HONOLULU — They could get off the trolley this time.
The celebration of one men’s volleyball national championship was nice for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors last spring. The get-together for two, with COVID-19 restrictions loosened and fans welcomed back for parade meet-and-greets, was far better.
UH hired two title trolleys for its team and band — emblazoned with "Back to Back National Champions" banners and green trim — as it went from the Stan Sheriff Center to Washington Place for a ceremony with Gov. David Ige, then to Honolulu Hale for honors from Mayor Rick Blangiardi, and later to a Downtown Honolulu fan rally. Finally, the decorated vehicles, replete with police escort, wended their way through Waikiki and back to campus.
“It’s really kind of amazing,” UH coach Charlie Wade told Spectrum News at Honolulu Hale, which was to be lit up green Tuesday night in honor of University of Hawaii Men’s Volleyball Day.
“I don’t think this happens anywhere else, that if any other team wins a championship that they get recognized by the leaders in their community, by the governor and by the mayor and having people coming out, having a parade,” he said. “We’re so appreciative. Volleyball’s a big deal in Hawaii and it’s really fun to get out and celebrate with everybody.”
Most of the team was present. The two pin hitters from Greece who were so instrumental in allowing UH to earn the repeat championship against Long Beach State on May 7, Spyros Chakas and Dimitrios Mouchlias, had already left for the offseason, though. And now-former assistant coach Josh Walker has departed for Baylor to be a women’s volleyball assistant.
But enough were accounted for and recognizable that many passing vehicles honked, honoring a team that achieved the same end result as the powerhouse 2021 ‘Bows, but with a dramatically different cast in newfound roles. Setter Jakob Thelle, who guided the balanced group with his steady hands and blistering serves, spoke at the Honolulu Hale podium on behalf of the team, offering a “mahalo” to the community and fans for their devotion.
Ige, who sometimes appeared for UH matches along the Sheriff Center baseline, offered his own dueling proclamation for May 17 as “Rainbow Warriors Day” in the state as he read off a host of accomplishments by the team.
This year’s group, at 27-5, was not as seemingly invincible as the 2021 edition with its four All-Americans. But after two late-season losses to the rival Beach, the ‘Bows took things up a notch and played with a new level of cohesion the rest of the way to win matches handily.
With one exception, Ige noted with a smile.
“I have to admit, you guys made me really anxious and nervous in that semifinal match against Ball State,” the governor said. “I know you guys just wanted to add drama, but thanks Jakob for starting that fifth set with terrific serving, and Dimitrios for making sure that I could watch in a relaxed setting. Certainly, I had enough trauma over the past two years.”
Blangiardi, about an hour later, presented Wade with a giant, wooden key to the city — an honor he’d only extended one other time in his 16-month tenure as mayor, to Olympic surfing champion Carissa Moore.
“When you combine a great team with great coaching, this is what you get,” said Blangiardi, a former UH football player and assistant coach.
The players and staff received commemorative certificates. Wade, in turn, presented Ige and Blangiardi with framed pictures of the team.
The 2022 season coincided with the return of fans to live events, and by season’s end with the Big West tournament, SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center was roughly three-fourths full.
Middle Guilherme Voss, a valuable second middle in 2021 who became one of the most efficient players in the country in 2022, is used to seeing volleyball be treated as a big deal in his homeland of Brazil — but more so at the professional level.
“To see this kind of support for collegiate athletes is just very wholesome, it’s a beautiful thing,” he said.
Hitter Kana‘i Akana received honors for having the highest grade-point average of any player in the NCAA tournament, Blangiardi noted.
Akana, a Punahou alumnus, was one of the players who contributed to energetic and competitive practice sessions in which the “B” team pushed the “A” squad to new heights.
“It’s truly special,” Akana said of the second straight parade. “I mean, this year having a lot of ups and downs, but we couldn’t have done it without the support of the fans and the people of Hawaii. I think our demonstration of grit, hard work and perseverance in the championship is a testament to the core values that the state of Hawaii holds true. And we’re just proud and honored to be able to represent the people of Hawaii and bring home a national championship.”
Wade, speaking at the Honolulu Hale podium, said the team was well positioned to make a run at a third straight title. He expects all of his starters, and even most of his notable backups, to return.
He said Walker has been a “big part of the program for so long,” but that there has been a large amount of interest for the position on staff.
Spectrum News asked Voss and Akana when the drive for No. 3 begins.
Akana said the team has already returned to the weight room and is playing beach volleyball together as it heads into the offseason.
“I mean, it starts as soon as I get my two weeks of rest,” Voss said with a laugh. “But after that, we’re already going to be working, because like we said, I’m pretty sure that of the starting roster, none of us are leaving. So there’s no reason why we can’t make it a third one.”
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.