Hawaii holds off second-half surge to down Hawaii Pacific

Hawaii holds off second-half surge to down Hawaii Pacific

Nov 24, 2025

Hawaii Pacific G Joshua West tries to drive between two Rainbow Warrior defenders in an 88-76 loss by the Sharks. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawaii holds off second-half surge to down Hawaii Pacific

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 24, 2025

HONOLULU – Lightning will not strike twice in 2025.

Looking for a second Division I upset in the month of November, Hawaii Pacific (3-1) gave a scare to the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team on Monday evening but ultimately fell for the ninth straight time against the Rainbow Warriors, 88-76.

Seven players finished in double figures for UH, led by Isaac Johnson’s 16 points on 10-of-10 shooting at the charity stripe. The senior has hit 34 consecutive free throws, tying Brock Stepteau’s school record for foul shots made in a row.

Quinton McCullough led the charge for HPU, scoring a game-high 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field. The 6-foot-4 forward also grabbed six rebounds in 19 minutes of action, dealing with foul trouble for a majority of the night.

Joshua West was held to 15 points on 5-of-20 shooting, grabbing seven rebounds and collecting four steals before fouling out late. Quentin Meza added 16 points, five rebounds and five assists while knocking down a pair of threes in 33 minutes of work.

Just as they have all season, the Rainbow Warriors started strong to the tune of a 12-0 lead while holding the Sharks scoreless for the opening five minutes of action.  West finally got the Division II visitors on the board with 14:20 left in the first half, sparking an 8-3 run to pull HPU back down by only single digits.

Powered by five first-half 3-pointers, the Sharks kept within a handful, trailing 38-33 entering halftime as all eight HPU players that saw time in the opening half scored. Hawai’i turned the ball over seven times in the first 20 minutes, leading directly to 11 points for HPU.

The Sharks surged out of the gates to begin the second half, taking a 42-41 lead after Josh Niusulu drained his second 3-pointer in three minutes after play resumed. Hawai’i pushed back in front after Johnson and Harry Rouhliadeff put in back-to-back buckets to make it 51-47, but West drained his lone triple of the game right after to pull HPU back within a point with under 13 minutes to play.

West turned around a steal right after and drove to the cup for a dunk to try and give the Sharks the lead, but Johnson swatted the guard on a questionable no-call to retain UH’s advantage and send HPU head coach Jesse Nakanishi into a frenzy.

Nakanishi was assessed a technical foul, sparking a 13-0 run for the Rainbow Warriors to take control with just over nine minutes left to play before West snapped another scoring drought for the Sharks.

“Refs award aggressiveness,” Nakanishi said after the game. “Yeah, maybe I wasn’t happy with a few calls, but at the end of the day, that’s on us to be tougher.”

The Q’s – Quinton McCullough and Quentin Meza – scored the final 24 points for the Sharks to help fight back within single digits with 1:33 to play, but the effort ultimately fell short as Hawai’i netted 32-of-39 free throws throughout the night to help polish off an 88-76 win.

Josh Niusulu scored a season-high 12 points for the Sharks, knocking down three 3-pointers and blocking a shot in 29 minutes of action.

Gytis Nemeikša ended up with 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds in his third straight start for the Rainbow Warriors. Hunter Erickson and Yacine Toumi added 12 points each in the win while Harry Rouhliadeff chipped in 14 points off the bench in his return from injury.

Aaron Hunkin-Claytor did a little bit of everything for UH, scoring 11 points, grabbing five rebounds and handing out five assists in 38 minutes while being assessed the third and final technical foul of the night. Dre Bullock also scored 11 points and matched Nemeikša’s game-high eight rebounds while picking up two more steals and a block in the victory.

Hawai’i (5-2) will host North Dakota on Friday, November 28 with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. HT while Hawaii Pacific returns to action in a little over a week, hosting Chaminade on December 2 to begin PacWest play.

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Waimea Menehune seeking third football state title in four years

Waimea Menehune seeking third football state title in four years

Nov 23, 2025

Waimea Menehune seeking third football state title in four years

Waimea sophomores Kaikea Miyashiro and Kolby Correa celebrate after a Menehune touchdown. | Photo: Nate Ragragola

The Waimea football team is on the verge of a dynasty.

After a one-year absence, the Menehune are back in the First Hawaiian Bank Division II Football State Championships after a thrilling 27-26 semifinal win over Roosevelt at Hanapepe Ballpark Saturday afternoon.

Waimea built a 27-7 lead early in the second half before holding off a furious comeback by the Rough Riders to reach the team’s third state final in four years when they take on Kamehameha-Maui on Nov. 28 at Mililani’s John Kauinana Stadium.

“Total team effort,” said Waimea coach Kyle Linoz. “We played 3-deep on both sides of the ball today. We knew how good of a team Roosevelt was and if we didn’t bring everything we got and be perfect, we wouldn’t have a shot against them. Hats off to our kids, they got the job done.”

With both teams scoring four touchdowns apiece, it was a gutsy 2-point conversion stop that helped seal the win for the Menehune.

After scoring their third unanswered touchdown of the second half with two minutes to play in regulation, the Rough Riders (11-2) elected to go for the win instead of forcing overtime. Waimea got a great jump on the snap, forcing Roosevelt quarterback Kaeo Bush to scramble for his life before a throw into the end zone was broken up Kalawaia Martins.

“Bring the house and tighten your coverage and let it roll, and that’s exactly what I told them in the huddle,” Linoz said of the defensive gameplay on the 2-point try.

“One play, no tomorrow and thankfully it went our way.”

The nail-biting win also snapped a three-game losing streak by the Menehune as Waimea recorded its first win since Sept. 27 to improve to 4-5 overall.

While not an impressive record, It’s a result of circumstance. The Kauai Interscholastic Federation just has three football members which features a triple round-robin schedule between the three teams. Three of Waimea’s losses have come to reigning Division I state champion Kapa’a, who will try to defend its crown in the Division I final that follows the Division II championship game.

“I think this one is especially special because we have two games in the championship games out of three, and there’s only three teams in our league,” Linoz said.

“Just to show over and over again how much good football we have here on Kauai, not just the coaches doing their jobs but we have tremendous athletes out here. It’s good for them to show what they got at this stage. It’s special and unique that a three-team league has two guys in the championship. We’re proud of that.”

Waimea also dropped a 21-0 contest to Kauai High in the midst of its three-game losing streak, a team who denied a state tournament appearance to the Menehune a season ago.

“We take it not as losses but as learning lessons,” Linoz said. “Coach Mel Purcell (at Kauai High) and his staff is awesome. Coach Mike Tresler (at Kapa’a) and his staff is next level. We call them the juggernaut out there and we call Kauai High the big bad red wolf, so anybody can win on any day.”

Kickoff for the Division II state championship game is slated for 4:00 p.m.

Annual football showcase continues to grow in its third year

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The annual 808 P.R.O. Day football showcase continues to grow in its third year, drawing more than 200 participants and nearly 10 college programs to Waipahu High School’s Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex last Saturday. The event provides student-athlete with athletic...

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West’s big night helps power Hawaii Pacific past Saint Martin’s in home opener

West’s big night helps power Hawaii Pacific past Saint Martin’s in home opener

Nov 18, 2025

Hawaii Pacific G Joshua West holds the ball during a home victory against Saint Martin’s. The senior had a team-high 20 points & 8 rebounds to help lead the Sharks to a win in the home opener. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

West’s big night helps power Hawaii Pacific past Saint Martin’s in home opener

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 18, 2025

HONOLULU – Two-way stars are important as ever.

Hawaii Pacific University showed off their teeth on Tuesday night, handing Saint Martin’s University its first loss of the 2025-26 season inside the Shark Tank, 88-75. HPU senior guard Joshua West dominated on both ends, pouring in a team-high 20 points and eight rebounds while handing out four assists and snagging three steals in the win.

The win wrapped up a ruthless opening stretch for the Sharks, completing a run of three games in four days against GNAC foes with a 2,700-mile flight mixed in between the second and third games.

“Incredibly proud,” said HPU head coach Jesse Nakanishi of his emotions after the win. “We will never make excuses but there is no doubt we had a tough schedule. We had three games in four days – with travel back from Alaska included – and there is no excuse making from our guys.”

West was one of four Sharks to finish in double figures as HPU posted a season-high 88 points. Guards Avi Halpert and Quentin Meza chipped in 15 points each while combining to knock down six of the team’s 10 total made 3-pointers.

HPU G Quentin Meza rises up for a jumper against Saint Martin’s. The junior had 15 points and drained three 3-pointers in the win for the Sharks. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Maj Dusanic provided a physical presence in the frontcourt for the hosts, tacking on 13 points, six rebounds and a block in 31 minutes. Fellow forward Quinton McCullough chipped in six points, four rebounds, two steals and a pair of blocks and added the highlight of the night for the Sharks when he posterized SMU forward Nari Jordan in the second half.

HPU scored three of the first four baskets of the night to race out to a 7-2 advantage, but Saint Martin’s quickly responded as a trio of Saints knocked down triples to put the visitors up by two after four minutes of action.

A personal 10-2 run by Saints guard Dae’Kwon Watson helped grow the SMU lead to seven with 11:46 remaining in the opening half, but back-to-back buckets from Dusanic along with an and-one from West helped the Sharks cut the deficit back to a single score two minutes later.

Hawaii Pacific outscored Saint Martin’s by 14 points over the final 7:55 of the period, pushing into another gear to take a 53-43 advantage into the locker rooms.

After a slow back-and-forth start to the second half, McCullough returned the energy to the Shark Tank with his powerful poster dunk, driving baseline and elevating to give a 70-52 advantage to HPU with 12:59 left to play.

West pushed the lead over 20 for the Sharks with a pair of threes before Dusanic put the cherry on top with a two-handed slam, clinching the 88-73 victory to the delight of a packed crowd as HPU moved to 3-0 in home openers under Jesse Nakanishi.

“We really wanted to fill the stands and give the students and the community something to be proud of,” Nakanishi said when asked about the environment in the Shark Tank. “We put on a good show … and wanted it to be an exciting brand of basketball for them to witness and I think we provided that, so hopefully they keep coming back.”

Hawaii Pacific F Maj Dusanic hammers home a two-handed dunk in a win over Saint Martin’s. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Saint Martin’s had three players finish in double figures, led by Dae’Kwon Watson’s game-high 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Diego Trejo-Delgado added 15 points and four rebounds for the Saints while Mark Clegg Jr. chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds in the loss.

HPU held SMU standout guard Kaden Hansen to seven points on 3-of-12 shooting and 1-of-7 from long distance. Hansen entered Tuesday averaging nearly 25 points per game for the Saints but was consistently hounded by West and the Sharks all night.

After playing three games in four days and starting the season on the road, Hawaii Pacific will play seven straight in the islands with lone away games down the hill for an exhibition against the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and an island hopper flight to face PacWest foe UH-Hilo on the Big Island.

The Sharks return to action on Friday, November 21, hosting Western Washington at 7 p.m. as they look to push the win streak to three.

“I just encourage everybody to please come out and experience one game at the Tank and I think you’d be pleased and see how hard the guys play,” Nakanishi added. “I really believe there’s good basketball at all levels … there’s not a huge separation between Division I and Division II and there’s a lot of excitement at this level as well.”

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WAIPAHU — Jake Garcia and Jayse Braun connected for three touchdowns as Waipahu rolled past Wai’anae 42-14 in a homecoming game Friday night at the Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex. Garcia, a sophomore quarterback, completed 19 of 34 passes for 388...

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Built in Ke‘ehi, Bound for Glory: HPU Baseball Sets the Standard

Built in Ke‘ehi, Bound for Glory: HPU Baseball Sets the Standard

Nov 13, 2025

Built in Ke‘ehi, Bound for Glory: HPU Baseball Sets the Standard

HSRN STAFF | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 13, 2025

This week’s episode of Sharks Weekly showcased the heartbeat of a program that has rebuilt itself through toughness, humility, and an unwavering commitment to getting better every single day. Head coach Dane Fujinaka and seniors Noah Hata and Keanu Spenser joined the show to talk culture, leadership, and why HPU Baseball continues trending upward in one of the nation’s most competitive Division II regions.

Fujinaka enters his fifth season with a résumé that speaks for itself. Under his direction, the Sharks have recorded four consecutive years of improvement, climbed back into the PacWest postseason conversation, and delivered their best campaign since 2010.

He admitted that coaching wasn’t originally part of the plan—he had a business degree and little idea where he wanted to land after college—but the mentorship he felt from his own coaches made him want to create that same environment for the next generation. The catcher-turned-coach found joy in leading, teaching, and building something bigger than himself, a philosophy now woven into every inch of the program.

That buy-in is evident through veterans like Hata, a local product who’s been with Fujinaka since year one. He said his decision to stay all four years—even during an era when the transfer portal makes change easy—comes down to the person behind the program.

Growing up, many of his coaches knew Fujinaka, and the trust built early on made choosing HPU feel less like a leap and more like a natural step. Representing Hawai‘i on the college stage has only amplified that pride.

“It means everything,” Hata said, noting that being one of the early local players on the roster showed other island athletes what was possible.

Spenser, meanwhile, came to HPU last year from Queens University of Charlotte where he put up strong numbers in the ASUN Conference. What convinced him to head to Honolulu was the balance: a tight-knit, hard-working, JUCO-style mentality combined with the chance to play in paradise.

He said the culture made the transition seamless, and the expectations soon became second nature. “Winning becomes easier when everyone around you is committed to the standard,” he added.

Much of the show also highlighted the grit behind the program’s now-signature mantra: Ke‘ehi Built.

The team practices at Ke‘ehi Lagoon, a facility that demands toughness before players even lace up their cleats. Between long walks to the field, crowded tennis courts nearby, unpredictable weather, locked equipment rooms, and plenty of off-field distractions, the environment has hardened the Sharks into one of Division II’s toughest-minded groups.

Hata described it best—“when practice is harder than the game, the game becomes easy”—a philosophy that has turned Ke‘ehi into its own symbol of resilience.

Fujinaka also spoke about the depth of his roster, changes on his coaching staff, and why this year’s team has a higher ceiling than any he’s coached.

The pitching staff, now under the guidance of new assistant Zach Swanson, has made significant strides, and competition at every position has intensified. For Fujinaka, the next step is ensuring that leadership—especially from seniors like Hata and Spenser—keeps the group aligned and hungry.

“The talent is there,” he said. “The identity comes next.”

Both seniors closed the show with the same goal in mind: leaving HPU with a championship. After coming agonizingly close last season, neither is shy about what they’re chasing.

“I want a banner,” Hata said plainly. Spenser echoed it—winning the PacWest isn’t a dream; it’s the expectation.

As Fujinaka put it, when your leaders live the standard, the rest of the roster follows.

2026 FIRST PITCH PA‘INA FUNDRAISER

Saturday, January 17, 2026
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Sunset Ballroom, Aloha Tower

$1000 per table
$150 per individual ticket

Join HPU Baseball for an evening of celebration, community, and support featuring a keynote speaker, pūpū, live music, buffet, drinks, and raffles. All proceeds directly support the program’s continued growth and championship pursuit.

REGISTER HERE

Tanabe Leads the Way as HPU Tops Chaminade, 64–52

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Tanabe Leads the Way as HPU Tops Chaminade, 64–52 BY HSRN STAFF | HONOLULUPUBLISHED FEBRUARY 7, 2026HONOLULU - Hawai‘i Pacific University used a strong second quarter and balanced scoring to pull away from Chaminade, earning a 64–52 PacWest...

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Meza, Sharks enjoying benefits of perfect portal match BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED JANUARY 29, 2026HONOLULU – Last April wasn’t Quentin Meza’s first rodeo in the wild, wild world of college basketball’s transfer portal period. After...

Campbell’s Ashlyn Jacobsen to run XC and T&F for USF

Campbell’s Ashlyn Jacobsen to run XC and T&F for USF

Nov 12, 2025

Campbell’s Ashlyn Jacobsen to run XC and T&F for USF

Campbell senior Ashlyn Jacobsen will run year round for the Dons at the University of San Francisco. | Photo: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

WAIKIKI — From Ewa Beach to the Bay Area, there is no stopping Ashlyn Jacobsen.

The Campbell senior is set to compete in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field for the University of San Francisco after making her college decision final Wednesday morning at a signing day event at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort.

Jacobsen, the reigning 3000-meter girls state champion, said it was a huge weight off her shoulders to be able to close the chapter on the recruiting process and lock in on one school.

Click here for full list of signees and universities that they will be attending.

“It’s something that I’m not going to have to think about like ‘oh I have to run these certain times in track to make it to whatever school I want to go to,” she said. “I know where I’m going and (need to) update only one coach instead of seven different coaches.”

One of the things that drew Jacobsen to USF was how the campus features students from many different cultures.

“It really felt like a family there. They have a lot of students from different countries and so they have to make that home in San Francisco,” said Jacobsen.

Campbell senior Ashlyn Jacobsen competes in the 2025 Cross Country State Championships. | Photo: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

“I think because it’s a little further away from home, having that family aspect is what really drew me in. I felt like I was fitting in there. The freshmen has only been there for two weeks and they knew what they were doing. They were all so close. It just felt like there was a really strong bond there.”

Jacobsen will compete year round for the Dons, cross country in the fall, outdoor track and field in the spring and indoor track and field in the winter — which isn’t a season that is offered on the high school level in Hawai’i.

“I love it so much,” she said. “We don’t really have indoor here in Hawai’i, but that just gives me opportunity to travel to other places and run over there. It’s just overall such a great experience.”

The Campbell senior will be studying Kinesiology and hopes to be an athletic trainer or a college coach in the future.

HPU baseball lands solid player in Kaiser’s Tanner Kagimoto

HPU baseball lands solid player in Kaiser’s Tanner Kagimoto

Nov 12, 2025

HPU baseball lands solid player in Kaiser’s Tanner Kagimoto

Kaiser senior Tanner Kagimoto puts pen to paper and makes his commitment to HPU official Wednesday morning. | Photo: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

WAIKIKI — Don’t let his size fool you, Tanner Kagimoto is a legitimate baseball player.

The Kaiser senior infielder affirmed his commitment to play for the Hawai’i Pacific University baseball team when he put pen to paper Wednesday morning at a signing day event at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort.

“This recruiting process has been really fun getting to know all the coaches at HPU and just enjoying the process of me playing baseball almost my whole life and finally being ale to do one of my biggest dreams playing college baseball,” said Kagimoto.

Click here for full list of signees and universities that they will be attending.

He praised the culture of the Sharks’ baseball program in choosing to sign with them.

“What really drew me to them is the coaches and the kids and getting to know a lot of the teammates was really fun and being able to stay home and play at home with all my parents being able to watch me and support me throughout everything.” Kagimoto said.

Although he is only listed at 5-foot-5 and 120 pounds, HPU baseball coach Dane Fujinaka says Kagimoto plays much bigger than his size.

“Tanner has a fire and enthusiasm about him that we love,” said Fujinaka. “He’s 5’5 but plays like he’s 6’5. Every time you look up, he’s making a play or rounding a base. As undersized as he is, he made it really hard for us to not notice him in the recruiting process.

“He came to almost every weekend intra-squad scrimmage and has already involved himself so much into our program. He’s a Shark. I’m not sure how else I can describe him besides he’s ‘our kinda guy.’”

Kaiser coach Josh Halemanu also spoke highly of Kagimoto’s work ethic, saying “if we’re not practicing he’s somewhere else working out putting in extra work on the side.”

He also praised Kagimoto’s cognitive ability on the field.

“His baseball IQ is really high,” Halemanu said of Kagimoto. “He knows all the infield positions and he’s also a great outfielder. He knows how to get reads, take good angles. Just a really well-rounded baseball player.”

Kagimoto helped the Cougars reach the OIA Division I championship game in the spring while batting .333. He also logged 7 and 2/3 innings in three games with a 1.84 ERA and earned the win in a four-inning, three strikeout performance against Moanalua.