Outrigger Invitational hosted by Rainbow Wahine reunites former high school champions

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Rainbow Wahine volleyball team begins the Outrigger Invitational Thursday night, starting with a match against Utah Tech.

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The four-team tournament also features Loyola Marymount and UC San Diego playing at Bankoh Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Besides the matches, the event marks a homecoming for Utah Tech head coach Camilla Hafoka and two former Kamehameha Schools Kapālama standouts.

“We were super stoked and just like, honestly, just really grateful and like happy and that we could come home and play in front of our family,” said Utah Tech defensive specialist Kaleinani Watson.

Reunion on the court

Watson and setter Marley Roe helped Kamehameha to back-to-back state championships in 2023 and 2024, before moving on to St. George, Utah, after high school.

This weekend will be the pair’s first time playing at Bankoh Arena.

“Getting to play in the Stan, like, we told our team, I don’t know if you guys know, like, the Stan is a big thing, like I hope you guys are ready,” Roe said. “So yeah, we’re just so excited to play in front of the fan base and our family and our friends and just to experience that.”

Facing former teammates

Hawaiʻi’s starting setter, Adrianna Arquette, was also a star for Kamehameha’s championship teams, playing alongside Watson and Roe.

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“She’s one of my closest friends, so I’m super excited,” Watson said. “We’ve played together for a lot, like a lot of our high school, all of our high school, basically.”

Despite the upcoming reunion, the players remain fully aware of their roles on opposing sides of the net.

“I think we’ll probably have some interaction during the game across the net too, yeah,” Roe added.

The presence of multiple local athletes on the court also sends a message to Hawaiʻi’s next generation.

“Making sure that like they know that they can do it too,” Watson said. “Like we didn’t think we would be able to do it, but here we are.”

Watson encouraged younger players to keep chasing their dreams.

“Just staying on the course and just keep pushing and working hard, and I guess this is where you end up,” she said.

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Full game schedule

Thursday

Friday

Sunday