HONOLULU – Celebrating a year of outstanding athletic and academic achievements, the University of Hawai'i Athletics Department honored its brightest stars during the 13^th annual H Awards on Wednesday night at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
The event was emceed by Billy V., and was attended by more than 500 student-athletes, coaches, and athletic and academic staff who filled the floor in Bankoh Arena. Comedians "Da Braddahs" entertained the audience and UH President Wendy Hensel and Athletics Director Matt Elliott addressed the crowd.
 
The prestigious Jack Bonham Award, recognized as the highest honor within the UH athletics department, was awarded to football's Landon Sims and track and field's Lilian Turban. The award honors senior student-athletes who best embody the principles of athletic excellence, academic achievement, public service, leadership, and character. For more on the Bonham Award winners, click here.
 
On the field of play, Kansei Matsuzawa (football) and Agatha Weston (water polo) took home the honors for Rainbow Warrior and Rainbow Wahine Athlete of the Year, respectively, following their spectacular 2025-26 campaigns. Matsuzawa delivered a record-breaking senior season and captivated the nation with his ascent as a self-taught kicker to becoming the program's first consensus All-American and a Lou Groza Award finalist. Weston helped power the Rainbow Wahine to their third straight Big West title while earning conference Player of the Year and Big West Championship MVP honors.
 
The basketball programs swept the top newcomer honors, with Isaac Johnson taking Male Rookie of the Year and Bailey Flavell earning Female Rookie of the Year. Johnson, affectionately known as "Big Fish," was a central figure in the Rainbow Warriors' march to their first Big West title and NCAA Tournament appearance in a decade while picking up All-Big West first team and Big West Championship MVP honors. Flavell, the Big West Freshman of the Year, turned in a historic debut season in breaking the program's freshman scoring record held by UH great Judy Mosley for nearly 40 years.
 
Academic excellence was also heavily featured throughout the evening. The Jennifer Matsuda Award, the department's top academic accolade, recognized a quartet of exceptional student-athletes: Riis Weber (football), Eva Kovaluk (swimming and diving), Nalani Yim (water polo), and Carys Murakami (softball). Weber, a junior defensive back, holds a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average as a finance major. Kovaluk, a sophomore majoring in human development and family studies; Yim, a sophomore majoring in accounting; and Murakami, a senior majoring in psychology; all carry 4.0 cumulative GPAs to tie for the women's award.
 
Men's and women's golf were celebrated as the Top Academic Teams. The Rainbow Wahine golf team posted a 3.63 cumulative GPA to repeat as the top women's team. The Rainbow Warriors claimed the men's honor for the third straight year with a 3.71 team GPA.
 
Additionally, Zoe Park of the women's soccer team received the Ho'omau Award, which honors the student-athlete demonstrating the greatest academic resilience. Park sat out the fall due to a medical condition, but battled back to rejoin the team for the spring while maintaining her academic standing. 
 
2025-26 H Awards Honorees
The Jennifer Matsuda Award: Riis Weber (FB), Eva Kovaluk (S&D), Nalani Yim (WP), Carys Murakami (SB)
Top Academic Teams: Men's Golf, Women's Golf
Ho'omau Award: Zoe Park (SOC)
Male Rookie of the Year: Isaac Johnson (MBB)
Female Rookie of the Year: Bailey Flavell (WBB)
Rainbow Warrior Athlete of the Year: Kansei Matsuzawa (FB)
Rainbow Wahine Athlete of the Year: Agatha Weston (WP)
Jack Bonham Award: Landon Sims (FB), Lilian Turban (T&F)
 
Top Team Scholar Athlete: Tate Shimao (BSB), Gytis Nemeiksa (MBB), Rebecca Moors (WBB), Sarah Burton (BVB), Zola O'Donnell (XC), Riis Weber (FB), Nathan Szpakowicz (MGOLF), Mia Hirashima (WGOLF), Arden Rathkopf (Co-SAIL), Amanda Turner (WSAIL), Izzy Ayala (SOC), Carys Murakami (SB), Juan Esteban Ramirez Tamayo (MS&D), Eva Kovaluk (WS&D), Tianhao Hou (MTEN), Makeilah Nepomuceno (WTEN), Lilian Turban (T&F), Ofeck Hazan (MVB), Victoria Leyva (WVB), Gabrielle Doyle and Nalani Yim (WP), Rachel Radona (CHEER).