Walker, Rainbow Wahine Building Identity Ahead of First Exhibitions

Nearly two weeks into preseason camp, first-year University of Hawai‘i women’s volleyball head coach Joshua Walker likes what he’s seeing from the Rainbow Wahine.

Walker joined Hawai‘i Sports Radio Network ahead of the team’s first exhibitions of the 2026 season and said one thing in particular has stood out since the team officially opened preseason practice on July 30 — its work ethic.

“You can tell that these girls have been here for a while, so you can tell that they kind of know how to work and how to work hard,” Walker said. “That’s in all aspects of it. It’s not just in the practice gym. That’s what they do in the weight room. That’s what they’re doing around and among each other, even when they’re off the court.”

That work will get its first test this weekend when Hawai‘i travels to the Big Island to face UH-Hilo on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 2 p.m. at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. It will mark UH’s first trip to Hilo since 1984. The Rainbow Wahine then return home to face Chaminade on Monday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Admission to the Chaminade exhibition is free.

For Walker, the Hilo trip is about more than getting on the court. The Rainbow Wahine and Vulcans will host a free keiki clinic Friday evening, giving UH an opportunity to connect with fans outside of O‘ahu.

“This is Hawai‘i’s team as well,” Walker said. “Us having a chance to give back to the community in whatever facet that is — obviously we don’t get over to Hilo too often — so having a chance to do that and get to interact with the kids there will be fun.”

The trip will also serve as something of a dress rehearsal for the regular season, allowing Walker and his staff to establish travel routines while evaluating lineups, roles and how the team responds to playing someone other than itself.

As for the identity Walker hopes begins to emerge, he pointed to the team’s word for the year: “MAUNA.”

“It’s just us trying to continue to grow, continue to go up the summit to try to find ways to get better, to get towards the peak,” Walker said. “We don’t know when that peak is gonna be, but continue to work hard to get to the place where we know this program needs to be.”

The Rainbow Wahine officially open the Walker era Aug. 28 against Georgia Southern in the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic at Bankoh Arena. Single match tickets are on sale now.