Team building and team bonding can happen anywhere.

It comes in many forms. Some are more intense than others such as three hours of highly competitive, focused practice twice a day. Some are more relaxed but equally effective, such as a camping trip to the west side of Oahu.

Over the weekend, the Hawaii women’s volleyball team made its annual sojourn to “the country,” miles away from Gym I and the bright city lights of Honolulu. It signaled the break in the first two weeks of double-day sessions for the Rainbow Wahine, who returned to practice on Sunday morning.

“It was really fun, setting up our own tents, being outside,” junior libero/defensive specialist Kyra Hanawahine said. “It was a good bonding experience.”

“It was a nice night, with the moon and clear skies,” added redshirt junior Rika Okino, also a libero-defensive specialist. “You could hear the waves crashing. It was pretty.”

Okino and Hanawahine are two of the three back-row players vying to replace the graduated Tita Akiu at libero (the other is redshirt sophomore Janelle Gong). They welcome the challenge, the competition and the changing gym culture.

“I think there is a much higher level of play in the gym,” said Okino, a Kalani High product in her fourth year with the program. “The skill level is much higher. I think we’re all on the same page as far as our work ethic and our gym culture is the strongest from what I’ve personally experienced over the four years.

“As a whole I think our team is in a much better place, especially so early in the season.”

Although a junior in athletic eligibility, Okino is on track to graduate in the spring with a degree in civil engineering.

“I could have stayed, pursued another degree but I didn’t know if I want to spend another two years in engineering school,” said Okino, who was a high school valedictorian and had the highest GPA on the Wahine team last season.

“My goal is to graduate in four years, too,” said Hanawahine, a psychology major who transferred in last spring from Oregon.

That Hanawahine came in a semester early has helped with the transition. The Kamehameha graduate said the biggest change from Eugene to Manoa is “just being home.”

“It’s a different vibe for me, I’m feeling more comfortable,” she said. “Things are going great. This team has a lot of potential and it’s super exciting to think about where the season is headed and how everyone can contribute.

“There is a lot of competition. Every day we make each other better. You can’t ask for more than that.”

Hawaii has another week of double-days before school starts Aug. 26. The Wahine open with No. 21 San Diego in the second match of the Hawaiian Airlines Classic on Aug. 30. The first match has No. 13 Washington against St. John’s.