For the first time in school history, the Rainbow Wahine basketball team won a season-opening road game against the UC-Riverside Highlanders on Tuesday.
But that isn’t why this is one of the most defining wins in program history.
First-year head coach Dana Takahara-Dias – who has never coached at the collegiate level – was chosen to rebuild a program that was driven to the ground by the previous head coach.
Not only was the team coming off of its worst season in school history at 8-23, but the morale of the players and the support from the fans were almost nonexistent.
The win wasn’t easy, but unlike previous seasons, the ’Bows showed life.
They were down 35-23 but closed out the first half with a 9-3 run, cutting the lead to 38-32 at halftime. They got within one point at 42-41 and scored nine straight points toward the ending minutes to secure the 62-56 win.
Last year the ’Bows opened the season playing in Hilo and lost all three matches.
Takahara-Dias and her staff, which includes former Rainbow Wahine assistant coaches Da Houl and Serenda Valdez, not only have guided the players to a win but also instilled the belief that they are winners on and off the court.
At the beginning of the school year, the coaching staff took the players on an overnight retreat over the east mountains of O‘ahu. The team has also participated in service projects within the community.
Takahara-Dias, a former Rainbow Wahine player, has also rejuvenated the spirits of fans. In the team’s exhibition game against Hawai‘i Pacific University on Nov. 4, 1,938 fans were in attendance; last season, the home game average was only 1,084.
This team, which was picked to finish last in the Western Athletic Conference, has a different spirit thanks to the new coaching staff.
The ’Bows may not compete for WAC championship, make the postseason or win 20-plus games as they did in the glory days of the program, but with Takahara-Dias at the helm, the team is headed in the right direction.
When she was announced as head coach in May, Takahara-Dias said, “I’m excited about this wonderful opportunity and I feel I’ve come full circle as a player, staff member, and finally as head coach.
“I’m ready to get started and begin this journey.”
Five months later, the journey has begun.
Here’s to the new era.






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