10 Reasons To Choose Hawai'i


1. Academic Reputation
The University of Hawai'i's academic reputation has gained favorable reviews in several national publications. UH is listed among the top 59 research universities in the United States according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. UH is also one of a dozen institutions in the nation designated as a land, space, and sea grant institution. Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine in 1998 listed UH in the top 10 percent of nearly 600 institutions surveyed as a "best value" in quality and price for college education. Two years ago, UH researchers became the first in the United States to successfully clone animals when they cloned 50 lab mice.

2. Academic Support
The UH Athletic Department's commitment to academic excellence provides the opportunity for all student-athletes to complete their degree even after their eligibility expires. According to the NCAA, UH holds the 17th highest student-athlete graduation rate (75 percent) among the 180 NCAA Division I public universities offering athletic scholarships.

3. Head Coach Dave Shoji
In 25 years of coaching, Dave Shoji has accumulated an astonishing 710-137-1 overall record. His .838 winning percentage ranks him third all-time in NCAA women's volleyball history, while his 710 wins place him fourth all-time among active coaches. Shoji's teams have won four national titles and have finished runners-up five times. In conference play, Shoji has directed the Wahine to nine regular-season conference titles, and a 57-1 mark in four years in the WAC. He also stands among the elite women's volleyball coaches in national championships, post-season wins, and post-season appearances. In addition, Shoji's teams have never posted a losing season in 25 years. He has earned the distinction of conference coach-of-the-year five times and won national coach-of-the-year honors in 1982.
4. Technical Training
An important aspect of the Hawai'i coaching philosophy is technical training. An experienced coaching staff is dedicated to the development of individual skills in each player, allowing them to excel at the collegiate level and beyond. The program continually produces players who are recognized as some of the most skilled in the nation. Hawai'i women's volleyball team members have a long history of successful playing careers well after their collegiate eligibility. Shoji has augmented his coaching philosophy with one of the best teaching/training coaches in the country. Assistant coach Charlie Wade is nationally recognized and respected for his hands-on approach to teaching technique and motivating practices. His spirited practices and technical expertise have helped to develop numerous top collegiate and national team players.
5. National Schedule
Year in and year out, Shoji continues to schedule nationally competitive teams in order to boost the team's strength of schedule. Playing these teams has heightened the Wahine's competitiveness, as they have dominated their conference, capturing nine division and league titles and four national championships. This year's schedule is no different, as the Wahine will meet six teams that participated in last season's NCAA Tournament. Once again, the Wahine will host two preseason tournaments: the 6th Annual Aston's Imua Wahine Volleyball Challenge and the prestigious 13th Annual Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic. Hawai'i will open its 27th year of competition against Texas A&M in the Classic, the same team that eliminated the Wahine from the NCAA Tournament last year.

6. Fan Support/Media Attention
No other university in the country enjoys the magnitude of fan support for women's volleyball that Hawai'i does: it has led the nation in attendance for the past six years. Since the Stan Sheriff Center opened in October 1994, the program has drawn more than 800,000 fans for an average of 7,126 per match. The 1996 season saw Hawai'i break national attendance records for total attendance (184,314) and average per match (8,378). The Sheriff Center proves to be a huge homecourt advantage for the Rainbow Wahine, as they hold an 103-10 record in the facility for a winning percentage of 91 percent. Wahine volleyball has also attracted extensive local media coverage. All home matches are televised live throughout the state on KFVE-Television. In addition, all home and road matches are broadcast on radio live via KCCN Rainbow Sports Radio. The Wahine also gain significant coverage in the two daily newspapers and various magazines.
7. Facilities
Aloha Stadium, home of the Warrior football team seats 50,000 fans. The Stan Sheriff Center houses the UH basketball and volleyball teams and seats 10,300 fans. Rainbow Stadium, home of the UH baseball team, was voted the best college baseball facility in the nation in 1994. In 1998, the new Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium opened, seating 1,200. The men's and women's swimming and diving teams and the women's water polo team enjoy the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex, which features one of the fastest competition pools in the country, as well as facilities for diving. The Alexander C. Waterhouse Physiology Research and Training Facility, located in the Stan Sheriff Center, provides UH student-athletes a 10,000-square-foot weight room furnished with $300,000 worth of the finest weight equipment available. The Academic Center provides student-athletes with the resources they need to balance their studies with their athletic schedule in preparation for life after UH.

8. Strength Program
The UH volleyball strength and conditioning regimen strives to enhance a student-athlete's performance and prevent injury, thereby developing a better volleyball player. From the time they enter the program until they leave, players undergo strength-testing three times a year and their progress is recorded. Workouts are broken into three cycles: in-season, off-season, and summer. The in-season workouts are performed two to four times per week, the off-season workouts take place during the spring, and the summer workouts run from the end of school until fall camp. Speed, strength, and conditioning workouts take place four times per week during the spring and summer, each workout tailored to particular positions.
9. The Tradition
No other program at UH boasts national championship titles, three former Olympians, and a rich history of extraordinary success as does Wahine volleyball. In 26 seasons, the Wahine have yet to post a losing campaign, while notching a dozen 30-plus win seasons and advancing to post-season play in all but one year. Only three other schools have more post-season wins than Hawai'i's 40 victories in 18 NCAA Tournament appearances. UH has ended the year ranked in the Top 10 in 15 seasons and has advanced to NCAA Regional play 16 times. Numerous individual awards have been bestowed upon the Wahine, including two national players-of-the-year, nine conference players-of-the-year, 26 All-Americans and 71 all-conference honorees. A total of 11 former Wahine participated on the U.S. national team and 13 have played on the professional circuit.

10. Hawai'i Experience
In addition to the many great features unique to the University of Hawai'i, the islands themselves offer a tremendous experience. The 50th state, particularly the capital of Honolulu, has a wealth of cultures and histories, as well as warm, sunny weather during the volleyball season. A stay of any length in Hawai'i exposes one to the richness of languages, religions, races, foods, and lifestyles from many parts of the world.