Kahumoku arrested in abuse case

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kahumoku

Former University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball All-American Lily Kahumoku was arrested early yesterday morning on a misdemeanor domestic-abuse complaint.

Police arrested Kahumoku, 22, at a Waikiki apartment on Ala Moana at 1:25 a.m. She was booked on one count of abuse of a family or household member and released at 2:50 a.m. on $1,000 bail.

She is scheduled to appear in Family Court at 8 a.m. Friday, according to police records. A conviction for a first-time offense would result in a minimum 48 hours in jail.

Police officers were sent to the apartment of UH men's volleyball player Jose Jose Delgado in response to an argument between Kahumoku and Delgado, police said. Delgado suffered minor injuries and played briefly in last night's victory over the University of California-Irvine at the Stan Sheriff Center.

In a written statement issued by Global Sports Management last night, Kahumoku called the incident "unfortunate."

"It has nothing to do with volleyball. It is strictly a personal matter and I intend to handle it that way," the statement said. "I hope this does not shed any negative light on the volleyball program at UH. I respectfully ask for everyone to take this within the realm of my personal life."

Delgado was not made available for comment after the match. In a prepared statement, the UH athletics department said Delgado had done nothing wrong.

"Coach Mike Wilton and his staff met with Jose and based on the information he provided, there is no indication that any team rule has been violated at this time," the UH statement said.

Kahumoku was a two-time first-team All-American, and a second-team Academic All-American last season.

In 2001, the 1999 graduate of Kamehameha Schools took the season off for personal reasons, although she kept those reasons private.

Kahumoku was one of seven seniors who led the Wahine to the NCAA volleyball final four in Dallas last December. Hawai'i lost to Florida in the semifinals.

Kahumoku has signed a contract to play professional volleyball in Russia.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.