Ones to Watch: 14 Hawai‘i Athletes Who Qualified for the Tokyo Olympics

After a yearlong wait, we’re excited for the official start of the Tokyo Olympics with the opening ceremony Friday, July 23. Thirty-three sports will be featured in these delayed 2020 Games—five more than in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics—including, for the first time, surfing. Hawai‘i’s own Carissa Moore and John John Florence will compete for Team USA at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach in Chiba, Japan. Also make sure to watch rugby, volleyball, skateboarding, karate, basketball and swimming to cheer on other local Olympians.

SEE ALSO: 11 Things Locals Need to Know About 2020’s First-Ever Olympic Surf Competition at the Tokyo Games

USA Men’s Rugby

Martin Iosefo

Born and raised in Wahiawā

First match is on Sunday, July 25, against Kenya at 4:30 p.m. HST (July 26 at 11:30 a.m. in Japan).

The youngest in a family of eight, Iosefo was raised to be competitive. He graduated from Leilehua High in 2008, the only one in his family to graduate high school, and attended the University of Montana to study psychology on a football scholarship.

@mmiosefo

USA Men’s Volleyball

Micah Christenson

Born and raised in Honolulu

First game is on Saturday, July 24, against France at 2:30 a.m. HST (9:45 p.m. in Japan). Second game is on Monday, July 26, against Russia at 4:05 p.m. HST (11:05 a.m. in Japan).

Making his second appearance at the Olympics, Micah Christenson is a 2011 Kamehameha alum and is now a married father of two. In his spare time, he enjoys bodysurfing, basketball and spending time with his family.

@mchristenson11

SEE ALSO: Legendary UH Women’s Volleyball Coach Dave Shoji Recounts Career Highs and Lows in New Book

USA Men’s Volleyball

Erik Shoji

Born and raised in Honolulu

First game is on Saturday, July 24, against France at 2:30 a.m. HST (9:45 p.m. in Japan). Second game is on Monday, July 26, against Russia at 4:05 p.m. HST (11:05 a.m. in Japan).

This will be 2008 Punahou alum Erik Shoji’s second Olympics. He and his brother, Kawika, are both sons of Dave Shoji, former long-time UH Rainbow Wahine volleyball coach and the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division I women’s volleyball history. After playing for Stanford University and graduating in 2001, Shoji joined his brother on the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team.

@erikshoji

USA Men’s Volleyball

Kawika Shoji

Born and raised in Honolulu

First game is on Saturday, July 24, against France at 2:30 a.m. HST (9:45 p.m. in Japan). Second game is on Monday, July 26, against Russia at 4:05 p.m. HST (11:05 a.m. in Japan).

Older brother of Erik Shoji and son of former UH Rainbow Wahine volleyball coach Dave Shoji, Kawika Shoji graduated from ‘Iolani School in 2006 and then attended and played at Stanford University. At 6 feet, 3 inches, Shoji is a setter for the team.

@kshoji7

Photo: Courtesy of Flickr user yamchild

USA Men’s Skateboarding

Heimana Reynolds

Born and raised in Honolulu

First event starts Saturday July 24, at 1:30 p.m. HST (July 25 at 8:30 a.m. in Japan).

2017 Mid-Pacific alum Heimana Reynolds was the 2019 World Champion in park skating. His family runs Proper Rideshop on O‘ahu, a skate school, skate shop and indoor skatepark.

@heimana_reynolds

USA Women’s Skateboarding

Jordyn Barratt

Born and raised in Haleʻiwa

First event starts Sunday, July 25, at 1:30 p.m. HST (July 26 at 8:30 a.m. in Japan).

First-time Olympian Jordyn Barratt was the first woman to compete as a pro in both the U.S. Open of Surfing’s skate and surf competitions in the same year.

@jordynbarratt

USA Surf Team

Carissa Moore

Born and raised in Honolulu

Round 1 starts on Saturday, July 24, at 3:30 p.m. HST (July 25 at 10:20 a.m. in Japan).

Four-time World Surf League Champion Carissa Moore is making her debut at the Olympics as one out of the two surfers from Hawai‘i on the USA Olympic team—very impressive given that there are only four surfers on the team. She is a 2010 Punahou graduate. In 2016, the state of Hawai‘i declared Jan. 4 Carissa Moore Day.

@rissmoore10

SEE ALSO: While You Were Shopping: Carissa Moore Won the Surf World Title and Nabbed an Olympic Games Slot at the Lululemon Maui Pro

Photo: Courtesy of chde.eu

USA Surf Team

John John Florence

Born in Honolulu and raised in Hale‘iwa

Round 1 starts on Saturday, July 24 at noon HST (July 25 at 7 a.m. in Japan).

With the debut of surfing in the Olympics, John John Florence is sure to make some waves. At the age of 13, he became the youngest person to compete in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and holds two World Surf League World Titles. When he’s not on his board, this Kahuku High School alum enjoys sailing his boat between islands, beekeeping and tending his local organic farm.

@john_john_florence

SEE ALSO: 2016 Islander of the Year in Sports: John John Florence

Brazil Surf Team

Tatiana Weston-Webb

Raised on Kaua‘i

Round 1 starts on Saturday, July 24, at 3:30 p.m. HST (July 25 at 10:20 a.m. in Japan).

When she was only two weeks old, Tatiana Weston-Webb’s family moved from Brazil to Kaua‘i, where she and her brother learned to surf together. At 8, she received her first surfboard and her surfing career took off from there. At 15, she secured a spot in the World Surf League Championship Tour.

@tatiwest

USA Karate

Sakura Kokumai

Born in Honolulu

First round starts on Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 3 p.m. (Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. in Japan).

Sakura Kokumai started studying karate in Honolulu when she was 7 years old. She is the first American to qualify for the Olympics in karate, which is new to the games this year.

@sakurakokumaikarate

Japan Men’s Basketball Team

Hugh Hogland

Born and raised in Waimānalo

First game Sunday, July 25, at 1 p.m. HST against Spain (July 26 at 8 a.m. in Japan).

2017 ‘Iolani School grad Hugh Hogland is the youngest player to ever represent Japan in basketball at the Olympics. Since his mother is a Japanese citizen, Hogland has dual citizenship in Japan and the United States. His hobbies include meditating, reading and anime.

@hughwatanabe

Photo: Courtesy of Federated States of Micronesia Team

Micronesia Swim Team

Taeyanna Adams

Lives in Kona

First heat is on Sunday, July 25, at 1 a.m. HST (8 p.m. in Japan).

Adams moved to Kona in 2020 to train with Kona Aquatic’s head coach Dave Gibson. She will be swimming in the 100-meter breaststroke event. When she’s not in the pool she does cross-fit training and enjoys hikes and waterfalls.

@nanski_a

US Men’s Beach Volleyball

Taylor Crabb

Born and raised in Honolulu

2010 Punahou alum Taylor Crabb grew up playing beach and indoor volleyball at the Outrigger Canoe Club. He worked at Subway in high school. Unfortunately, Crabb tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be competing.

@tcrabbs

US Men’s Beach Volleyball

Tri Bourne

Born and raised in Honolulu

Tri Bourne attended Academy of the Pacific but played with Maryknoll because his school did not have a volleyball team. He replaced Crabb in Olympic play when a positive COVID-19 test sidelined his longtime teammate. The two are competed together in 2018 and 2019 but first played together at the Outrigger Canoe Club.

@tribourne

For a full schedule of events visit olympics.com/tokyo-2020 or nbcolympics.com/full-schedule. Keep in mind that Japan is 19 hours ahead of Hawai‘i. For more information on how to watch the Opening Ceremony visit nbcolympics.com.