Current University of Hawai'i-Hilo women's basketball coach Daphne Honma is one of three finalists for the permanent position, Vulcans' athletics director Dexter Irvin announced Sunday.

The other finalists are former Texas A&M International assistant Pamela Bowden and UH-Hilo men's assistant David Kaneshiro.

Irvin said a total of 249 applications were received and a six-person committee will conduct interviews with the finalists this week.

"After the interviews, I will make my recommendation to the vice chancellor," Irvin said yesterday.

Kaneshiro, a former Hilo High standout, will be interviewed today, while Honma will meet with the committee tomorrow, and Bowden Friday.

Irvin said he hopes to have a coach selected by "the middle of next week."

Honma, who is the program's only head coach since its inception in 2006, led Hilo to an 8-19 record this season, including a 5-11 mark and seventh-place finish in the Pacific West Conference. In four seasons with the Vulcans, Honma has compiled a 39-61 record.

"It's obviously a tough position that she is in, trying to carry on while applying for a job," Irvin said of Honma. "But, she's been doing a great job of carrying on and trying to sustain what we have and plan offseason workouts for the team."

Meanwhile, Irvin reiterated that women's volleyball coach Tino Reyes is still considered an interim head coach.

"I still have to open the position up and will do so in September," Irvin said. He said he could not indicate whether a change would be made or if Reyes is the front-runner to retain the job.

"When I hired him as interim coach, I wanted someone who could become the full-time head coach, I didn't want someone who would be there for just three or four months," Irvin said. I'm very pleased with what he's doing."

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