Kicker Kansei Matsuzawa today became the University of Hawaii football program’s first consensus All-American.

Matsuzawa, 26, earned the distinction after being selected today to the American Football Coaches Association’s All-America first team.

The NCAA recognizes five All-America teams. A “consensus” All-American is selected to three of those organizations’ first teams. Matsuzawa previously was named to the All-America first teams by the Walter Camp Foundation and the Associated Press. The Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America will announce their All-America teams this week.

“This is a result of my teammates and coaches,” Matsuzawa said, noting without them “I couldn’t have done this. I appreciate my family, and the state of Hawaii and Japan.”

Matsuzawa is a self-taught kicker from Chiba, Japan. The school-promoted “Tokyo Toe” converted his first 25 field-goal attempts this season to tie an FBS record for best start. The streak ended when he was wide right on a 30-yard attempt in the fourth quarter of the regular-season finale against Wyoming.

Last week, UH special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield declared Matsuzawa as “the best kicker in the country. And I’ll stand on the tallest mountain and scream it from the tallest mountain until the cows come home.”

The Rainbow Warriors will play Cal in the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl at the Ching Complex.

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Periods of heavy rain and hazardous ocean conditions continued today across parts of Hawaii, with the greatest flood risk focused on Kauai and Niihau as wet weather lingers into midweek.

The National Weather Service said a lingering weather system west of the islands is continuing to pull warm, moisture-heavy air northward, keeping showers in the forecast through at least early Tuesday. Some areas of Kauai and Oahu picked up another 1 to 2 inches of rain overnight, adding to already saturated ground from the weekend.

Forecasters said the flood watch remains in effect through late tonight for Kauai, Niihau and Oahu as even moderate rainfall could quickly turn into runoff. Flooding is most likely in low-lying areas, along streams and on roads that typically collect water.

While rainfall may be lighter than Sunday’s downpours, forecasters warned that slow-moving showers could linger over the same areas, raising the risk of flooding for streets and streams. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible, mainly over Kauai and Oahu, through early Tuesday.

Looking ahead, the flooding threat is expected to ease for Oahu by early Tuesday, but Kauai and Niihau could remain at risk through the middle of the week. Another cold front approaching from the northwest is forecast to stall near those islands, keeping skies mostly cloudy with periods of rain. Officials said flood watches may need to be extended for the western islands if conditions worsen.

Conditions should gradually improve late in the week, with fewer showers expected by Thursday and Friday. Tradewinds are forecast to return over the weekend, bringing drier air and more typical weather heading into the holiday week.

At the same time, dangerous surf remains a concern statewide. A large north-northwest swell is producing advisory-level waves along north- and west-facing shores. Surf heights of 15 to 20 feet along north-facing shores and 10 to 14 feet along west-facing shores are expected to continue through this evening for Niihau, Kauai and Oahu, before slowly easing.

High surf advisories remain in effect into early Tuesday for Molokai, Maui and parts of Hawaii island, where an earlier warning was downgraded as surf heights came in lower than expected. Ocean safety officials continue to urge the public to stay out of the water if conditions appear unsafe.

Marine conditions are also rough, with a small craft advisory in effect through 6 p.m. today for waters around Kauai and Oahu. Seas of 7 to 10 feet are making conditions hazardous for smaller boats, especially for inexperienced mariners.

Residents and visitors are urged to monitor forecasts closely, avoid flooded roads and heed all ocean and marine advisories.