UH Men’s Basketball head coach Kaniela Aiona was recently inducted into the Webster University Athletic Department Hall of Fame.

The Waimea native and 2001 Honoka’a High School graduate spent four seasons on the Gorloks Men’s Basketball team from 2001 to 2005, helping capture two regular season titles with an appearance in the 2001-02 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament. He was a two-team All-SLIAC Team selection and All-Academic Team honoree while being named team captain his senior season. Additionally, he earned the Webster Athletics President Award and received a bachelor’s in Advertising and Marketing Communications in 2005.

In a press release Aiona said, “I am honored to join the Webster University Athletics Hall of Fame. I had the greatest teammates and coaches during my time at Webster, and I’m proud to be considered in the same class as the other great athletes who have come through Webster.”

Now in his fourth season as head coach of the Hawai’i Hilo Men’s Basketball program, Aiona was initially recruited to play at the Division-III school in Missouri by then-men’s basketball head coach David Kaneshiro, who is in his 14th season as head coach of the Vulcans Women’s Basketball team.

Aiona joins former Gorloks teammates Brady Barke, Scott Spinner and Darin Hoggatt as inducted members in the Webster Hall of Fame.

 

Photo credit: UH Hilo