Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Begins New Era as Joshua Walker Leads First Official Practice

HONOLULU – A new chapter officially began for the University of Hawaiʻi women’s volleyball program on Thursday as first-year head coach Joshua Walker led the Rainbow Wahine through their first official practice of the 2026 season.

Just weeks after being named the program’s head coach, Walker admitted the whirlwind transition still hasn’t fully sunk in.

“As soon as everything was announced, it was go time,” Walker said. “It’s been a whirlwind. But to me, the job is the job, and that’s what I came to do.”

Walker inherits a program looking to bounce back from a difficult 2025 campaign while establishing a new culture centered around what he calls “MAUNA” — an acronym outlining the team’s mission, attitude, uniformity, no excuses and ability to assimilate new concepts.

“We’re actually improving,” Walker said. “So that’s the focus for this year.”

The former Rainbow Warrior standout has quickly assembled one of the nation’s most accomplished coaching staffs.

Joining Walker are associate head coach Heather Olmstead, the 2018 AVCA National Coach of the Year, assistant coach Kolby Kanetake, the 2024 AVCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year, and Will McDonald, who spent the past three seasons working alongside Walker at Baylor.

Walker said putting together a staff with complementary strengths was a priority.

“She’s a professional. She is elite at what she does,” Walker said of Olmstead. “Having someone like Will on board is instrumental as well… putting all those pieces together.”

The Rainbow Wahine will also take a slightly different approach to preseason preparation this year. Hawaiʻi will play exhibition matches versus Hawaiʻi Hilo on Aug. 15 at Afook-Chinen Civic Center before returning home to face Chaminade on Aug. 17, giving the team valuable game experience before the matches count.

“I just wanted this opportunity for us… to get some game reps,” Walker said. “Practice traveling, practice a home match before the matches get real.”

Senior middle blocker Miliana Sylvester believes the team is eager to turn the page after an offseason filled with change.

“We’re super excited to get started,” Sylvester said. “We have the pieces. I think we’re pretty talented this year, so we’re super excited. We’re ready to go.”

Despite roster turnover and a coaching change, Sylvester said the adversity strengthened the group.

“I think it definitely brought the team tighter,” she said. “Everyone that’s decided to stay… knows this is bigger than us. There’s a history behind it that we want to be a part of, a legacy that we want to continue.”

She also praised Walker’s experience as both a former Rainbow Warrior and an accomplished coach.

“He’s been in our shoes, so he knows what it’s like to play for this university and what it means,” Sylvester said. “I think he’s a great role model for us to look up to.”

Outside hitter Tali Hakas, who returns after working back from injury, echoed the excitement surrounding the program’s fresh start.

“I’ve been waiting for this time for a long, long time,” Hakas said. “I’ve been dreaming about this day. It’s finally here, so let’s just go after it.”

Hakas said the team is embracing the transition under Walker.

“We are open-minded. We are eager to learn and to develop, and whatever that takes, we’ll make this season the best we can.”

Walker said success this season starts long before the opening serve.

“I think just finding ways to win,” he said. “Everything from showing up to class on time, getting good grades, being a great teammate… It’s just getting a rhythm of doing the right things over and over again until we can’t get it wrong.”

Hawaiʻi opens the regular season by hosting the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic from Aug. 28-30, where the Rainbow Wahine will face Georgia Southern, Baylor and San Diego.