Imagine that in your first year of high school, you qualify for volleyball nationals shortly after finals week, then your team wins the whole thing. For the young athlete Taimane Ainu’u, she doesn’t have to imagine any of that! Taimane A. ’28 was selected over the summer to participate in the United National U19 (under 19) volleyball team. Flying all the way to Colorado Springs, making the team and bringing home gold in Canada, Taimane was a shining star, being dubbed the best setter of the tournament. With so many crazy events happening to a girl in such a short summer, you may wonder how she always thought about her volleyball career. Well, next to the roaring crowds, and behind the net is a young athlete who simply plays for the passion of the sport and a desire to push her team towards greatness.
Before Taimane became a volleyball star, she was just a young girl watching her cousins and parents in Hilo and Samoa play the sport. Living in Hawai‘i since her youth, she has played volleyball for such a long time that she is trained in all six positions. Setting is her expertise at ‘Iolani, and she was the setter for the U19 Nationals, but she also excels as an outside hitter. Taking on such a huge leadership role is a lot for a sophomore, but being a leader takes hard work and commitment. Taimane said, “you know you’re a true leader, when you’re able to help your team get out of any funk they’re in. For me, being a setter is such a big role, since if you command the court, you control everything. You just have to be able to help your teammates, even if you’re up or down 10 points.” Taimane knows that being a leader requires responsibility.
It’s important to make sure a star isn’t too blinding. Kingston L. ’28, met Taimane during summer school in 2024. The duo would subsequently become best friends during the 2024-2025 school year in their shared classes. While not a volleyball player herself (she’s a tennis player), Kingston is very aware of the “world of volleyball.” Kingston says that Taimane always kept her updated during U19 nationals. Watching her friend on the court has made her clear about what good traits define a leader. Kingston said that being a strong leader means “being responsible, taking accountability, even if it’s not always on you. Also making sure that everyone is included in the team spirit. Like, if they’re the one to actually actually win, you know?” Along with this, she said that it is important to stay humble, which someone like Taimane embodies. “I think if that star player really was a star, they’d be humble, and they would know their limits and capabilities when it comes to acknowledge their teammates. Hey, Iolani, one team? On the court, [Taimane] always acknowledges her team about when she gets hit, if she has a good hit, she always celebrates with her setter, and that’s really important. Even in her, like whoever passes the ball to, she always acknowledges them and she makes sure that they get a reward and attention that they need. I’d call her quite humble.” Kingston is aware that volleyball is a team sport, so it is wrongful to base a team’s victory on one star player.
Taimane’s life isn’t all sports; she’s also the oldest sister of a family of 4 kids, she’s a devout Christian, and she loves California flavored poke. She urges herself and her peers to always strive to do well at ‘Iolani, saying that “there is always someone to make proud in your life.” Kingston is proud of her friend, and proclaimed; “I definitely see her playing college, and she definitely could go pro, but that’s all God’s plan.” And in a sport such as volleyball, the One Team philosophy is quite valuable to have, where even a star leader like Taimane will always need support from her teammates in order to win, since a star should always make everything around it appear just a bit brighter.
Update: On Oct 16th, the ‘Iolani Girls Varsity Volleyball team beat Kamehameha to secure the ILH Girls Volleyball Championship with a 25-15, 25-22, 25-16 sweep. The 2025 New City Nissan Girls Volleyball State Championships kick off this week Thursday.
