Head Coach
Kaniela Aiona
Coach data is provided for recruiting research and should be confirmed with the official athletics website before contact.
Basketball Staff Contacts
Verified 2026-08-15 from this program's own staff page. Staff change during the recruiting cycle, so confirm before sending outreach.
| Name | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Kaniela Aiona | Head Coach | kkaiona@hawaii.edu |
| Steve Kinder | Assistant Coach | spk22@hawaii.edu |
| Anthony Haskett | Assistant Coach | haskett@hawaii.edu |
| Chris McBride | Athletic Trainer | cmcbride@hawaii.edu |
About University of Hawaii at Hilo Basketball
Playing for University of Hawaii at Hilo positions you within a program that values intentional player development over short-term results. Head coach Kaniela Aiona builds rosters with a clear four-year arc in mind, freshmen enter with defined skill gaps, and by senior year, they've moved through measurable progressions. That's strategic depth. The Pacific West Conference offers consistent competition and scouting visibility. You're not buried in an obscure region; you're competing in a league where scouts track performance patterns. Hilo's location creates natural advantages: lower cost of living, tight-knit campus culture, and genuine isolation that forces team chemistry. Players either build brotherhood or struggle, there's no middle ground. Aiona's system emphasizes versatility and basketball IQ. He values players who understand spacing, decision-making, and defensive positioning. If you're coachable and want to refine your craft rather than chase playing time immediately, this environment accelerates your development. The program also offers legitimate pathway clarity. Development at Division II level with proper coaching translates into opportunities beyond college, professional overseas play, coaching connections, or graduate school transfers. You're building a portfolio over four years, not auditioning for one season. This requires patience and intentionality. You must see the long game. --- Every serious recruiting conversation starts with preparation. Florida Coastal Prep, located in Fort Walton Beach, FL, trains post-grad and high school players to compete at the college level and attract the right attention. See if it's the right fit at floridacoastalprep.com or /apply/.
Net price
$10,599/yr
Grad rate
40%
Enrollment
2,160
Full cost & outcomes
College Cost & Enrollment
Federal College Scorecard snapshot (retrieved 2026-11-04). Not a tuition quote.
Average net price: $10,599 / year (in-state)
Net price by family income
- $0–$30,000
- $8,276 / year
- $30,001–$48,000
- $9,114 / year
- $48,001–$75,000
- $9,674 / year
- $75,001–$110,000
- $12,202 / year
- $110,001+
- $19,492 / year
More enrollment & tuition figures
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 2,160
- Average net price
- $10,599 / year (in-state)
- Published tuition (in-state)
- $8,258 / year
- Published tuition (out-of-state)
- $21,218 / year
- Graduation rate
- 40%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Pacific West Conference Teams
| School | Location | Enrollment | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|
Azusa Pacific University
View program →
|
Location Azusa, CA | Enrollment 2,759 | Avg. net price $22,597 |
Biola University
View program →
|
Location La Mirada, CA | Enrollment 3,474 | Avg. net price $32,530 |
Chaminade University
View program →
|
Location Honolulu, HI | Enrollment 1,672 | Avg. net price $24,793 |
Concordia University Irvine
View program →
|
Location Irvine, CA | Enrollment 1,536 | Avg. net price $29,761 |
Dominican University of California
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|
Location San Rafael, CA | Enrollment 1,114 | Avg. net price $35,567 |
Fresno Pacific University
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|
Location Fresno, CA | Enrollment 1,544 | Avg. net price $17,491 |
Hawaii Pacific University
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|
Location Honolulu, HI | Enrollment 2,392 | Avg. net price $34,758 |
Point Loma Nazarene University
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|
Location San Diego, CA | Enrollment 3,188 | Avg. net price $40,555 |
University of Hawaii at Hilo
View program →
|
Location Hilo, HI | Enrollment 2,160 | Avg. net price $10,599 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of Hawaii at Hilo D2?
Yes, University of Hawaii at Hilo is an NCAA Division II program in the Pacific West Conference. This page lists division, conference, coach contacts, and recruiting context for University of Hawaii at Hilo men's basketball.
What conference is University of Hawaii at Hilo in?
University of Hawaii at Hilo competes in the Pacific West Conference for D2 men's basketball.
What is the average net price at University of Hawaii at Hilo?
Federal College Scorecard data lists an average net price of $10,599 per year for in-state students who received federal aid, after grants and scholarships. This is not a tuition quote.
What is undergraduate enrollment at University of Hawaii at Hilo?
College Scorecard reports approximately 2,160 undergraduate students. Confirm current enrollment on the school's official website.
How do I get recruited to University of Hawaii at Hilo?
Build updated game film, complete NCAA or NAIA eligibility requirements for D2, and contact the coaching staff using verified emails on this page or the official athletics staff directory. FCP helps players prepare film and recruiting profiles for D2 programs. See floridacoastalprep.com/apply/ and the how-to-get-recruited guide on this site.
Compete at the Level University of Hawaii at Hilo Scouts
D2 coaches evaluate players in the context of their competition. FCP builds a schedule that puts you in front of the right coaches at the right tournaments, giving your film the competitive context that programs like University of Hawaii at Hilo need to make a decision.
Coaching contacts compiled by the FCP recruiting staff. Cost and graduation figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved 2026-11-04.