming senior Faith Ma‘afala said after Tuesday’s practice in Gym 1. “You come from this place where everything is given to us, have the big-city life, all these people coming to our games and you’re in the spotlight.
“Then you’re given an opportunity to go somewhere where being in the spotlight isn’t a big thing but what is important is family. What will be amazing is to go and experience what they have as well as share what we have.”
Ma‘afala, a Kamehameha Schools product, has never been to Molokai. Neither have most of the Wahine.
One of the exceptions is graduating senior defensive specialist Clare-Marie Anderson, who spent most of her childhood on Molokai. She will participate this weekend along with graduating seniors Savanah Kahakai and Kendra Koelsch.
“We’re excited to be going to Clare’s hometown and reach out to kids who don’t get a chance to come here and see us,” incoming junior setter Norene Iosia said. “I’m looking forward to meeting more people who love the game of volleyball.”
The trip will be a break from spring training, which has been three hours of intensity in the gym almost daily for the past few weeks.
“We’re really working on building that team environment, that gym culture, that Robyn (coach Ah Mow-Santos) wants,” Iosia said. “We have improved a lot.”
“Everyone is growing and pushing each other,” Ma‘afala added. “Coach Robyn is all about the pride, what you wear across your chest, pride in what and who you represent.”
It’s the second spring for Ah Mow-Santos, the Wahine All-America setter who replaced Dave Shoji after 42 seasons 14 months ago.
“We’re slowly getting better,” Ah Mow-Santos said. “It’s good to be doing something a little different this weekend, be able to share and have them share with us. As I tell the girls, ‘Do you know how many people would love to be in your spot?’ I think they’ll appreciate even more what we have.”
Notes
Iosia, Akiu and incoming senior hitter McKenna Granato were not named to the roster of the U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team-Detroit roster on Tuesday. The three attended last month’s tryouts at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Two ‘Iolani School graduates were selected — Utah setter Bailey Choy and Kansas State libero Reilly Killeen.
