Hawaii

Doyle makes good on 2nd chance entering Hawaii water polo senior night

Published

11 months ago

April 6, 2025

Doyle makes good on 2nd chance entering Hawaii water polo senior night

HONOLULU — Bernadette Doyle earned her rare second chance to be piled high with lei and jump in the pool.

The Hawaii water polo senior attacker from Auckland will complete a belated chapter of her unconventional college career when the No. 3 Rainbow Wahine host No. 7 UC Irvine on senior night Saturday at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

Doyle was an up-and-comer with the program, in the second year of her Wahine career when COVID hit and canceled the second half of the 2020 season. Her version of the pandemic pivot was a trip home to attend school in New Zealand to get an undergraduate degree in photo media while also competing prominently for her national team.

She would move to Greece to play a season for a club. That experience, along with a timely push from her family, made her decide she had some unfinished business in the islands.

Three-plus years after her UH career appeared to be over, she decided to give it another shot.

“(It was) not knowing the language and the facilities and the community and the sun and all these things that I maybe took for granted the first time around,” Doyle said this week of her European experience, “and then also my dad, he really encouraged me to come back.” Maureen Cole, who retired as UH coach after last season, also pushed for her to return, she said.

“I think it’s been the best decision for me for water polo and just in general, for my life moving forward,” Doyle said.

Doyle, whose 5-foot-6 stature belies her status as a two-way threat in the pool, was a key player in UH’s run to the national semifinals in 2024 and is one reason the Wahine think they can make another postseason push.

Under first-year head coach James Robinson, UH (15-3, 4-0 Big West) enters senior night against its chief conference rival Irvine (13-9, 4-0) having won 14 straight league games dating to last season. The Wahine have also registered marquee wins over the likes of Cal and UCLA this year.

Doyle is one of four players who will be traditionally honored Saturday, along with Jordan Wedderburn, Morgan Rios and Stevilyn Griffin.

“They have been a part of the most successful stretch of Wahine water polo, really, in history,” Robinson said. “And so for them to be a part of this transition, this new season has been super helpful that they understand the standards, the expectations of what our program wants to achieve and what we hope to achieve every time we jump into a pool.”

Doyle is celebrated by teammates a cerebral player with a hard-nosed work ethic to match. She was the MVP of last spring’s Big West tournament, when she scored four goals with four steals in the final against Long Beach State, and went on to be named a ACWPC second-team All-American.

She surpassed 100 career goals this season, but some of her biggest impact has come on the defensive end.

A major unintended benefit of her decision to finish out a college career that has spanned seven years was the opportunity to play with her sister, Gabrielle, a Wahine freshman who is five and a half years younger.

“I never thought that this would happen,” Doyle said. “I think I had half a year in primary school with her, which was also obviously a great experience, like 15 years ago. … I think everything happens for a reason. Obviously, this is it.”

The Doyle sisters have teamed to record 54 steals this season, with Bernadette leading the team with 30 and Gabrielle tied for second at 24.

Bernadette’s pair of swipes in overtime keyed the Wahine to an overtime win over Long Beach State two weeks ago. Despite her compact frame, she also leads the team in field blocks, with 10.

UH’s other seniors have been impactful, as well.

Wedderburn, of Johannesburg, South Africa, served as a captain for her country in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Like Doyle, she surpassed 100 career goals this season; Wedderburn has 47 this year.

“We just want to do everyone Hawaii proud,” Wedderburn said. “We want to do our families proud. We want to do each other proud. We want to do James proud. So, yeah, it’s, it’s a lot riding on Saturday night.”

Rios, a five-year UH player from Santa Ana, Calif., has a career-high 11 goals this season.

Griffin, of Upland, Calif., came over from Arizona State for her last two years of eligibility. She has 14 goals this season, including two hat tricks.

UH and UCI have combined for 10 of the last 11 Big West regular-season championships.

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

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Hawaii

Lawsuit claims Hawaiian-Alaska Airlines merger creates monopoly on Hawaii flights

Published

11 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Lawsuit claims Hawaiian-Alaska Airlines merger creates monopoly on Hawaii flights

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – An effort to break up the Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines merger is heading back to court.

Passengers have filed an appeal seeking a restraining order that would preserve Hawaiian as a standalone airline.

The federal government approved the deal in 2024 as long as Alaska maintained certain routes and improved customer service.

However, plaintiffs say the merger is monopolizing the market, and cite a drop in flight options and a rise in prices.

According to court documents filed this week, Alaska now operates more than 40% of Hawaii’s continental U.S. routes.

Hawaii News Now has reached out to Alaska Airlines and is awaiting a response.

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Column by Pele Harman: Celebrating Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, bringing Hawaiian language to life at UH Hilo – UH Hilo Stories

Published

23 hours ago

February 26, 2026

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Column by Pele Harman: Celebrating Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, bringing Hawaiian language to life at UH Hilo – UH Hilo Stories

At UH Hilo, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is not simply a subject taught in classrooms, it is a living language that connects us to this place, to one another, and to the generations who came before us.

This column is by Pelehonuamea Harman, director of Native Hawaiian engagement at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. In her columns, Pele shares Native Hawaiian protocols on the use of ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), cultural traditions, traditional ways of Indigenous learning, and more. This column is on Mahina ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month), celebrated every February to honor the Hawaiian language.

Pele Harman portrait with lei and head lei. — Pelehonuamea Harman

Each year, the month of Pepeluali marks Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, a time dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the Hawaiian language. At the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is not simply a subject taught in classrooms, it is a living language that connects us to this place, to one another, and to the generations who came before us.

While Pepeluali gives us a focused moment of celebration, the Hawaiian language should not live only within a single month. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi thrives when it is used every day.

One of the simplest and most meaningful ways to begin is by pronouncing the words we already encounter daily with accuracy and care. Hawaiian is an oral language carried through voice and relationship. When we take the time to say words correctly, we demonstrate respect for the language and for the poʻe (people) who have worked tirelessly to ensure its survival.

Across our own campus, we have opportunities to do this every day.

Let us honor the names of our places by using them fully:

Person takes a photo of the mural of Edith Kanakaʻole portrait on the side of Edith Kanakaʻole Hall, UH Hilo campus. — An attendee at celebrations on May 6, 2023, takes a photo of the new Edith Kanakaʻole mural by artist Kamea Hadar. The mural is located at Edith Kanakaʻole Hall, named after beloved educator Aunty Edith, on the campus of UH Hilo. (Photo: UH System News)

Kanakaʻole Hall, not “K-Hall.” (Formally Edith Kanakaʻole Hall, named after our beloved kumu.)

Waiʻōlino, not “CoBE,” for our College of Business and Economics. (Formally Hānau ʻO Waiʻōlino; waiʻōlino literally means sparkling waters, alluding here to bringing forth waters of wellbeing and prosperity.)

These names are not merely labels for buildings. They carry ʻike (knowledge), history, and meaning. Speaking them in their entirety acknowledges the stories and values embedded within them.

Using ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi does not require fluency. It simply requires willingness. Each of us already knows words we can begin using more intentionally.

Greet one another with aloha.

Express gratitude with mahalo whenever possible.

Small choices like these help normalize Hawaiian language in our daily interactions and strengthen UH Hilo’s identity as a place grounded in Hawaiʻi.

One of the most common questions I am asked is: How do you respond in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi when someone says “mahalo” to you?

Here are three simple and appropriate responses:

ʻAʻole pilikia — It’s no problem.

He mea iki — It is just a little thing.

Noʻu ka hauʻoli — The pleasure is mine.

There is no single correct answer. What matters most is participating in the exchange and allowing the language to live through conversation.

Aerial view of UH Hilo campus with Hilo Bay in the background. — Aerial view of the UH Hilo campus with Hilo Bay in the distance. UH Hilo’s commitment to Native Hawaiian success and place-based education calls on all of us to help create an environment where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is visible, audible, and welcomed. (Archive photo)

UH Hilo holds a unique and important role as Hawaiʻi Island’s university. Our commitment to Native Hawaiian success and place-based education calls on all of us to help create an environment where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is visible, audible, and welcomed.

You do not need to wait until you feel ready. You do not need to know many words. The language grows stronger each time it is spoken.

So during Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and throughout the entire year I encourage the UH Hilo ʻohana to:

Use the Hawaiian words you already know.
Pronounce names and places with intention and care.
Greet others with aloha.
Share mahalo often.

Because when we use ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, we are doing more than speaking words, we are helping to perpetuate and uplift the native language of our home.

E ola ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
Let the Hawaiian language live.

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Kainoa Wade puts down 16 kills as No. 3 UH beats No. 6 BYU in 4 | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

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Kainoa Wade puts down 16 kills as No. 3 UH beats No. 6 BYU in 4 | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

George F. Lee / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Tread Rosenthal, Trevell Jordan and Louis Sakanoko put up a triple block against BYU Cougars Trevor Herget during Wednesday’s NCAA men’s volleyball match at the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

Kainoa Wade came on strong to lead another balanced Hawaii attack with 16 kills and the third-ranked Rainbow Warriors responded to a rare set loss in a big way to defeat No. 6 Brigham Young 27-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18 tonight.

A Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 4,800, who showed up for a match scheduled just three weeks ago as a late addition to the schedule, saw Hawaii (13-1) drop the second set despite hitting .538.

UH had full command of the rest of the match and finished the night hitting .460 as a team. Louis Sakanoko added 15 kills, six digs and three aces and Adrien Roure had 14 kills in 24 swings.

Middle Travell Jordan posted a season-high seven kills in 11 swings with four blocks and Ofeck Hazan, who came into the match to start the third set, had four kills and two blocks.

Trent Moser had 18 kills to lead the Cougars (13-3), whose previous two losses came in five sets against No. 4 UC Irvine.

UH’s loss in the second set was just its sixth of the season and third in its 13 wins. Hawaii has won 10 matches in a row.

The two teams will play again on Friday night at 7.

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