Hawai’i Hilo’s Pride: Teani Arakawa’s Success as an Academic All-PacWest Honoree

Teani Arakawa has made a remarkable impact since joining the University of Hawai’i at Hilo women’s soccer team as a senior forward/midfielder. Her passion, skill, and determination have set her apart as a standout player.

Born in February 2003 in Makawao, Hawaii, Teani grew up in a close-knit, family-oriented environment nurtured by her parents, Trisha and Shawn Arakawa.

She shares a strong bond with her older sister, Tiera, and her younger brother, Ty Arakawa.

Soccer runs in the family, as Teani’s love for the sport likely stemmed from her sister, Tiera, who also played as a forward/midfielder for the Vulcans from 2015 to 2018.

During her high school years, Teani showcased her talent at King Kekaulike High School under the guidance of head coach Gundi Dancil.

Over her four seasons, she earned a string of accolades, culminating in her being named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Hawaii in both 2020 and 2021.

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She also earned praise as the All-Hawaii Offensive Player of the Year, showcasing her talent by scoring 18 goals and providing 13 assists during her senior season.

Her acceptance into the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Hall of Honor also reflects her outstanding performance.

Besides high school, Arakawa played club soccer with Hawai’i Rush Maui and Maui Strikers, adding to her skill set in furthering collegiate competition.

Arakawa Has Earned Four All-America Selections While Studying Business And Working Locally

After graduating high school in 2021, Arakawa attended South Dakota State University for a year before transferring to the University of Hawai’i at Hilo.

To this day, her college career has been nothing short of amazing.

In the 2023 season, she started all 15 matches, scored 10 goals, and made 7 assists, thus leading the conference in both categories.

TEANI ARAKAWA IS YOUR PACWEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK #ImuaVulcans 🌋 #NCAAsoccer #NCAAD2 pic.twitter.com/5TXPLszzGN

— Hawaii Hilo Vulcans Athletics (@HiloVulcans) October 24, 2022

Such performance eventually won her numerous accolades, which included PacWest Conference Player of the Year and D2 CCA All-West Region Player of the Year.

In December 2024, Arakawa earned a spot on four different All-America teams, reinforcing her standing as one of the best NCAA Division II soccer players.

Jodi Lillie, Grace VerHage, Daelenn Tokunaga, Teani Arakawa Named to United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Teams #ImuaVulcans 🌋 #D2WSOC pic.twitter.com/FQfW5lH8LP

— Hawaii Hilo Vulcans Athletics (@HiloVulcans) November 30, 2022

Among her honors were selections to the United Soccer Coaches Division II All-West Region First Team and the Scholar All-West Region First Team, her third All-West Region Team selection and her second consecutive First Team.

She is pursuing a degree in business administration with a focus on finance at Hawai’i Hilo.

With brilliance in the field, Arakawa has maintained an admirable academic record.

Balancing academics with athletics is no small feat; however, Arakawa manages to work at several local businesses, including Howard’s Nursery, Hawaii Zipline Tours, and Pacific Island Cleaning LLC.

Teani Arakawa Is All About Dedication And Hard Work Both On And Off The Field

Teani Arakawa exemplifies excellence in both athletics and academics, earning recognition on the Academic All-PacWest Team multiple times.

As she looks to the future, Arakawa plans to leverage her finance studies while actively seeking soccer opportunities.

With her impressive record and drive, she is poised to make significant contributions both in her professional career and in the world of sports.

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In many ways, Teani embodies the talent, dedication, and ambition that define today’s athletes.

Still shining on the field for Hawai’i Hilo, she continues to inspire young, aspiring athletes from Maui and beyond to chase their dreams in sports while excelling academically.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Teani Arakawa’s favorite shows are The Walking Dead and The Vampire Diaries.
• Arakawa has been in a relationship with Koda Simms since 2023.
• She is 21 years old and is 5’1 tall.