Sports in the Spotlight: The Right Attack
By Tabitha Pacheco
Photos by interviewee
From the Makahiki games of the past to the modern sports in the present, competition and activity have always been valued in Hawai‘i’s culture. At this time of year, the UH Hilo (UHH) men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball are all in season. Ke Kalahea reached out to a competitor for the women’s volleyball team to ask how being from Hawaiʻi has prepared her for being an athlete.
Raelee Samio
Raelee Samio is a right-side hitter for the women’s volleyball team. She is from Kekaha, Hawaiʻi, and is a senior here at UHH.
“Being from Hawai‘i, I like to think that I bring a unique cultural perspective of ʻohana, love, and grit. Growing up, my coaches always established the importance of grit. The true definition of grit means to have courage and strength of character. With this, I truly believe that by having grit, all other aspects such as belief, love for the game, heart, and strength will follow,” Samio said.
Aloha is a huge value throughout Hawaiian culture; it has and continues to shape communities. It is a value that is instilled in Hawaiians and creates a progressive society made up of not only people, but athletes.
“I also value teamwork,” said Samio. “Being a part of a team that emphasizes ʻohana motivates me to be a team player and play for something bigger than myself. The spirit of aloha also influences my attitude towards myself and others, as it drives me to compete with respect, whether we win or lose.”
The competition in Hawaiʻi stands somewhat apart from the competition on the continent because Hawaiʻi is an island state where athletes have to make a bigger commitment and sacrifice more money and time to have a high level of exposure in sports. However, she feels that despite that division, Hawaiʻi has still adequately prepared her for the collegiate level of competition.
“Competing here has been crucial in preparing me for the athletic competition at a collegiate level, by teaching me how to handle high-pressure situations, maintain discipline, and commit to consistent training. I’ve learned that setting goals and staying focused on game plans allows me to play to the best of my ability. I also feel that the competition at a collegiate level has allowed me to build resilience as well as improve my skills,” Samio said.
Volleyball is one of the most popular sports in Hawaiʻi; it holds so much mana (power) to people across the state. Every time she steps on the court, Samio feels that pressure of representing the state.
“I always feel a sense of pride representing this state. I may have been raised on a different island, but here in Hilo, I feel the love and respect of the Hilo natives. Knowing that I have support from the islands motivates me to play with passion and determination. I also truly believe that it is a privilege to play college volleyball here in Hawai‘i. Everyone in the volleyball community knows that it is extremely difficult to get recruited to the collegiate level from Hawai‘i, so just being able to achieve that goal and be given the opportunity to play in my home state is such a gratifying feeling that I get to share with everyone,” she said.
Samio and teammates running onto the court after a win
Samio’s team consists of students from several different states, so there is a certain team dynamic that must be mastered in order to create harmony among its members. The diversity of their strengths and weaknesses create a progressive and improved team that allows them to create more wins this season.
“We are all very open to criticism, whether it be constructive or not, from each other, which I feel creates a healthy team dynamic. I definitely feel that some teammates who aren’t from Hawai‘i don’t necessarily understand the love and respect that this community has for volleyball, nor do they have the same perspective that we locals do on volleyball. It’s not a bad thing that they have different perspectives on volleyball than we locals do; it just makes our team dynamic and our backgrounds more unique. It’s one thing to see it happening but it’s another thing to fully understand why the environment and community is so big on volleyball in this state,” Samio says. Samio has been playing volleyball for 15 years, and the experience she built up over those years helped her prepare for her role as an athlete and a student. She balances school and volleyball by taking courses online to give her the time she needs to work on her athletic ability while maintaining a learning environment. This balanced lifestyle supports her goals as a volleyball player.
“An obvious goal I have for this sport is to win and play to the best of my ability. But my main goal is to inspire younger volleyball players. I want to be able to be that role model that younger volleyball players might aspire to be one day and hopefully be that person that they look up to,” she said.
There are many inspirations and advice that push athletes to continue to play and progress in their sport. While sports tend to be very physical and require time to build pertinent skills, true athletes know that it is as much a mental game as a physical one, if not more.
“One piece of advice that continues to stick with me throughout my career is that volleyball is ‘10% physical and 90% mental.’ I think that the mental aspect of playing volleyball or being an athlete in general is very overlooked. I think that after playing volleyball for so long I’ve come to realize that being mentally strong or having the right mindset can make or break an athlete’s career. I aspire to be mentally tough every single day on and off the court,” Samio said.
As an athlete, coming from Hawaiʻi can have its disadvantages. The isolation alone makes athletes have to work twice as hard to be on the same level as those from other states. Despite the disadvantages, Samio believes that the traditions and culture of Hawaiʻi have played a huge role in supporting her growth in volleyball. She is a prime example of the resilience in Hawaiian athletes because of her exceptional passion, unwavering commitment, strong work ethic, and an even stronger mindset.
Samio attacking the ball