HONOLULU — Ending months of speculation in his future, Kamehameha boys volleyball star Kainoa Wade announced Thursday he plans to keep things all in the family and play for the University of Hawaii.

Wade, a 6-foot-8 sophomore and highly sought recruiting prospect who nearly led the Warriors to the HHSAA Division I state championship in May, announced on social media his commitment to play for UH and his father, head coach Charlie Wade.

“Stoked to announce my commitment to play Division 1 Volleyball at the University of Hawaii,” Wade wrote in an Instagram post. “Thank you to all the coaches, family, and friends who helped me get to this point. Dreams do come true. Go Bows.”

He can officially sign during his senior season of 2024-25 to play at UH for the 2026 season. Charlie Wade can’t officially comment on his son’s commitment until he signs.

Kainoa Wade has been a fixture at UH games over his father’s 14 years at the helm of UH men’s volleyball. He was hard to miss sitting close to behind the UH bench at the Stan Sheriff Center in recent years as UH made runs at national championships.

After being limited by an injury for much of his freshman season with the Kamehameha varsity team, Wade broke out in a huge way as a sophomore with plenty of room to grow, physically with his body and figuratively with his game.

He was an extremely high-usage player in Coach Sava Agpoon’s system, taking upward of 60 swings on a regular basis. He attempted 88 in the state championship match against nine-time defending state champ Punahou, putting down 30 kills with 10 digs, 10 blocks and three aces in the five-set loss.

He had a 46-kill match against Iolani in the ILH regular season.

The person who, perhaps more than anyone else, had to devise ways to minimize Wade’s all-around impact, Punahou coach Rick Tune, was among those who glowed about him the most throughout the 2023 season.

“He’s just a special player. And he’s a special kid too,” Tune said after the state final. “The human being as equally as impressive as the volleyball talent on the court, and I truly mean that. Nothing but respect for that guy.”

Wade told Spectrum News right after the final loss that his team would be back.

Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.