LOS ANGELES – LMU alum Ikaika Aki is returning to his other home, the former Lions' head coach announced on Tuesday evening. After returning to his alma mater and leading LMU to three-consecutive Golden Coast Conference Regular Season Championships and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, Aki will return to his home state and take the head coaching job for the Hawaii women's team.
 
"Ikaika has been instrumental in restoring LMU women's water polo to national prominence and has established himself as one of the most respected coaches in women's water polo," said Athletic Director Craig Pintens. "More importantly, he has done so while developing outstanding young women and representing LMU with tremendous character and pride. As one of our own, Ikaika will always be a Lion. While we are sad to see him leave, the opportunity to return home to Hawaii and lead that program is truly special. We are grateful for his contributions to LMU and wish him continued success in this next chapter."
 
Since taking the LMU head coaching position in 2023, Ikaika has won over 70 percent of the games he has coached, accounting for 85 total wins. Aki has not lost a conference game in either of the last two seasons leading to back-to-back coach of the year honors.
 
"The last four years at LMU has been nothing short of a transformative experience," said Aki. "It's impossible to convey all that I've learned in such a short time, and I couldn't be more grateful for the trust and opportunity that administration has afforded me along the way. To all the wonderful staff members I've worked with, thank you for your tireless efforts to feature our amazing program. To all the athletes who endured my constant yammering, thank you for your endless attentiveness as it was your commitment to detail that helped bring LMU back into the championship spotlight.
 
Thank you, LMU, for giving me the best student-athlete, assistant coach, and head coach experience I could have hoped for."
 
In 2025, Ikaika brought the Lions back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012, then did so again with another NCAA Tournament quarterfinal appearance in 2026.
 
As a player for the Lions from 2007-2010, Aki was a two-time All-American and was named Western Water Polo Player of the Year in 2010. Aki was the first player to reach the century mark in all major stat categories, totaling 105 career goals, 109 career assists, and program records with 176 steals, and 119 field blocks respectively.
 
LMU will begin an immediate national search to fill the position.

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