Everything shines, everything glitters.
In Taimane Ainu‘u’s world, giving is better than receiving. She spends hours with family and friends making lei. Bedazzling. It’s in her core to give.
“I love to make leis especially with my friends because it’s fun and a good team bonding,” the ‘Iolani senior said. “We did it as a team bonding, making ti leaf leis during club season.”
Ainu‘u invests most of her time, however, in studying and training. The 6-foot setter spent the past two seasons as a hitter, and when Bailey Nakanelua matriculated to Ohio State, Ainu‘u shifted over to her natural position.
The two-time Star-Advertiser All-State Fab 15 selection is a lethal combination of all things elite on a volleyball court. She hits a heavy ball reminiscent of TIta Ahuna, challenges at the net with a consistent block, and makes every kind of set to her versatile teammates, using the kind of angles often limited to the very best in island history — the touch is matched by few.
Ainu‘u’s prowess has led to the U.S. national team. In July, the team traveled to Costa Rica and won a gold medal in U19 play at the NORCECA American Cup. Ainuu earned Best Setter honors.
“It’s super fun to have other people that have the same mindset and goal as you. We all push each other to be better. While we’re competing for a spot, we push each other,” Ainu‘u said.
She is close friends with setter Jocelyn Samuels of South Dakota.
This week, she is en route to meet them again for a tourney in Nicaragua. It is a U23 tourney.
“The college girls picked for that roster are in their season, so the girls on U21 and a couple of us in U19 are on the team. It might be harder because other teams have more experience, and they’re playing professionally. Our team’s super good, so I’m excited to see how we can do,” said Ainu‘u, who will return in two weeks.
The ILH regular season begins on Sept. 9, which means she will miss roughly one week of ‘Iolani matches.
“Our other two setters are super good. Everyone’s super good. We’ll keep practicing hard and preparing for the season coming up. I don’t think it’ll be hard without me. Our chemistry is super good,” Ainu‘u said.
Ainu‘u will head to Texas after graduation.
Ainu‘u leads by example. She was a force at the Ann Kang Invitational. In ‘Iolani’s two-set sweep of Mira Costa (Calif.), Ainu‘u tallied 18 assists, four kills, one ace and a block.
She led the Raiders to the championship match against the No. 1 team in the nation, Sierra Canyon (Calif.). She had 22 assists, two kills, two aces and one block against a team with five Division I recruits.
“We know Taimane is just so incredible. We know that the defense of ‘Iolani is going to be so tough. They pop everything up. If you don’t stay the course and hammer away, they will tire you out,” Sierra Canyon coach Stefanie Wigfall said.
The big question coming into the season was this: lose Ainu‘u as a major hitting weapon so she can set, and who will replace her kills? ‘Iolani is gradually finding the answer with high-flying junior Elle Arceneaux, who has grown stronger and more productive with each week. With Poema Kalama-Kingma and Georgie Lee swooping in to deliver missiles from any spot, Arceneaux completes the package. Take away Ainu‘u’s pin and back-row deliveries, and middle Annaura Reid-Gillet becomes a dominant piece.
After barely missing out on a state title in 2024, the Raiders dominated in their title run in ’25. This season, coach Kainoa Obrey’s squad is 7-1 and a unanimous pick at No. 1 by coaches and media.
Kahuku coach Lesina (Funaki) Manutai first saw Ainu‘u play four years ago.
“She was an eighth grader in the Ka Ulukoa gym. She already had exceptional skills. The hitting was very impressive and she was taller than most. I could tell she had such a high volleyball IQ, but she was always so humble with those she worked and played with,” Manutai said. “I am excited to watch her set this year. I am excited to see what else is in store for her ahead to come.”
Le Jardin coach Taylor Souza saw Ainu‘u at the club level way back.
“I started watching Taimane play when she was 8 years old at Ka Ulukoa. She was 8, playing on a 12U team with now Texas setter Rella Binney. Until 15s she has played up 2-4 years of age levels and has always been the most dominant competitor on the court,” Souza said. “One of the things that I think stands out about her most is her ability to be an offensive option on second contact. ‘Iolani will excel with her in the setter position this year but will be able to get out of trouble quickly when she has the opportunity to swing on the pins.”
The road required adversity. She was willing to face all of it.
“Don’t let anyone make you feel like you aren’t good enough. Just keep working and it will all pay off in the end,” she said. “When I started, I was on a 12s team and I was 8. It would make me feel sad, but my dad said, ‘I’ll make you good.’ Every day we would go to Ka Ulukoa gym or work out in front of my house.”
O’Brien Ainu‘u grew up in American Samoa, playing football and volleyball at Fa‘asao Marist High School. He met Shauna Boggs, a former Pahoa volleyball player, and Taimane became their first child.
“My favorite memory of Taimane will always be the day she was born. I realized that my life had changed forever. I didn’t know where life would take her or the person she would become,” he said. “Now, 16 years later, watching that little baby of mine grow into the young lady she is today makes that memory even more special.”
It won’t be long until Taimane’s presence in the midst of a busy, sometimes chaotic household will be gone.
“When she was 2 and her baby brother was crying, she would hold him and try to comfort him by rocking him and almost yelling, ‘Shhh!’ She was trying so hard to comfort him, but it wasn’t working,” Shauna Ainu“u said. “I’m proud of her work ethic in both school and volleyball, always striving to help her siblings achieve greatness, especially her sister. She wants her sister to be better than her and is always pushing her to work hard.”
“I wish I could go back to, like, 2018, because that’s when my youngest brother (Maluali‘i) was born,” Ainuu said. “He was so cute, and all my other siblings were all little and would listen to me,” she said. “Now they’re older and they don’t listen to me. I think my sister listens to me sometimes.”
Ainu’u is passionate about the game, but she hasn’t lost her passion for bedazzling.
“You take these gemstones and things. I do it for my sisters and cousins. Perfume cap, lip gloss, just to make it pretty,” said Ainu‘u, the oldest of four children. “My sister (Matalasi) got it. It’s just fun.”
TAIMANE AINU‘U • ‘IOLANI SETTER / OUTSIDE HITTER • 6 FEET • SENIOR
ONE TEAM
>> On coach Kainoa Obrey: “One of the things he’s always saying is, ‘Why not us?’ He believes in us so much. If we work hard enough we can reach the final game of the season. It’s super cool to have a coach who has so much faith in us.”
>> On OH Georgie Lee: “She doesn’t let mistakes get to her. She’s, ‘That’s my bad, I got you.’ She moves on super fast. I definitely rely on her and my other teammates. She’s super encouraging to everybody, not just the starters.”
>> On OH Poema Kalama-Kingma: “Poema has a super positive attitude during the game. She doesn’t get too frustrated. I lean on her when we are struggling a little bit. It’s really good to have a kind leader. They’re super strong mentally, too. We’ve all grown from my freshman year.”
>> On Opp/OH Elle Arceneaux: “Elle’s really fun to play with. She’s super fiery and has a really loud personality. Yesterday’s championship match, she’s someone I can go to.
>> Why jersey No. 16?
“I’m usually No. 1, but it’s too small.”
>> Top 3 movies/shows/books
1. “All-American” 2. “Tangled” 3. “Outer Banks”
>> Top 3 homemade food
1. Smoothies “Strawberries, mango, banana, OJ, honey, ice cubes. I usually use frozen fruit. One a day.” 2. Yogurt bowls 3. Banana bread “My mom (Shauna) or my grandma (Debbie) makes it.”
>> Top 3 foods eating out
1. Poke bowl (Foodland) 2. Smoothies (Down to Earth) 3. Boba (Taste Tea food truck in Waikele).
>> Top 3 music artists
1. Morgan Wallen 2. Fiji 3. Luke Combs
>> Favorite athlete: Madison Skinner “She was an outside hitter at Texas. Before that, she was at Kentucky. I really like watching how she plays and holds herself up. How she is strong in her faith, too. She’s playing pro now.”
>> Funniest teammate: Annaura Reid-Gillet “Me and her are always joking around at practice. We focus, but we crack some jokes sometimes.”
>> Smartest teammate: Georgie Lee “She’s super naturally smart. I always ask her for help with homework and everything.”
>> GPA (cumulative): 3.2
>> Favorite teacher and class (all time): Mr. (Eric) Kam, sophomore geometry. “He made me understand it better.”
>> Favorite scripture “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5-6 “I feel like starting up volleyball, I just kept believing that all the work I would do would pay off and help me reach my goals.”
>> New life skill: driving “I have my permit. My dad (O’Brien Ainu‘u) is my driver. My mom (Shauna) drives me to school sometimes too.” >> Bucket list: “Win another state championship. Win another gold medal with Team USA.”
>> Shoutouts: “My parents. My family all across the island, mainland and American Samoa. My siblings.”
