Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Football full 2025 schedule released

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Football full 2025 schedule released

Feb 20, 2025

 

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Football full 2025 schedule released

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Set the dates and book your tickets Hawai’i football fans.

The Rainbow Warriors’ full 2025 season schedule was released Thursday morning when the Mountain West Conference unveiled its complete league slate for the upcoming year.

Hawai’i will have four consecutive non-conference games starting with Stanford at home on Aug. 23 before hosting Fresno State on Sept. 20 to open up conference play.

Times for each matchup is still to be determined depending on TV and streaming broadcasts.

Full schedule followed by brief commentary listed below:

Week 0 — Aug. 23 vs. Stanford
Week 1 — Aug. 30 at Arizona
Week 2 — Sept. 6 vs. Sam Houston
Week 3 — Sept. 13 vs. Portland State
Week 4 — Sept. 20 vs. Fresno State
Week 5 — Sept. 27 at Air Force
Week 6 — Bye
Week 7 — Oct. 11 vs. Utah State
Week 8 — Oct. 18 at Colorado State
Week 9 — Bye
Week 10 — Nov. 1 at San Jose State
Week 11 —Nov. 8 vs. San Diego State
Week 12 — Bye
Week 13 —Nov. 21 at UNLV
Week 14 — Nov. 29 vs. Wyoming

Week 0 — Aug. 23 vs. Stanford

Hawai’i is just one of two Mountain West teams that will play in Week 0, with the other being Fresno State. The two teams have met just twice in school history, with the most recent one being two years ago and the debut matchup being in 1972. Both meetings have been at the Rainbow Warriors’ home field with Stanford averaging 38 points per game in the series.

Week 1 — Aug. 30 at Arizona

This will be the Rainbow Warriors’ second trip to Tuscon, Ariz. in program history with the first coming in a 47-28 loss in 2016. Hawai’i did win its most recent meeting with Arizona however in a 45-38 shootout win at home in 2019. The Wildcats will not have the services of standout receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who is projected to be a first round pick in the NFL draft. Hawai’i is 1-3 all-time against Arizona.

Week 2 — Sept. 6 vs. Sam Houston

The Rainbow Warriors’ will look to redeem themselves from last season’s 31-13 road-opener loss to the Bearkats when they allowed 422 yards of offense (257 on the ground) and committed 14 penalties, their most in 20 years. This will be Sam Houston’s first trip to the islands ever as it is the start of a three-game home stand for Hawai’i. Special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield is an alumnus of Sam Houston.

Week 3 — Sept. 13 vs. Portland State

Hawai’i will welcome in former quarterback John-Keawe Sagapolutele as the Vikings make their fifth appearance in the 50th state, their first since 2021. The Rainbow Warriors are 5-1 all-time against Portland State, who plays in the FCS. The last meeting between the two teams resulted in a 49-35 Hawai’i win at the T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in 2021.

Week 4 — Sept. 20 vs. Fresno State

The end of the three-game home stand is capped with the Mountain West season opener against Fresno State. It will be the fifth straight game without any week off for both teams. Fortunately for Hawai’i, it will be the Bulldogs’ third road game in that span. The Rainbow Warriors rallied to beat Fresno State on the road last year, 21-20, and won its most recent meeting at home in a 27-24 upset win in 2021. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 30-25-1, in what is known as the “Battle for the Golden Screwdriver.”

Week 5 — Sept. 27 at Air Force

Hawai’i will be playing its sixth consecutive game without any bye weeks when it travels to Colorado Springs for the first time since 2016 when Dru Brown tossed a 25-yard scoring pass to Marcus Kemp to end the Falcons’ 15-game winning streak in a 34-27 double-overtime win. The Rainbow Warriors are 8-14-1 all-time in the series, but won its previous meeting at home in 2023, 27-13, to lay claim to the Kuter Trophy. Potential trap game for the Falcons with Boise State the week before and road games at rival Navy and at UNLV in the following weeks.

Week 6 — Bye week

Week 7 — Oct. 11 vs. Utah State

The Rainbow Warriors suffered their worst defeat of the season last year in a 55-10 road loss to the Aggies so they should be fired up out of the bye week. Utah State has won the previous eight meetings against Hawai’i and is 13-6 all-time in the matchup. The two teams’ first-ever meeting was on Dec. 17, 1927 in a 21-20 home win for Hawai’i. Outside of that ancient game, the Rainbow Warriors have needed to score 45 points or more to secure the win.

Week 8 — Oct. 18 at Colorado State

Hawai’i is 11-16 against Colorado State all-time and went a span of 22 years without a win over the Rams, but recent history has favored the Rainbow Warriors with three wins in the last four meetings. The most recent matchup in Fort Collins, Colo. came in Timmy Chang’s inaugural season as head coach in 2022 when Hawai’i held a 13-3 halftime lead before giving up the lead late in a 17-13 loss. Chang also coached under head coach Jay Norvell during their time at Nevada.

Week 9 — Bye week

Week 10 — Nov. 1 at San Jose State

The Rainbow Warriors are fortunate to get a road conference game in “warm-weather” California during November with a trip to face the Spartans, who has many Hawai’i-ties in head coach Ken Niumatalolo and offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann. Hawai’i is 21-20-1 all-time against San Jose State in the “Dick Tomey Legacy Game,” but have dropped the last four meetings. The last road win against the Spartans came in a five-overtime 44-41 win in 2018 when John Ursua caught 13 passes for 148 yards and three scores.

Week 11 — Nov. 8 vs. San Diego State

The Aztecs have been a team that the Rainbow Warriors have not been able to get over the hump against during the Chang-era, with three losses coming by a margin of three, seven and two points. Former defensive lineman Malachi Finau is also now a member of San Diego State, who tallied five second-half sacks in last year’s Mountain West opener. The last home win against the Aztecs was in a low-scoring 14-11 game in 2019.

Week 12 — Bye week

Week 13 — Nov. 21 at UNLV

The last trip to play the Rebels at Allegiant Stadium was much earlier in the season in September 2023, but this year is much later with Hawai’i heading to Las Vegas for a game on the same weekend as the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Hawai’i leads the all-time series of the “Ninth Island Showdown,” 19-15, but are just 6-11 on the road. Safety Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen was a previous member of UNLV before transferring to Hawai’i last season. New UNLV head coach Dan Mullen was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach of the Tim Tebow-led Florida team that defeated Hawai’i in 2008.

Week 14 — Nov. 29 vs. Wyoming

Hawai’i closes out the regular season at home for the third consecutive year. The Rainbow Warriors have performed well in their final home game dating back to the Nick Rolovich-era as Hawai’i has not lost a “senior night” game since 2017. It will be the fifth rivalry/trophy game that Hawai’i will play in this season with the Paniolo Trophy on the line.

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HPU Baseball opens 2025 season with pair of shootout wins over Drury

HPU Baseball opens 2025 season with pair of shootout wins over Drury

Feb 2, 2025

 

HPU Baseball opens 2025 season with pair of shootout wins over Drury

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 2, 2025

The Hawai’i Pacific baseball team had no problem lighting up the scoreboard in the Sharks’ return to Hans L’Orange Field in Waipahu.

HPU started the 2025 season with a 2-0 record after defeating visiting Drury University twice in a double-header Saturday. The Sharks won the opening game, 12-6, before busting out the bats in a 19-9 win in the nightcap.

“Our boys came out ready to go,” said HPU coach Dane Fujinaka, who is entering his fourth season as the Sharks’ skipper. “Overall we competed on all three sides of it today.”

Senior Noah Blythe, a transfer from the University of Antelope Valley, was responsible for nearly a third of the total runs scored on Saturday with 10 RBIs on three doubles and two home runs.

As a designated hitter in the opening game, Blythe drove in the opening run in the bottom of the first on a double batting in the three-hole position. After Drury tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the second, Blythe delivered a two-run homer to regain the lead for HPU in the bottom of the third. The Panthers managed to tie the game at 5-5 in the fourth before Blythe gave the Sharks the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth with a double to score leadoff hitter Noah Hata.

In game two, Blythe hit a three-run bomb to highlight a six-run explosion that put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth.

“Every at bat it just felt like he was going to do something,” Fujinaka said of Blythe.

Fujinaka was quick to point out that multiple bats was hot as well — especially the newcomers.

Freshman Tyler Arnold hit the Sharks’ first homer of the season with a two-run blast to give HPU an early 3-0 lead in game one and also batted 3-for-6 with three runs scored in game two.

Arnold shifted from first base to third base in between games, which allowed for playing time for fellow freshman Ethan Murakoshi to play in game two. Murakoshi, who prepped at Mililani, scored three runs in game two and also delivered a two-run home run in the sixth to give HPU a 11-6 lead.

University of Hawai’i transfer Bronson Rivera also homered with a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the fourth in game two to give HPU the lead for good.

Andrew Nykoluk, a shortstop transfer from Saddleback Community College, scored four runs in game two while stealing two bases.

Grand Canyon University transfer Kan Taguchi took over designated hitter duties from Blythe in game two and went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Of the returnees, Skyler Agnew was solid in game one with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate while Hata scored four runs in the opening contest.

“We just had so many good at bats,” Fujinaka said. “You know, I think we can definitely swing it. I think the combination of the physicality that we have this year and also we can still run and we haven’t sacrificed any of our contact skills which we have been known for to good at the last three years. So I think when you add those three things together, it’s what you want.”

Jordan Otjen got the start in game one and went 3 and 1/3 innings before giving way to Shea Blanchard, who got the win by pitching 2 and 2/3 innings of scoreless ball with three strikeouts. Christian Padilla, Vicente Molina and Makana Quia each pitch an inning to close out game one with Quia delivering two strikeouts to earn the save.

In game two, Conor Hourigan struggled to find his slider early on before finding it down the stretch to pick up the win. Jacob Vanek pitched two innings after Hourigan before giving way to Enrique Espinoza and Ryan Inouye, who each pitch an inning apiece. Inouye, who is the Sharks’ all-time leader in saves, faced just three batters with one strikeout to end the game.

“I thought our bullpen was phenomenal,” Fujinaka said. “Our bullpen came in, they pounded the zone, they did their job. They limited big innings from happening.”

HPU will play another exhibition game against Drury on Monday before a three-game series against North Greenville University, the 2022 NCAA Division II champion, on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The Sharks travel to Westmont College to begin PacWest play the week after.

“Going into Monday, we certainly are looking at that game as a competitive baseball game,” said Fujinaka.

“I want to learn more about my team and what I have. A lot of guys that didn’t get to play today will get an opportunity on Monday to show us what they got and compete.

“But looking towards next week when North Greenville comes into town, I’m just excited for the opportunity to play a caliber team like them. You know, we talk about making a run in the NCAA tournament. Well, you know, there’s no better way to find out what you’re made of by facing a top five team in the country, so it’ll definitely get us prepared for conference play and really just find out what we’re made of and I’m excited for it.”

Kalani pulls away from Radford in opening round of playoffs, 44-40

Kalani pulls away from Radford in opening round of playoffs, 44-40

Jan 25, 2025

 
 

Kalani pulls away from Radford in opening round of playoffs, 44-40

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED JANUARY 25, 2025

PRINTABLE VERSION

With heavy hearts, Kalani is moving on in the OIA Division I girls basketball playoffs.

The Falcons edged visiting Radford in a back-and-forth affair for a 44-40 opening round win Friday night at Earl C. Homer Gymnasium.

It was an emotional victory for Kalani — not only in the sense that the loser’s season would be over — but because of the passing of Alvin Stephenson, the father of junior forward Alina Stephenson and freshman forward Angel Stephenson.

Alvin Stephenson was a former Hawai’i Pacific University guard that also coached high school boys basketball in Damien, leading the Monarchs to a Division II state championship in 2019.

Alina Stephenson scored a team-high 16 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter while Angel Stephenson poured in a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds with four assists and two steals.

The younger Stephenson made plays late in the game to help power Kalani to the win and earned HSRN’s ‘VIP of the Game’ award, which is presented by Fun Factory Games.

She had a solo one-on-four fast break opportunity to give the Falcons the lead for good, 35-33 and later passed out of a double team to a wide-open Raine Chinen in the corner for a triple to give Kalani a 38-33 lead. Her last clutch play came on a missed Kalani free throw with 10 seconds remaining to help ice the game.

“When my sister fouled out, that really pushed me, and my dad, he was supposed to come to this game but he passed away yesterday so I just wanted to dedicate this game to him,” said Angel Stephenson.

The Rams (12-8 overall, 5-5 OIA) were led by Shanntay Stroman in their season-ending loss as she scored a game-high 22 points with 11 rebounds, three steals and two made 3-pointers.

Kalani (15-5, 8-3) moves on to take on the West’s top seed in Mililani Saturday night.

Kailua locks up OIA D1 East’s top seed with 51-39 win over Kaiser

Kailua locks up OIA D1 East’s top seed with 51-39 win over Kaiser

Jan 22, 2025

 
 

Kailua locks up OIA D1 East’s top seed with 51-39 win over Kaiser

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED JANUARY 22, 2025

Visiting Kaiser stringed together runs in waves, but it was Kailua that was riding high after Tuesday night.

The Surfriders celebrated senior night in style with a 51-39 win over the Cougars in an OIA East matchup at Harry Murai Gymnasium.

With the victory, Kailua (20-4 overall, 9-0 league) secured the OIA East’s No. 1 seed in the upcoming Division I playoffs.

“We’re amazing when we play together really well and we trust each other,” said senior guard Skyler Unten. “It’s huge, being No. 1 is the best.”

Unten did a little bit of everything and scored eight of his team-high 11 points after halftime to help the Surfriders weather a Kaiser 10-0 run to start the second half. He earned HSRN’s ‘VIP of the Game’ award, which is presented by Fun Factory Games.

“Well we just needed scores and I was the one,” said Unten. “I just took it upon myself to score and make plays.”

The Cougars took an early 5-0 lead to start the game before Kailua started to get into the flow of things. Kaiser held a 10-6 lead before the Surfriders went on a 13-0 run that spanned the first and second quarters.

Unten’s 3-pointer in transition forced the Cougars to call timeout down 19-10 with 6:31 remaining in the first half. The second quarter would belong to Kailua, outscoring Kaiser, 17 to 4.

“Push the ball, get the rebound and just push,” Unten said of the second quarter surge. “We’re so good in fast break (opportunities), so that’s what we want to do.”

A trio of players finished in double figures to pace the Cougars (12-8, 6-2). Emmanuel Tiritas had 12 points, Norris Birdsong scored 11 on three made 3-pointers and William Dunbar scored all of his 10 points in the second half.

Hawaii Men’s Volleyball improves to 6-0 with sweep of Princeton ahead of first road trip

Hawaii Men’s Volleyball improves to 6-0 with sweep of Princeton ahead of first road trip

Jan 18, 2025

 

Hawaii Men’s Volleyball improves to 6-0 with sweep of Princeton ahead of first road trip

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED JANUARY 18, 2025

After seeing its previous two matches go more than three sets, the fourth-ranked Hawai’i men’s volleyball team made it a clean sweep Friday night.

Before a season-high crowd of 6,297 at Simplify Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, the Rainbow Warriors came away with a 25-17, 25-17, 25-23 sweep of No. 19 Princeton to improve to 6-0 ahead of their first road trip of the season.

Hawai’i hummed to commanding victories in the first two sets by hitting on a .457 clip, but ran into some trouble in the third after a 18-11 lead. Ultimately, the Rainbow Warrior were able to finish the match with a game-winning block from Justin Todd in the second straight Friday night in a row.

“That’s two times now that I’ve had the game-winning block and hearing the fans go wild is the best feeling,” Todd said.

He also said the team is coming together and wanted to redeem themselves to get their first sweep in nine days.

“I think we were just looking back and like thinking we’ve given up a lot of sets,” said Todd. “We Just didn’t want to do that anymore. We kind of realized that we weren’t being very serious so we just pointed it out and started to get better tonight.”

Todd finished with five kills and six total blocks in his third straight start at middle blocker. Adrien Roure led the team in kills with 10 while Clay Wieter had nine more to round out the top attackers.

The Rainbow Warriors will have a week off before traveling to Provo, Utah to take on BYU on back-to-back nights.