That's the attitude of Kaui Wakita - both then and now - more than two decades since trading an island for another on one mysterious odyssey.

The Hawaiian native found her way somehow to less of a tropical paradise and one filled full of Tornadoes with little idea of what to expect.

The club was barely a year old in 1995 and she was not the typical college recruit.

Spotted immersed in what was little more than a trivial alumni game at the University of Hawaii, first impressions were a relative culture shock.

"That [cold] weather was a problem. Accents, words with different meanings, just words itself too. [Tasmania] was a bit more classier then compared to my lifestyle," Wakita said.

"But the people, who surrounded and supported me, for sure made it easier."

"But the transition on the court was just as unexpected.

The Tornadoes were still feeling their way a little sore after many of the Launceston team's confidence was shot from a rough time playing for the KMart Condors in their first tilt at the national level.

So the import was not just a spoke on the wheel, but the cog that drove it.

"Well, at first, I really didn't know what I was first getting into," Wakita said.

"It didn't take me long to figure out being an American import was a big deal - and how their investment in me was important.

"See, I thought I was just another player.

"Although you could say I am an American, having the sense of being Hawaiian may have caused my confusion."

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The early-season pressure amid a sluggish start quickly was forgotten as the season rolled on and the Torns were stringing the wins together.

The turning point came later with a smidge of class.

The team had looked dead and buried, destined to miss finals entering the last game.

But Wakita stood up with a guard masterclass that put on 40 points against the east conference leader to win by a margin of the same amount.

From that point onwards, the confidence was up and Launceston was heading to a CBA championship title.

But Wakita, in the first of four years at the club, never envisaged it until the end.

"No, of course not. I don't think anyone did. I mean I didn't know about the standard at all [in Australia]. I just know that as the season went on, we got to know each other better, played better. We began to believe," she said.

It is 25 years this year, but the impact of the coronavirus pandemic wilted a hope of commemorating in season.

But the distance and social distancing can not take away the feelings from the 48-year-old's winning memories for the only club she played for then and ever since.

"Can't describe it really. But to try..... just an awesome feeling to be a part of bringing the championship to the Torns and to the city and the people," Wakita said.

"I must say, I was relieved, a lot off my shoulders after the club took a chance on me.

"I'm glad the team was able to get one while I was there.

"That made wanting to stay for another three years easier. It always helps when your team is doing well.

"But after a while, it was more the friendships I made."

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