Christian Shimabuku
Although I didn't move to Hawaii until after high school, I have been connected to the Islands and followed Hawaii sports my entire life. My father was born and raised on Oahu, and my family would come to Hawaii for Christmas to visit his family members on an annual basis. Deep down, I always knew it's where I wanted to spend my life. The last 11 and a half years have only reaffirmed that.
I got my start in journalism covering sports for Ka Leo O Hawaii, the student newspaper at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. I was also a sports clerk/sports reporter at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser for a total of about four years. After graduation, I interned at the Sporting News in Charlotte, N.C. in the summer of 2018 before returning to the Star-Advertiser. In November 2019, I joined KHON2 News in Honolulu as a digital sports reporter for five years.
The sports scene in Hawaii as a whole is robust and at times, complex. I truly believe Hawaii is home to some of the world's greatest people and athletes. Being able to tell their stories for the last decade has been an honor and a blessing. I can't wait to do the same for Aloha State Daily. Getting in on the ground floor for a new venture is something I always found intriguing and with ASD, it's something I'll be able to do for the first time. Additionally, ASD's commitment to journalism comes at a time where I believe it is more important than ever in our world to support local and quality journalism.
Latest from Christian Shimabuku
Tailgating returns to Hawai‘i home football games
All seven UH home football games will feature tailgating on campus this fall.
Christian ShimabukuApril 17, 2025
Kahuku alum Tolu Smith becomes first Hawai‘i high school grad in NBA since 1957
Smith filled up the stat sheet against the Milwaukee Bucks in his NBA regular season debut.
Christian ShimabukuApril 15, 2025
No. 4 Hawai‘i men's volleyball prevails over No. 1 Long Beach State on senior night
The Rainbow Warriors and The Beach battled each other in front of a sold-out crowd for consecutive nights.
Christian ShimabukuApril 13, 2025
Sacrifice, joy and pressure comes with Kahuku football job, say former coaches
Aloha State Daily spoke with two former Kahuku head football coaches in the wake of Sterling Carvalho's removal.
Christian ShimabukuApril 12, 2025
Key positional battle takes setter stage between UH and LBSU
Hawai‘i and Long Beach State each have their offenses run by an 18-year-old setter.
Christian ShimabukuApril 10, 2025
Hawai‘i hosts No. 1 Long Beach State for high stakes, emotional series
The No. 4 Rainbow Warriors will host the country's top team on Friday and Saturday night.
Christian ShimabukuApril 09, 2025
UH-Mānoa officially posts AD position
Parker Executive Search is assisting UH in the search, which aims to have a hire in place by early summer.
Christian ShimabukuApril 08, 2025
Hawai‘i baseball enters critical juncture of season
The Rainbow Warriors are set to embark on a road trip that could make or break their 2025 season.
Christian ShimabukuApril 08, 2025
Bobby Curran's celebration of life set for April 13
Curran, a longtime local sports radio fixture, died at 69 on March 9.
Christian ShimabukuApril 04, 2025
Sterling Carvalho no longer head coach of Kahuku football team
Carvalho served as the head coach for six full seasons, leading the Red Raiders to three state championships.
Christian ShimabukuApril 04, 2025
Kamana Nahaku shines while reconnecting with island roots on Hawai‘i baseball team
Nahaku earned national player of the week honors after a historic weekend at CSUN.
Christian ShimabukuApril 02, 2025
Mililani's Dillon Gabriel to donate fitness gear to alma mater prior to NFL Draft
A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for April 22.
Christian ShimabukuApril 01, 2025
Bolstered by newcomers and veterans, Hawai‘i Pacific among country's top hitting teams
The Sharks have been one of the most prolific hitting teams at the Division II level in 2025.
Christian ShimabukuApril 01, 2025
Former Hawai‘i star Spyros Chakas carries college experience to the pros
A year after suffering a major knee injury, Chakas is now playing for AONS Milon in his native Greece.
Christian ShimabukuApril 01, 2025
Recharged Hawai‘i men's volleyball returns to action after bye
The No. 4 Rainbow Warriors will face No. 11 UC San Diego on Friday and Saturday.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 28, 2025
Girls flag football kicks off across Islands
Flag football is a sanctioned HHSAA sport for the first time in 2025, with state championships set to take place from April 30-May 3.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 27, 2025
Olympic swimmer Karol Ostrowski set to compete in NCAA Championships for UH
Ostrowski will compete in Thursday's 50 yard freestyle competition.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 27, 2025
Hawai‘i baseball continues winning ways at home before road trip
The Rainbow Warriors needed extra innings to defeat UH-Hilo on Tuesday night and are set to depart for the Mainland on Wednesday morning.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 27, 2025
UH announces full 2025 Sports Circle of Honor class
Five new members of the UH Sports Circle of Honor will be officially inducted on May 18.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 26, 2025
Local football coaches reveal college ball realities
A handful of former prominent college football players passed down their knowledge to players and parents at an event held at Farrington High School's library.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 25, 2025
Seabury Hall's Bromo Dorn makes history with Gatorade basketball Hawai‘i POY award
Dorn became the first player from Maui to win the state's Gatorade boys basketball Player of the Year award on Thursday.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 22, 2025
Hawai‘i women's basketball eliminated at WBIT
The Rainbow Wahine end their 2024-2025 campaign at 22-10.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 21, 2025
Chad Owens inducted into UH Circle of Honor
Owens began his UH career as a walk-on but blossomed into one of the program's all-time greats.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 21, 2025
Stadium Authority holds meeting as agreement deadline looms
June 30 remains the target execution date between the New Aloha Stadium and Entertainment District (NASED) and AHDP (Aloha Halawa District Partners).
Christian ShimabukuMarch 20, 2025
New UH president announces update on AD search
Wendy Hensel says a new athletics director could be in place by August, if not sooner.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 19, 2025
Bruin and Benny Agbayani cherishing first and last baseball season together at Saint Louis
For just one season of his high school baseball, MLB Draft prospect Bruin Agbayani will be coached by his father.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 19, 2025
Local sportswriting pioneer Cindy Luis dies at 70
Luis wrote for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Star-Advertiser for over four decades before earning a spot in the UH Sports Circle of Honor in 2024.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 19, 2025
Hawai‘i baseball digs deep in statement series win over No. 15 UCSB
The Rainbow Warriors took two out of three from the nationally ranked Gauchos.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 17, 2025
Hawai‘i women's basketball draws UNLV in WBIT
The Rainbow Wahine are playing in the WBIT for the second straight year.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 17, 2025
Hawai‘i men's volleyball falls to USC in Outrigger championship
The No. 3 Rainbow Warriors fell to the No. 5 Trojans in the Outrigger Invitational finale on Saturday night.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 16, 2025
Behind its pitching staff, Kamehameha baseball enters 2025 ahead in the arms race
The Warriors boast a pitching staff considered one of the deepest in state history.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 15, 2025
Hawai‘i women's basketball eliminated in Big West semifinals
Despite a remarkable rally, the Rainbow Wahine lost as the top seed for the second year in a row.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 15, 2025
Hawai‘i baseball hosts nationally ranked UC Santa Barbara in midseason litmus test
UC Santa Barbara will enter the series as the No. 15 team in the country.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 14, 2025
Hawai‘i women's basketball out to finish the job at Big West Tournament
The Rainbow Wahine will take on UC San Diego in Friday's Big West Tournament semifinals.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 14, 2025
New book features stories from world's most iconic surfers
Claudia Lebenthal's "Surfer Stories" is set to be released on March 18.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 13, 2025
Hawai‘i men's volleyball embraces the grind ahead of Outrigger Invitational
The tournament, considered by some to be the premier multi-team event in collegiate men’s volleyball, runs from Thursday to Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 12, 2025
For Hawai‘i football, the mission continues following spring practice
Kickoff for UH's 2025 season is set for Aug. 23 against Stanford.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 11, 2025
Local sports broadcasting legend dies at 69
In addition to hosting his own local sports talk radio show, Bobby Curran called UH's football and men's basketball games for over three decades.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 10, 2025
Campbell High School breaks ground on $25.3 million athletic facility upgrade
September 2026 is the projected completion date.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 08, 2025
New Nike deal draws widespread acclaim from UH athletes, coaches
Nike will be the new outfitter of UH Athletics, starting on July 1.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 08, 2025
Hawai‘i women's basketball cuts down the nets
The Rainbow Wahine clinched the Big West regular season title on Thursday night in a victory over Cal State Bakersfield.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 08, 2025
Hawai‘i football set for Sunday's Warrior Pau Hana event
The Rainbow Warriors will close out spring practices on Sunday.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 07, 2025
Hawai‘i men's basketball in must-win mode
With two regular season games left, the Rainbow Warriors are fighting for a spot in the eight-team Big West Conference tournament.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 06, 2025
Reed Sunahara returns home to coach Hawai‘i-Hilo volleyball team
Sunahara, a 1981 graduate of Hilo High School, is coaching at the D-II level for the first time in his career.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 06, 2025
Hawai‘i baseball earns scrappy series victory over Northeastern
The Rainbow Warriors needed 12 innings to edge the Huskies on Monday night before the series ended with some drama.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 04, 2025
Hawai‘i men's volleyball emphatically passes first big test over UC Irvine
The Rainbow Warriors took six straight sets from the Anteaters to open Big West Conference play.
Christian ShimabukuMarch 04, 2025
Hawai‘i water polo still among nation's best under Robinson
The Rainbow Wahine are currently 10-3 and ranked No. 3 in the country.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 28, 2025
Hawai‘i men's volleyball set to host UC Irvine in crucial Big West series
The Rainbow Warriors and Anteaters are both ranked in the AVCA top five.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 28, 2025
Chris Sadayasu has first Stadium Authority meeting as Aloha Stadium interim manager
Sadayasu was named the Aloha Stadium interim manager after Ryan Andrews departed for a position at UH.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 27, 2025
University of Hawai‘i athletics announces Nike deal
The apparel deal, which is in conjunction with BSN sports, will outfit the Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine for seven years.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 27, 2025
Q&A: Hawai‘i football defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman
Thurman led a turnaround from the Hawai‘i defense in 2024 and is hoping for more progress in 2025.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 26, 2025
Girls flag football set to make HHSAA debut
The NFL's Seattle Seahawks held two free clinics ahead of the inaugural HHSAA girls flag football season.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 25, 2025
Hawai‘i baseball lifted by portal pitchers in series win
Behind a pair of transfer arms, the Rainbow Warriors improved to 7-1 for the 2025 season on Sunday.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 25, 2025
Punahou and Seabury Hall win HHSAA boys basketball titles
Seabury Hall won its first state title, while Punahou won its state-leading 12th and its first since 2018.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 22, 2025
Behind the scenes of Hawai‘i baseball's latest walk-off win
First pitch on Thursday night was delayed by an hour after several pieces of equipment did not arrive for Wichita State.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 21, 2025
Hawai‘i women's basketball takes large winning streak into weekend
The Rainbow Wahine have won 13 straight games after starting Big West Conference play 0-2.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 21, 2025
Hawai‘i football releases 2025 schedule
The Rainbow Warriors begin their season with a home game against Stanford on Aug. 23.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 21, 2025
New Hawai‘i quarterback Luke Weaver eager to compete
Weaver, a junior college All-American, enrolled at UH in January.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 20, 2025
Kohala star Layden Kauka returns in time for HHSAA basketball tournament
Kauka started out his junior season at Utah Prep but returned in time for Kohala's pursuit of an HHSAA three-peat.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 18, 2025
Hawai‘i baseball entertains in season-opening sweep of Marshall
The Rainbow Warriors staged dramatic comebacks on consecutive nights, resulting in a pair of walk-off victories.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 17, 2025
Pupu Sepulona set to close out storied basketball career
Sepulona, who will join the University of Utah on a football scholarship this fall, will play his final string of organized basketball games at next week's HHSAA Division I Tournament.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 14, 2025
Hawai‘i's Bob Coolen stays present during final season
The Rainbow Wahine went 4-1 to open the season and host the Spring Fling Tournament this week.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 14, 2025
Hawai‘i baseball enters 2025 with postseason hopes
The Rainbow Warriors won 16 of their last 17 games in 2024, narrowly missing out on an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 13, 2025
UH football team aiming for continuous improvement under new offensive coordinator
Anthony Arceneaux, a childhood friend of head coach Timmy Chang, was promoted to offensive coordinator prior to spring ball.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 11, 2025
New UH president gives update on athletics director search
The removal of former Athletics Director Craig Angelos was announced last November, a move made by former President David Lassner.
Stephanie Salmons & Christian ShimabukuFebruary 11, 2025
Jeff Reinebold's two lives set to collide at Super Bowl
Reinebold doubles as UH's defensive tackles coach and as an analyst for Europe's biggest football audiences.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 08, 2025