The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Athletics Department reached an agreement to maintain Big West membership for its four teams in sports that are not sponsored by the Mountain West. This agreement ensures continued competitive opportunities for these programs while strengthening their long-term stability.
The four UH Mānoa teams that will remain in the Big West are men’s volleyball, men’s swimming & diving, women’s beach volleyball and women’s water polo.
“This agreement is a significant milestone for our athletics program and was truly a team effort,” said acting Athletics Director Lois Manin. “We’re thankful to commissioner Dan Butterly and the Big West member institutions for the opportunity to remain in the league. It guarantees that our student-athletes in these four sports can continue to compete at the highest level within the Big West.”
Big West Commissioner Butterly said in a statement that the conference is pleased to continue a longstanding relationship with UH that dates back to 1984.
“By welcoming these programs as affiliate members, we not only bolster the overall strength and prestige of The Big West but also provide our student-athletes with enhanced opportunities to compete at a national level in their respective sports,” said Butterly.
The agreement with the Big West follows the October announcement that UH will become a full member of the Mountain West after being a football-only member since 2012. The other UH teams will join 15 conference-sponsored sports in the Mountain West at the start of the 2026–27 academic year.
Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, indoor and outdoor track & field, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis and volleyball. Men’s sports include basketball, baseball, football, golf, and tennis.
