HPU Acrobatics & Tumbling Builds on Breakthrough Season Under Daisha Paulino

Hawai‘i Pacific University acrobatics and tumbling enters its third season under head coach Daisha Paulino with growing confidence and a stronger team culture following one of the program’s most successful recent campaigns.

Paulino joined Sharks Weekly alongside student-athletes Bethany Nakai and Allison White to reflect on last season’s accomplishments, the challenges of developing a competitive roster and the program’s continued growth.

The Sharks finished 4-2 last season, earned a No. 12 national ranking and sent approximately 13 athletes to the NCATA individual event finals.

For Paulino, the success validated the gradual approach she took when assuming leadership of the program. Rather than implementing sweeping changes immediately, she focused on strengthening team culture, improving practice structure and building trust among her athletes.

“Trust the process,” Paulino said, reflecting on the lessons learned during her first two seasons.

That approach was tested at the national event finals when an injury forced Nakai into an unfamiliar role just days before competition. With only one practice to learn an elite-level toss, Nakai stepped in and competed on the national stage.

Paulino pointed to the moment as an example of the team’s resilience and willingness to embrace challenges.

Nakai, a Canadian native and former All-American at Calvin University, transferred to HPU after rediscovering her passion for the sport during her first year of college.

White, meanwhile, represents a different path to the program. The Mililani High School graduate chose to remain in Hawai‘i, allowing her to compete collegiately while staying close to family.

For White, representing her home state also presents an opportunity to introduce more local athletes to acrobatics and tumbling.

Recruiting remains one of the program’s unique challenges. Paulino draws athletes from gymnastics, cheerleading and other disciplines, often teaching newcomers the fundamentals of a sport they have never competed in before.

Despite their different backgrounds, the Sharks have developed an environment built around communication, accountability and mutual support.

Nakai emphasized that the relationships extend beyond practice, with teammates making a conscious effort to look after one another.

That connection is especially important in a sport where athletes must rely on their teammates to execute demanding skills. Paulino explained that successful partnerships require trust, communication and an understanding of each other’s strengths.

As the sport continues to grow nationally, HPU is also preparing for a significant change in its postseason landscape. With acrobatics and tumbling becoming an NCAA championship sport, the national tournament will expand to a 12-team bracket.

For Paulino, who previously competed for HPU and earned All-American honors as a student-athlete, the evolution of the sport has made her return to the program especially meaningful.

Now, with a strong returning group and a renewed emphasis on fundamentals, the Sharks are looking to build on last season’s progress.

The goal remains to develop a program capable of competing nationally while creating an environment where student-athletes can grow both on and off the mat.

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