University of Hawai'i-Hilo athletic director Dexter Irvin announced the hiring of David Kaneshiro as head women's basketball coach.

Kaneshiro, a 1990 Hilo High graduate and former Vikings' point guard, has been an assistant coach for the UH-Hilo men the past four seasons.

"I believe Coach Kaneshiro will enable us to bring prominence to women's basketball at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo," Irvin said. "Those are lofty expectations but he possesses the knowledge, history and ability to meet the expectations we have for women's basketball."

Kaneshiro, one of three finalists, was selected by a six-person committee. The other finalists were then-women's head coach Daphne Honma and Texas A&M International assistant Pamela Bowden.

Honma, who was hired upon the program's inception in 2006, led Hilo to an 8-19 record this season, including a 5-11 mark and seventh-place finish in the Pacific West Conference. In four seasons with the Vulcans, Honma compiled a 39-61 record.

"I would like to acknowledge and thank coach Daphne Honma for her pioneering spirit and her dedication as she helped us establish our women's basketball program," Irvin said. "She is a great person with wonderful skills and a sense of community and dedication to young people on the Big Island."

Kaneshiro played three seasons at Division III Beloit College (Wis.). He joined UH-Hilo as a men's assistant from 1995-98 before spending four years at Webster (Mo.), including the final three as head coach. After one year as an assistant at Cal State Stanislaus, Kaneshiro was hired as head coach at Blackburn (Ill.) in 2003 and won two conference titles in three seasons before rejoining the Vulcans men's staff in 2006. UH-Hilo has gone 53-50 the past four seasons.

Kaneshiro's hiring is effective July 1.

GOLF

Led by senior Terence Daniels' victory, Grand Canyon won its second straight Hawaiian Airlines PacWest men's golf championship at the Hawai'i Prince Golf Course in 'Ewa Beach last week.

The Antelopes shot a three-round team score of 876, 13 strokes ahead of runner-up Dixie State, to claim their third league title in four seasons. BYU-Hawai'i (903), UH-Hilo (908), Notre Dame de Namur (914), Academy of Art (917), HPU (933) and Chaminade (1,010) rounded out the standings.

Daniels shot rounds of 72, 70 and 70 to finish at 4-under par (212). He finished six strokes ahead of BYUH freshman Inoka Kahawaii (71-76-71—218).

HPU WINS CUP

Hawai'i Pacific has won its first PacWest Commissioner's Cup after both the baseball and softball teams clinched league crowns last weekend.

The Commissioner's Cup recognizes the top athletic program in the PacWest. Teams accumulate points for their schools according to their final league standings. Each school's total points are then divided by the number of PacWest athletic programs it offers and an average overall finish is calculated. HPU averaged better than a third-place finish in 11 PacWest sports.