Hawaii
Largely unseen Hawaii men's basketball team readies for debut in Rainbow Classic
HONOLULU — Time to pull back the curtain.
At last, the Hawaii men’s basketball team will perform live in front of its primary audience as it opens the 2024-25 regular season against NAIA school Life Pacific in the Outrigger Rainbow Classic at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on Friday night.
This year’s preseason was unusual in that it did not feature an exhibition in its home venue. UH played Hawaii Hilo on the Big Island and Chaminade on Maui. Neither game was televised or live streamed, and only the Hilo game was broadcast on the radio.
UH held a “Rainbow Madness” introductory event in the Sheriff last month but it did not feature any up-and-down action.
It all contributed to an sense of mystery for a roster that was heavily rebuilt from the 20-14 squad that bowed out in the Big West semifinals in March.
UH brought in four Division I transfers to help provide an immediate impact from the loss of its top six scorers, including an All-Big West second-teamer at forward in Justin McKoy and two career 1,000-point scorers in Noel Coleman and Bernardo da Silva. There are three more international additions and two high school graduates who made the direct leap.
“The sooner you know, the better,” 10th-year coach Eran Ganot said to a question of his preferred lineup on Tuesday. “With this team, I’d say we’ve been experimenting more. We don’t want to make quick judgments when guys are still getting comfortable. But a group has emerged and I feel like we have some key guys coming off the bench to create a spark. There’s still some competing going on.”
UH, which is set to join the Mountain West as a full member in 2026-27, will attempt to overcome expectations and earn the program’s first postseason appearance since Ganot’s first season in 2016-17. The Rainbow Warriors were picked to finish seventh in the Big West coaches preseason poll.
The starting lineup will feature, at minimum, four players either new to the roster or unused to having their name read out to the crowd in pregame introductions.
That level of transition was apparent in the team’s preseason results. UH committed 54 turnovers and won by a combined eight points in the two games against local Division II teams.
Point guard, while always crucial, is the position to watch as the Rainbow Warriors find their way. Sophomore Tom Beattie is getting the first crack at the job, though UH has employed Houston Christian transfer Marcus Greene, freshman Aaron Hunkin-Claytor and walk-on-turned-scholarship guard Kody Williams at the position.
Ganot is fond of pairing point guards together in the backcourt, a la JoVon McClanahan and Juan Munoz last year.
“You want to have guys emerge. You don’t want to have a revolving door,” Ganot said.
Beattie, a 6-foot-5 New Zealander who made a name with his hustle plays last season, acknowledged his 12 turnovers against five assists in the exhibitions and said that he is still learning how to operate the offense while guarding opponents’ best perimeter player on defense. But, he added, he is up for the challenge.
The team’s giveaways, which happened on anything from inbounds passes against the press, in the open court and in the halfcourt, are “just things we can’t have,” Beattie said.
“I feel like it was just our sloppiness,” Beattie said. “Not making a firm pass, not being strong with the ball. The ball was taken from our hands probably five times in that Hilo game.”
The only returning starter, wing Ryan Rapp, missed both exhibitions with a hand injury and is questionable to play in the three-games-in-four-days round-robin tournament. Williams missed the Chaminade game but is available.
Rapp and Beattie were recently named co-captains.
The Rainbow Classic, while a storied piece of the program’s history, has been an inconsistent presence on the UH schedule in recent years. It was left off in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2023 due to difficulties filling out the field.
San Jose State (0-1) of the Mountain West and Pacific (1-0) of the West Coast Conference lead off the tournament at 4:30 p.m. preceding UH’s opener.
“We’re a lot like everybody right now, so it’ll be a lot of new faces for all the teams, learning about each other on the fly and how quickly we can make those adjustments in real time,” Ganot said.
The inclusion of Life Pacific marked the third time in the last five editions of the Rainbow Classic that a non-Division-I team was part of the field.
Life Pacific faced five Division I opponents in the 2023-24 season and had an average margin of loss of 29.6 points. The Warriors of San Dimas, Calif., played at Loyola Marymount on Monday and lost 99-56.
Friday’s game will not officially count for Life Pacific (1-0), though it will for UH. LPU is expected to come at UH with a smallball attack; the visiting Warriors top out at 6 feet 8.
UH will likely look to leverage its size, including with 6-foot-10 sophomore Akira Jacobs at small forward. Jacobs scored 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting against a similarly undersized Chaminade lineup.
Jacobs, who played for his native Japan in the 2024 Paris Olympics, is anxious to display that he is more than a 3-point specialist.
“Last year’s experience playing the 4, it was a very valuable experience playing against stronger (players),” Jacobs said. “I think that’s really helped me now that I’ve moved back to the wing. Having more height and being physically stronger than a lot of wings, I want to use that to my advantage in the games.”
There are opportunities aplenty around up front with the losses of McKoy, da Silva and Mor Seck, the affable 7-footer who went into the transfer portal and ended up at Fresno State.
Utah Tech transfer Tanner Christensen, a 6-10, 265-pound center with a deft outside touch, was UH’s most consistent player in the exhibitions; he posted a double-double in each game. Christensen has drawn raves (and administered bruises) with his physical screen-setting to free up guards.
UH is also expected to get an instant impact from Xavier transfer Gytis Nemeiksa (pronounced NAY-MAKE-SHA), a rugged, 6-8 Lithuanian with a dour countenance.
“You guys saw the game face,” Ganot moments after Nemeiksa walked past a media scrum. “We talk a lot about ‘the look.’ We don’t have to tell him that.”
Nemeiksa started 20 games for the Musketeers, averaging 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds.
“I expect him to follow the lead of what Kamaka (Hepa) and Jerome Desrosiers and Justin McKoy have done in the past,” Ganot said of the senior. “They’ve also had a process to go through. … But the potential’s there, the talent’s there, the desire’s there. He’s gotta stay with it.”
Along with junior Harry Rouhliadeff, UH is also expected to include Valparaiso transfer Jerome Palm in the frontcourt rotation. Palm, a vocal presence at 6-10 and 225 pounds, has enthusiastically battled the beefier Christensen on a daily basis.
“They come in and have that physicality from the get-go,” Beattie said of the bigs. “They have some of the biggest voices in the locker room. Experience, knowledge, and very smart dudes.”
SJSU went 9-23 last season and Pacific was 6-26.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The search for Honolulu’s next police chief is moving into the next phase.
The Honolulu Police Commission announced it has narrowed the candidate pool to six semi-finalists, selected from an initial list of 11 applicants identified by a recruitment firm.
“The commissioners feel these six applicants exhibited the leadership and management skills necessary to lead an organization as large, complex and critical to the community as the Honolulu Police Department,” said member of the Honolulu Police Commission, Chair Laurie Foster.
“Those qualities were identified in part by surveys and stakeholder interviews conducted by the recruitment firm,” she added.
The names of the semi-finalists have not been released. Officials said confidentiality is being maintained at this stage to encourage applicants who may still be employed elsewhere.
The candidates will next be interviewed by stakeholder panels made up of community members and others who interact with the Honolulu Police Department.
The commission is expected to select finalists during a May 6 meeting, with those names to be announced afterward.
Finalists will then participate in additional interviews and a public appearance before the commission votes on the next police chief at a public meeting scheduled for May 20.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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Hawaii offers a wide range of small towns across its islands, each with its own draw. The state has hikes among active volcanoes near Volcano Village and long stretches of coastline like Waimanalo Beach on Oahu. One town below sits on a crescent-shaped bay that has drawn visitors for decades. Another holds a winery on volcanic slopes. The list ahead covers seven small towns spanning beach and inland Hawaii.
Hanalei
On the north shore of Kauai, the census-designated place of Hanalei is known for a laid-back atmosphere, a crescent-shaped bay, and a small collection of shops and restaurants. Hanalei Beach is a stretch of fine sand and clear water, and has been featured in films including The Descendants and South Pacific. It has been ranked among the state’s best beaches, with picnic tables, good surfing, and kayaking all within reach. Within walking distance is the Hanalei Inn, a small retro-style lodging near downtown.
Further into town is the Wai’oli Mission House, a historic two-story missionary home built in 1837 and preserved as a museum. Tours run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, covering the lives of the missionaries who lived there. Near Black Pot Beach is Pat’s Taqueria, a Mexican food truck serving Hawaiian-style tacos, burritos, and quesadillas within walking distance of the Hanalei Pier. Locals and visitors both favor it for its locally sourced ingredients.
Pāʻia
In the north of Maui is Pāʻia (also spelled Paia), a walkable community with local surf shops, restaurants, and ocean views. Lower Pāʻia Park is one of the more photographed beaches in the state, with calm waters good for snorkeling, surfing, and swimming. Basketball courts, a skatepark, and a youth center sit nearby. Near the beach, the Surf Club is an event venue for weddings, dinners, and corporate or private functions, with a short walk back to downtown.
Wabisabi Soba and Sushi is a sushi restaurant on the Hana Highway known for its 100 percent buckwheat Jyuwari soba noodles. The interior and garden lean Japanese, and the restaurant is BYOB. The Rip Curl Surf Shop in downtown stocks swimwear, boardshorts, surf accessories, hats, surfboard covers, and apparel for anyone heading out to the waves.
Waimanalo
On the east side of Oahu is Waimanalo, a community with a three-mile stretch of beaches, a laid-back culture, and an agricultural character. At the eastern end of town is Sea Life Park Hawaii, an aquarium and animal sanctuary home to dolphins, sharks, sea lions, native fish, rays, and birds. Visitors can interact with animals in the water, visit penguin habitats, meet sea lions, and see sea turtles. Waimanalo Beach is a wide stretch of white sand backed by the Ko’olau Mountains, with turquoise water for swimming and surfing, and Waimanalo Beach Park shaded by ironwood trees. Parking is limited, especially on weekends and holidays, so arriving early is best.
Further inland, Olomana Golf Links is an 18-hole par-72 course with the Ko’olau Mountains in the background. Former U.S. President Barack Obama has played here, and professional golfer Michelle Wie trained on the course. The Waimanalo Forest Reserve is farther still, with quiet hikes on trails such as the ‘Ohana Trail and the Maunawili Ditch Trail, home to wild birds, small mammals, and reptiles, along with views of Maunawili Falls within the 500-acre reserve.
Volcano
Volcano, or Volcano Village, sits as the gateway to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in a cool, damp rainforest setting. The park is home to two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and Mauna Loa, the largest shield volcano in the world. The rest of the park holds geographical features that often require multiday trips to reach. Visitors can view lava eruptions, hike, and explore the rolling hills of the Kahuku Unit.
In the heart of town, the Lava Lodge at Hale Kilauea offers cottages for visitors exploring the park. Each cottage has a small tropical garden. The hotel is within walking distance of the Lava Rock Cafe, which serves burgers, pancakes, and local Hawaiian dishes. Volcano Winery is one of only a few wineries in the state, with views of Mauna Loa and a rare chance to taste Big Island wines on the Big Island itself.
Lānaʻi City
At the center of the island of Lānaʻi is Lānaʻi City, a plantation town with historic homes, local restaurants and shops, and a walkable center. On Lanai Avenue, Dreams Come True Bed and Breakfast is a renovated property with mountain views and a garden. Further up in town, the Lānaʻi Culture and Heritage Center preserves the island’s history, traditional cultures, and plantation past through photographs and artifacts.
The Lānaʻi Art Center is within walking distance of the Culture and Heritage Center. It serves as a studio space for local artists, features a gallery, offers classes and workshops, and is the island’s main community arts program. On the outskirts of town is the Koloiki Ridge Trailhead, a roughly 5-mile trail that follows old cattle paths and opens up to panoramic views of the island.
Honokaa
On the northeastern coast of the Big Island is Honokaa, a census-designated place with plantation-era architecture and a role as gateway to Waipi’o Valley. The Honokaa Heritage Center is a museum covering the town’s history, with research materials and exhibits of photographs and artifacts. The center hosts the Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival every October, dedicated to the state’s plantation history with parades and a festival fair. South of the heritage center is the Hāmākua Country Club, a nine-hole course and one of the oldest on the island, set 1,200 feet above sea level with views of the Pacific Ocean. Carts are available for rent, and the course hosts tournaments.
Waipi’o Valley is just west of town. It was the boyhood home of King Kamehameha and is considered one of the most sacred places on the Big Island. Trails such as the Muliwai Trail lead into the tropical valley, where coconuts, green bananas, and papayas grow. Note that valley access is currently restricted to Hawaii residents.
Makawao
Upcountry from Paia is the census-designated place of Makawao, a community with boutique shops, art galleries, and an upcountry character. Makawao Public House is a gastropub serving local fare and paying tribute to the town’s past. On Baldwin Avenue, Banyan Tree Bed and Breakfast sits on 2.5 acres of gardens with cottages for stays, a short drive from local restaurants and shops.
On the southern outskirts of town is the Kahakapao Loop Trail, a 5.9-mile route in the Makawao Forest Reserve that is a popular hiking and mountain biking spot. At roughly 4,000 feet, the rainforest setting offers a cooler alternative to a beach day. At the northern edge of town, the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center operates as a cultural hub with a gallery, classes, workshops, a gallery shop, and exhibits by local community members.
Small-Town Hawaii
Hawaii’s small towns provide a different side of the state from the major resorts, with local character, natural features, and regional history. Makawao draws visitors to the Makawao Forest Reserve. Volcano offers access to two of the state’s most active peaks. Waimanalo’s white-sand beach anchors the east side of Oahu. Each of these communities offers something different from the others, but all share a strong sense of place.
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