KANOE KAMANA'O (10)
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kanoe Kamana'o holds her miniature Italian greyhound, Buddy, with the Stan Sheriff Center behind her and final four-visions in the back of her mind.
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Setting the stage for more greatness
Honolulu: pop. 377,260
There isn't much that she hasn't already accomplished in her storied career. She already holds the career assist record in a program known for its great setters ... and she has one season to go.
But Kanoe Kamana'o would happily trade in the accolades and all the All-fill-in-the-blank hardware for a national championship.. That and to walk away satisfied with the job she's done.
"I think we can get to Omaha," the senior setter said of the final four site. "This team knows how it feels to end up where we ended up last year (losing in the regional semifinal). We know what it takes to go beyond. We're working hard to make it happen."
The future is filled with possibilities, from playing with the national team or professionally, to putting her communications degree to use. But her teammates know how singularly focused Kamana'o can be. She's looking no farther than Omaha.
If you go... Eat at Helena's Hawaiian Food, go to the Polynesian Cultural Center, enjoy Waikiki Beach.
Cruising along with me and my Buddy
She has spent a lot of time on the road playing volleyball, from club tournaments to the U.S. youth, junior and senior national teams to the 19 trips she's taken in her career as the Rainbow Wahine setter.
But her favorite time on the road is on Oahu, cruising in her Denali with her 2-year-old Italian greyhound Buddy. "Who Let the Dogs Out" isn't part of her eclectic music collection, but everything else seems to be: Hawaiian, Jawaiian, Christian and R&B.
"I'm not one of those players who needs to be listening to music before I play," she said. "But I enjoy listening to different types of music. Nothing really slow, more up-tempo. Something you can bob your head to."
On her play list:
1. Ho'onua
2. Yung Joc
3. Ten Feet
4. Seven Easy Pieces
5. "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" (from the movie "Lilo & Stitch" and performed by Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu and the Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus)
She laughed when mentioning the last song. Kamana'o has been kidded about looking like Lilo.
"Kanoe deserves to go out on top. She leaves as the all-time assist record holder. That is no small accomplishment in this program. I think she has a future in volleyball, someone to be looked at by professional teams internationally. And I hope she'll go to a national team tryout."
-- Dave Shoji