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Arakawa thriving after finding ‘second home’ with Vulcans

King Kekaulike grad on scoring tear for undefeated UH Hilo

By Robert Collias 5 min read

After missing her Maui home so much that she surrendered an NCAA Division I scholarship, Teani Arakawa has found her soccer home in Hilo.

The 2021 graduate of King Kekaulike High School is tied for the team lead in goals for the University of Hawaii at Hilo women's soccer team, with seven, after pouring in five goals in the Vulcans' last three matches.

"I'm having a good time with this program, especially being home," Arakawa said via phone from California on Wednesday. "So, I'm adjusting pretty well."

She was named Player of the Week in the PacWest Conference on Monday morning and is simply on a scoring tear -- she scored once in a 4-0 win over Holy Names in Hilo, twice in a 3-0 win at Biola and had both goals in a crucial 2-2 tie at Point Loma on Monday.

"I have Maui as home, but Hilo is like my second home now," Arakawa said.

She was not on the radar for UH Manoa out of the Maui Interscholastic League despite finishing as a two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year, ScoringLive All-Hawaii Offensive Player of the Year, and The Maui News MIL Player of the Year twice.

She started her career at South Dakota State last fall, where she started nine times in 22 matches for the Summit League champions -- she was second-team all-Summit League and a member of the Summit League All-Newcomer Team.

"Honestly, it wasn't really like hard feelings if I didn't play there," Arakawa said of Manoa. "It was just like an open option of if I wanted to play there, but I didn't really want to play there. It was mainly Hilo or when South Dakota (State) popped up, then that was my second option."

The Vulcans are currently ranked No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II poll.

At 11-0-3 overall and 6-0-2 in the PacWest, they appear to be in good position for an NCAA D-II tournament berth, but they have two huge matches to finish the regular season in California, beginning today at Concordia Irvine (4-1-1 PacWest) and Saturday at Azusa Pacific (4-1-2 PacWest).

Arakawa scored five goals and collected four assists last season for the Jackrabbits, including the game-winner in a 1-0 win over UH Manoa on Aug. 29, 2021.

When the season ended and the huge longing for home grew even stronger, she decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal with one destination in mind.

"I was only thinking about UH Hilo," she said of her transfer.

She finished the academic year at SDSU and set sail for Hawaii Island.

"I was pretty homesick to the point, like, I already called my mom guys saying that I want to come home already," she said. "Or, like, at least closer to home. And I was pretty depressed because I was far away and the time difference and being away from everybody was pretty hard.

"So, the change of going to Hilo, I'm much happier. Like I said, I'm adjusting pretty well."

While her mom, grandmother and sister made the trip to Brookings, S.D., for Thanksgiving last year, now her family are regulars at Vulcans games.

"My mom, of course, wanted to see if I might maybe stay there or make me feel a little less homesick, so they planned out a trip for Thanksgiving week and they came out to see me and spend time with me," Teani Arakawa said.

Now, older sister Tiera -- a four-year starter at UHH from 2015-18 -- younger brother Ty, mom Trisha and dad Shawn often make up a mini-Arakawa rooting section at Vulcan Soccer Field.

UHH coach Gene Okamura is overjoyed that Teani made the decision to come back home -- he contacted her as soon as he saw her name in the transfer portal. Okamura also coached Tiera Arakawa for the Vulcans.

"She got off to a really hot start and the last three games, what does she have?" Okamura said as he pondered Teani Arakawa's presence with the Vulcans. "Holy smokes, what does she have? Five goals and a couple of assists or something like that. She's been awesome to have.

"Her attitude, just mentality all around is so nice to have. Her work rate, all those things, on and off the field, she's been really nice for our program. It's been a pleasure to have her on our roster, for sure."

Okamura pointed to the recent move of Arakawa from midfield to forward as a key to opening up her scoring prowess. He did not hesitate when asked if Arakawa is an NCAA D-I talent.

"Yeah, for sure, she's talented," he said.

He knows her remarkable scoring run could not have come at a better time. Two wins would clinch the PacWest automatic berth to the NCAA D-II tournament.

"We want to win the conference, so we need to go out and win these next two matches for sure -- Teani has been a big part of all of it," Okamura said. "In the beginning of the season she started in the midfield and only within the last three games we moved her up top and she's scored five goals. ... We're pretty happy with that decision."

It is clear that Arakawa has never forgotten her Upcountry roots.

"I have a lot of pride in representing all the teams, clubs, coaches, everybody who I've played for, who supports me," she said. "Especially like my family, of course, they're the ones who pushed me to keep playing and continue in college. And, yeah, I just have a lot of pride for everyone who's been with me, those who have helped me get to where I am today."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

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