MĀNOA — Ahead of what promises to be a sobering trip to Maui this weekend, the University of Hawai‘i soccer team spent their Wednesday afternoon preparing lei for Lahaina wildfire victims.
Before members of the team got started, they gathered and received a brief explanation of the cultural significance of lei making from Kahala Rowe, the sister of UH associate head coach Ula Rowe. Kahala Rowe told the players to have positive mana while crafting the lei, which involved twisting and crossing lau lau leaves to ensure tight and uniform lei.
Each member of the team was tasked with making two lei. Once complete, they went into a cooler, which will be transported to Maui along with the team. The lei made by the Rainbow Wahine will be placed at memorials honoring victims of the Lahaina wildfires.
On Sunday, the 'Bows will take on Seattle University in an exhibition game in Pukalani. Soccer will come second to both teams in the Valley Isle this weekend, as the primary focus will be on the anniversary of the wildfires, which began on Aug. 8, 2023.
The wildfires still hit close to home for members of the UH soccer team, which features nine players that graduated from high schools across the state. That includes senior midfielder Leila Kahoano, an O‘ahu native who volunteered at a shelter at Baldwin High School in Wailuku in the immediate aftermath of the devastation.
"I got to hear so many testimonies, and we also had many family friends that went through a lot of struggle, and that kind of just put it into perspective," Kahoano said. "People lost their homes. People lost everything. People lost family, and that's just something you can never replace. For us to show that we obviously support them, that we love them, even though they might not know us, is a really big part of who Hawai‘i is and who we are as an institution here."
Kahala Rowe's advice in embracing lei making as a spiritual experience were words Kahoano and her teammates took to heart.
"Intention in any aspect, not just lei making, not just in soccer, but in life, the intention that you put into into the things you have is what you're going to receive out of it," Kahoano said. "We are just super big, and our coaches are super big about how you do one thing is how you do everything. So, really being intentional about why we're making these leis. ... It's just a big part of who we are and the culture and everything like that, and it's just amazing to be a part of this opportunity."
Kahala Rowe (left) instructs players on lei making on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Christian Shimabuku (Aloha State Daily Staff) 
Leaves were neatly organized at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex before the Hawai‘i soccer team made lei on Wednesday. Photo by Christian Shimabuku. (Aloha State Daily Staff) 
Some of the finished lei prepared by members of the Hawai‘i soccer team on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Christian Shimabuku (Aloha State Daily Staff)
Following its exhibition against Seattle, the Rainbow Wahine will officially begin their 2026 regular season on Aug. 13 against No. 23 Texas Tech at 4 p.m. On Thursday, UH announced that its first seven home contests of the season have been relocated from Waipi‘o Peninsula Soccer Complex to the program's on-campus field, including the Texas Tech opener.
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
