MĀNOA — No stadium, no complaints.
Due to ongoing issues with the main field at the Waipi‘o Peninsula Soccer Complex, the University of Hawai‘i soccer team will play at least its first seven home contests of the 2026 season at its lower campus home base.
While WPSS has a seating capacity over 4,500, UH's current setup on lower campus via bleacher seating is projected to have just hundreds. The lower campus facility was slated to become the permanent home of Rainbow Wahine soccer in the years to come once lights and permanent additional seating was added. Hawai‘i's trial run in its future home will begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, against No. 23 Texas Tech. The Wahine will close their weekend against Kansas State on Sunday, Aug. 16, also at 4 p.m.
Despite the logistical challenges, Hawai‘i head coach Michele "Bud" Nagamine has taken a glass half full approach.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be hosting the matches this weekend on campus," Nagamine said following practice on Tuesday afternoon. "I know that there has been an added layer of just operational challenges, and we want to mahalo everybody for being so flexible and understanding. But the fact that we can just roll out of the (team) lounge after our pregame talk and get started on the field, that's a luxury that this team is definitely not familiar with."
This past weekend, the Rainbow Wahine made a trip to Maui that was filled with service to the Valley Isle. In addition to making lei for Lahaina wildfire victims, the team also held a free keiki clinic for hundreds of youth soccer players. The weekend then ended with a scoreless exhibition match against Seattle University at King Kekaulike High School on Sunday.
"I noticed on our way back after we checked out of the hotel getting to the airport, the team is just very chatty," Nagamine said. "There's a lot of energy. They had a very long weekend, especially in that hot sun. It was brutal, but no complaints, which is a sign to me of the type of culture that we've set. They are very service oriented and they understand that they're playing for not just themselves, but the entire state. I was very, very proud of what we accomplished this weekend to be able to pull off a trip of that magnitude with that kind of community impact."
Added defender Piper Bertani, a native of San Jose, Calif.: "As someone who's not from here, I'm very lucky to have embraced the culture. We have a lot of local girls on our team, where I feel like I've learned a lot since being here the past few years. Going (to Lahaina) was very emotional. I think I saw a lot of tears. I teared up myself, and it was very special. The fact that we got to go there and honor those who had passed, it was very touching, and I haven't experienced anything like that before. I'm very lucky to have done it, and I think all the girls on our team are very grateful to have gone. It's something we'll remember for the rest of our lives."
Hawai‘i, which won the Big West Conference regular season title in 2024, missed the conference tournament entirely in 2025. As it flips a page to a new era of Mountain West membership in 2026, the Rainbow Wahine are determined to show they're a team that can compete with anyone.
"We have a lot to prove this year," Bertani said. "We have a lot of newcomers, and I think all of them have come from great clubs. All the ones that have transferred (in) are great players, and they've all added (to the team) not only as just good humans, but players on the field. I think it's very exciting, and we could see who's been performing in practice, and we hope that translates over to the game."
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
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