Hawai'i's basketball program began in 1920 and the Rainbow Warriors compete in the Big West Conference. The program has made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and earned its first tournament win in 2016 over California. The team's remote location makes it one of the most unique road trips in college basketball.
The Rainbow Warriors nickname comes from the rainbows frequently visible over Manoa Valley where the campus is located, combined with warrior imagery from Hawaiian culture.
Upsetting fourth-seeded California 77-66 in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament as Big West champions — the program's first NCAA Tournament victory in history and one of its most exciting March moments.
Hawai'i's geographic isolation means the team travels more miles than almost any other D-I program — road trips to the mainland routinely exceed 5,000 miles round trip, and opponents face severe jet lag visiting Honolulu.
The Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors compete in the Big West and hold an all-time record of 848–766 (.525 winning percentage) across 56 recorded seasons dating back to 1970-71.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 24-8 | 14-6 (Big West) | Eran Ganot | |
| 2024-25 | 15-16 | 7-13 (Big West) | Eran Ganot | |
| 2023-24 | 20-14 | 11-9 (Big West) | Eran Ganot | |
| 2022-23 | 22-11 | 13-7 (Big West) | Eran Ganot | |
| 2021-22 | 17-11 | 12-5 (Big West) | Eran Ganot | |
| 2020-21 | 11-10 | 9-9 (Big West) | Eran Ganot | |
| 2019-20 | 17-13 | 8-8 (Big West) | Chris Gerlufsen,Eran Ganot | |
| 2018-19 | 18-13 | 9-7 (Big West) | Eran Ganot | |
| 2017-18 | 17-13 | 8-8 (Big West) | Eran Ganot | |
| 2016-17 | 14-16 | 8-8 (Big West) | Eran Ganot | |
| 2015-16 | 28-6 | 13-3 (Big West) | Eran Ganot | |
| 2014-15 | 22-13 | 8-8 (Big West) | Benjy Taylor | |
| 2013-14 | 20-11 | 9-7 (Big West) | Gib Arnold | |
| 2012-13 | 17-15 | 10-8 (Big West) | Gib Arnold | |
| 2011-12 | 16-16 | 6-8 (WAC) | Gib Arnold | |
| 2010-11 | 19-13 | 8-8 (WAC) | Gib Arnold | |
| 2009-10 | 10-20 | 3-13 (WAC) | Bobby Nash | |
| 2008-09 | 13-17 | 5-11 (WAC) | Bobby Nash | |
| 2007-08 | 11-19 | 7-9 (WAC) | Bobby Nash | |
| 2006-07 | 18-13 | 8-8 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 2005-06 | 17-11 | 10-6 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 2004-05 | 16-13 | 7-11 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 2003-04 | 21-12 | 11-7 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 2002-03 | 19-12 | 9-9 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 2001-02 | 27-6 | 15-3 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | AP #25 |
| 2000-01 | 17-14 | 8-8 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1999-00 | 17-12 | 5-9 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1998-99 | 6-20 | 3-11 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1997-98 | 21-9 | 8-6 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | AP #21 |
| 1996-97 | 21-8 | 12-4 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1995-96 | 10-18 | 7-11 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1994-95 | 16-13 | 8-10 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1993-94 | 18-15 | 11-7 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1992-93 | 12-16 | 7-11 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1991-92 | 16-12 | 9-7 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1990-91 | 16-13 | 7-9 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1989-90 | 25-10 | 10-6 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1988-89 | 17-13 | 9-7 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1987-88 | 4-25 | 2-14 (WAC) | Riley Wallace | |
| 1986-87 | 7-21 | 2-14 (WAC) | Frank Arnold | |
| 1985-86 | 4-24 | 1-15 (WAC) | Frank Arnold | |
| 1984-85 | 10-18 | 5-11 (WAC) | Larry Little | |
| 1983-84 | 12-16 | 6-10 (WAC) | Larry Little | |
| 1982-83 | 17-11 | 9-7 (WAC) | Larry Little | |
| 1981-82 | 17-10 | 9-7 (WAC) | Larry Little | |
| 1980-81 | 14-13 | 7-9 (WAC) | Larry Little | |
| 1979-80 | 13-14 | 4-10 (WAC) | Larry Little | |
| 1978-79 | 10-17 | Ind | Larry Little | |
| 1977-78 | 1-26 | Ind | Larry Little | |
| 1976-77 | 9-18 | Ind | Larry Little | |
| 1975-76 | 11-16 | Ind | Bruce O'Neil,Rick Pitino | |
| 1974-75 | 14-11 | Ind | Bruce O'Neil | |
| 1973-74 | 19-9 | Ind | Bruce O'Neil | AP #20 |
| 1972-73 | 15-11 | Ind | Red Rocha | |
| 1971-72 | 23-4 | Ind | Red Rocha | AP #12 |
| 1970-71 | 23-5 | Ind | Red Rocha |
Cal Poly Mustangs · Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners · Cal State Fullerton Titans · Cal State Northridge Matadors · Long Beach State Beach · UC Davis Aggies · UC Irvine Anteaters · UC Riverside Highlanders · UC San Diego Tritons · UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
All Division I programs · Historical rankings · Championship journeys · Hoopsipedia home
| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|