UH soccer’s Anuhea Aluli cherishes ‘super special’ senior season at home

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – University of Hawaiʻi soccer forward Anuhea Aluli is off to a stellar start in her senior season, fueling the Rainbow Wahine offense after a years-long journey to return home.

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The Kamehameha-Kapālama graduate scored her sixth goal of the year Thursday in UH’s 3-0 victory over New Mexico State, cementing her role as a critical scoring presence for the team.

Aluli joined the Rainbow Wahine roster after spending the previous four years playing at Oakland University in Michigan, bringing a veteran, mature presence to the local pitch.

“I think I am the oldest player on the team,” Aluli said.

Comfort of playing on home soil

For Aluli, returning to Hawaiʻi has provided a level of comfort that was missing during her four seasons in the Midwest.

“I really enjoyed seeing all of the different seasons change and stuff in the mainland, but obviously this is where I’m from. This is where I’m most comfortable,” Aluli said. “It just feels ultra relaxed, I guess, to be here and to know that the weather is not really gonna change too much and this is what I’m comfortable in.”

Beyond the familiar weather, Aluli said she cherishes hearing “Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī” played before home matches — a tradition that often surprises visiting opponents.

“Sometimes I think it’s kind of fun to watch the other team kind of like, get that little, I guess, awakening for a second. They’re kind of confused for a second,” Aluli said. “I think it’s refreshing and it’s great, and all the girls have learned it and they’re doing great.”

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Family support from sidelines

The move back to Oʻahu has also allowed Aluli’s family from Hauʻula to attend her collegiate games in person, providing sideline support she missed while playing in Michigan.

“Having that support system every single game and like, I don’t really have to look. I can hear them, you know, on the sideline, so it’s a super comforting feeling,” Aluli said. “It’s kind of what I’ve been missing I feel like in these past four years.”

‘Super special’ team bond

Aluli says she feels the same support from her teammates. With nine local players on the current Rainbow Wahine roster, Aluli said the squad possesses a unique bond that cannot be found anywhere else.

“It’s super special, I think it makes us very unique… to be able to have that touch of culture I guess like interwoven into our team culture,” Aluli said. “I think it allows us to, especially local girls, to kind of be a lot more comfortable and just be a part of something that’s so like bigger than us, which is our culture.”

Aluli and the Rainbow Wahine return to the pitch Sunday afternoon to close out non-conference play against Washington State.

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Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will stream live on the Mountain West+ app.