The University of Hawaiʻi is honoring its newly crowned men’s volleyball team with a public celebration in Mānoa, as fans, school leaders and state officials gather to recognize a championship run that has once again placed the Rainbow Warriors at the top of college volleyball.
The celebration is being held at Bankoh Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the program set to begin at 6 p.m. Admission is free, making it an open event for supporters who followed the team throughout the season and its latest title push.
The event comes just days after Hawaiʻi defeated UC Irvine in four sets to win the 2026 NCAA men’s volleyball championship. After dropping the opening set, the Rainbow Warriors regrouped and took control of the match, closing out the title win 15-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-20 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.
It was the program’s third national championship and another landmark moment for head coach Charlie Wade’s side, which has remained one of the dominant forces in the sport in recent years. Hawaiʻi also finished the season with a 30-5 record, the most wins in program history.
The title run reinforced the program’s national standing and added another major achievement to a stretch that has kept the Rainbow Warriors in the championship conversation year after year. Hawaiʻi previously won back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, and this latest crown further strengthened the team’s reputation as one of the standard-bearers in men’s collegiate volleyball.
Wednesday’s public ceremony is designed not only to celebrate the championship itself, but also to recognize the bond between the team and its fan base. Support for the Rainbow Warriors has long been one of the defining features of volleyball in Hawaiʻi, and the turnout in Mānoa reflects how deeply the program is woven into the local sports culture.
University officials and public leaders are also expected to join the celebration, underlining the broader significance of the team’s achievement. Among those scheduled to attend are Gov. Josh Green, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, UH President Wendy Hensel and athletics director Matt Elliott. Television personality Billy V is serving as emcee for the event.
On the court, Hawaiʻi’s championship win was built on both resilience and balance. Kristian Titriyski led the team with 16 kills in the final, while Adrien Roure and Louis Sakanoko also played major roles in the offense. Sakanoko was later named the tournament’s most outstanding player after another strong performance in the title match.
Setter Tread Rosenthal helped direct the attack with 44 assists, while Hawaiʻi’s front line and serve pressure gradually wore down UC Irvine after a shaky first set. The Rainbow Warriors improved sharply as the match went on, turning an early deficit into a composed and convincing finish.
The championship was especially meaningful given the level of competition Hawaiʻi faced during the NCAA tournament. The 2026 edition marked the first year of an expanded 12-team championship field, adding another layer of difficulty to the road to the title. Hawaiʻi navigated that path successfully and finished the season by beating some of the nation’s top programs.
For fans in Honolulu, the public celebration offers a chance to salute a team that delivered one of the university’s biggest sports accomplishments of the year. It also gives players a moment to share the title with the community that supported them through the season, particularly for student-athletes whose families may not be nearby.
The mood in Mānoa is expected to be festive but also appreciative, with the ceremony serving as both a victory party and a recognition of the discipline, pressure and consistency required to win an NCAA championship. In a state where volleyball carries unusual weight and visibility, such achievements resonate far beyond campus.
Hawaiʻi’s latest title has now added another proud chapter to the program’s history, and the celebration in Mānoa reflects more than just one win. It is a public acknowledgment of a team that met expectations, responded under pressure and brought another national championship back to the islands.
