A Milestone Match for Maui
On August 9, 2026, the University of Hawaiʻi and Seattle University will stage a first‑of‑its‑kind NCAA Division I women’s soccer exhibition on the island of Maui, taking place at King Kekaulike High School. The game brings together two Pacific‑region programs in a celebration of sport, community, and resilience.
The idea originated from a conversation between Hawaiʻi head coach Michele Nagamine and Seattle University associate head coach Rich Schreiner, who saw an opportunity to use soccer as a vehicle for giving back to the communities that have supported both teams.
Nine Hawaiʻi student‑athletes will compete against seven peers from Seattle, including Maui natives Leila Kahoano, Uʻi Kaʻaihue and Evalani Keawekane, who will play in front of family and friends on their home turf.
Tickets are priced at $5 per person, with every dollar earmarked for Maui’s ongoing recovery from the devastating wildfires that struck Lahaina three years ago, turning the match into a fundraiser for local rebuilding efforts.
Following the exhibition, a free Keiki Soccer Clinic will open its doors to children aged five through fourteen, offering a rare chance to train with Division I athletes and coaches and to experience the camaraderie of collegiate soccer.
University leaders say the event underscores the power of athletics to unite islands, inspire youth, and channel resources toward healing, while also highlighting the deep recruiting ties that bind the two campuses across the Pacific.