University of Hawaii Men's Volleyball Team

Floor Speech

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Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I am glad to join my colleague Senator Schatz in rising today to recognize the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors men's volleyball team, the 2026 NCAA national champions.

As stated, on Monday, the Rainbow Warriors defeated the UC Irvine team to claim the national title for the third time. In the process, they made history by completing the first 30-win season in program history.

As a proud University of Hawaii graduate, I join people across our State and beyond in celebrating this impressive group of athletes. Not only is their roster impressive; it is diverse, with players from across the Pacific, from Europe, from the mainland, from across our islands. Tournament MVP Louis Sakanoko came to the University of Hawaii all the way from France. The Big West Player of the Year Tread Rosenthal is from Texas. And let's not forget two of Hawaii's own: Kainoa Wade and Alex Parks.

The `Bows' coach Charlie Wade has said that the program they built at UH is unlike anything else on the planet, and part of what makes this team so special and successful is the commitment to embracing and building around their different strengths--players from different countries, different cultures, and different playing traditions coming together to accomplish a shared goal with the understanding that their differences make them stronger.

The State of Hawaii has always understood that diversity is something to celebrate, not fear. In our State, cultures don't just coexist; they combine to create something greater than the sum of their parts. Like our State, these Rainbow Warriors show what is possible when we embrace our differences, our diversity. At a time when diversity is under attack, this team just showed the entire country that diversity is a competitive advantage.

To Coach Wade, to every player, to the fans in Hawaii who packed the Stan Sheriff Center, cheering at the top of their lungs: Congratulations and mahalo. You made Hawaii proud.

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