At 6 years old, Makena Ahuna had already mapped a plan to college and knew volleyball was the vehicle that would drive her there.
The recent Hilo graduate will play ball at Eastern Arizona College with recent Waiakea graduate and HI Intensity teammate Kayla Kahauolopua.
Ahuna, a 5-foot-6 setter, made the best type of impression on Gila Monsters coach Shari Kay: a live one.
“I went up last summer to Eastern Arizona College’s volleyball camp that they run every year,” she said. “At the end of the camp, coach Shari liked how I connected with the players and my work ethic. She offered me a full-ride scholarship, and it went well since then.”
Ahuna finished with a 3.7 GPA and plans to major in nursing.
She started playing volleyball at 6 years old and focused only on that. And at that young age, Ahuna figured out the link between academics and athletics.
“I decided at a very young age that it was my ticket to college and that I had to work very hard to get to the level I needed to be at,” she said. “I have a great support system on and off the court, and thanks to my family and coaches I have the ability to not only further my education but volleyball at the next level.”
Ahuna reopened the BIIF-to-EAC pipeline, following in the footsteps of several HI Intensity players.
Chelzie-Kristina Ulu (Hilo, 2013), Waihilo Chartrand (Hilo, 2012), and Randi Estrada (Keaau, 2012) played for the Gila Monsters.
Ahuna got a wonderful two-for-one deal at EAC. She not only received a full-ride but also got a recruiting coordinator.
The three aforementioned Gila Monsters all landed homes at four-year colleges, thanks to Kay’s help.
The weather at EAC runs hot and cold. It’s 60 degrees in December, January, and February. The other months, the place is an oven.
“It’s very hot in Arizona, very dry. I really have to adjust and will get used to it, just got to stay hydrated,” Ahuna said.
There are no Hawaii players on the roster, but Ahuna has a traveling partner in Kahauolopua, an outside hitter with a hammer for a right arm.
“Kayla is a very reliable teammate and a great asset. We work well together and connect,” Ahuna said. “We’ve accomplished a lot together. We won Moku O Keawe regionals and Haili tournaments consecutive times.
“In high school, we were on opposite sides of the court and always competed at very high levels, and it was a battle.”
Last season, the Gila Monsters (a venomous lizard) reached the Juco national tournament, finished 22-10 and were the conference, region, and district champions.
It’s a competitive environment Ahuna has trained for. Her top two trainers are Walter and Marie Ahuna, her parents.
“My parents have influenced me a lot throughout my life, especially in volleyball, from taking me to all my practices, working overtime, so I could travel as much as I do and supporting me at every game and always pushing me to be better, especially off the court,” Ahuna said. “My parents spend a lot of time making sure I work out and do everything I can to be prepared for any game.”
At Hilo, she was involved in quite a bit of extracurricular activities, and the one that bear-hugged her was Special Olympics.
“I got to work with the special needs students and do sports with them and spread acceptance worldwide,” Ahuna said. “They are not just athletes, they are role models, too. I’ll always have a special spot in my heart for those kids.”
Her plan is falling into place. And she’s keeping a promise to herself, made as a 6-year-old. There’s no such thing as taking it easy.
“I have also been doing CrossFit to keep in shape for volleyball,” Ahuna said. “The people there really care about my progress and are always pushing me to do better and never give up.”
