“Who wore it best?” That’s the question we’re asking today, as we go through jersey numbers 1 through 10 and the University of Hawaii student-athletes who wore them. Some were really tough choices. For example, Kim Willoughby was a dominant force for Rainbow Wahine volleyball for four seasons, but was she the greatest UH player to Don the number 3? (Hint: We went with a UH football player instead.) Here are our picks for the Rainbow Warrior and Rainbow Wahine athletes who best rocked numbers 1 through 10:
00 – KELLY MAJAM, Softball. Led UH to 2010 Women’s College World Series. Set national freshman record (since broken) with 30 HRs in a single season. 3x All-WAC, 1x All-Big West selection. UH career leader in home runs (72), runs scored (235) and walks (159).
1 – TEEE WILLIAMS, Women’s Volleyball. Led the Rainbow Wahine to the 1987 NCAA championship. 2x AVCA National Player of the Year. 3x AVCA All-American. (Runner-Up: Predrag Savovic, Men’s Basketball)
2 – YUVAL KATZ, Men’s Volleyball. The 1996 AVCA National Player of the Year. A 2x AVCA All-American. Led UH to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish in 1996. Still holds many program records, including average kills per set (7.81). (Runner-Up: Chad Owens, Football)
3 – MICHAEL CARTER, Football. Rugged master of spread offense led Hawaii to a 1992 Holiday Bowl win over Illinois. Only Rainbow Warrior to amass 1,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in the same season. (Runner-Up: Kim Willoughby, Women’s Volleyball)
4 – STIJN VAN TILBURG, Men’s Volleyball. 3x AVCA First-Team All-American. Led the Rainbow Warriors to the 2019 NCAA Tournament title match. Finished his UH career No. 7 on the career kills list.
5 – NATASHA KAI, Women’s Soccer. The greatest and most decorated UH soccer player of all time. 3x WAC Player of the Year. 4x WAC First-Team All-WAC. Shattered more than two dozen School and conference records. Helped the U.S. National Team win gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
6 – CEDRIC BYRD II, Football. Completed his UH career with 177 receptions for 2,067 yards and 19 TDs in just two seasons. Led all Mountain West Conference receivers with 98 receptions in 2019, earning First-Team All-MW honors. Had 4 TD receptions in 2019 season opener against Arizona, tying a school record.
7 – JASON ELAM, Football. 2x All-American. Considered the best placekicker in Hawaii history. At one time, he held every UH and WAC placekicking record. Recently no,imaged for the College Football Hall of Fame. Won two Super Bowl rings with the Denver Broncos.
8 – KATE ROBINSON, Softball. In 2008 became the first Rainbow Wahine to be named a finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award. 2007 First-Team All-American (Utility/Pitcher). Holds UH record for most RBIs in a single season (72).
9 – SUZANNE EAGYE, Women’s Volleyball. Dominant middle blocker who helped lead the Rainbow Wahine to the 1987 NCAA championship. Recipient of the Broderick Award, given to the county’s top collegiate volleyball player. Still leads the program in career block solos (241) and total blocks (743).
10 – KANOE KAMANA‘O, Women’s Volleyball. 4x AVCA All-American. 3x WAC Player of the Year. Started every match of her UH career. The program’s all-time leader in career assists (6,428) and assists per game (13.6).
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