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Professor Kukui is a passionate man who lives in the player's new hometown. His area of expertise is Pokémonmoves, and is known to take direct hits from them if he thinks he can learn something about them. In his youth, Kukui participated in the island challenge with his childhood friend, Molayne. Afterwards, he traveled to Kanto, where he challenged the Indigo League and eventually made his way to the Indigo Plateau, but his Elite Four challenge ended after losing to Lance. It is unclear which iteration of the Indigo League he challenged. He is married to Professor Burnet.
Professor Kukui also frequents the Battle Royal Dome under the masked alias The Masked Royal (Japanese: ロイヤルマスクRoyal Mask). As the Royal, Kukui invites the player, Hau, and Gladion to participate in a Battle Royal with him.
On top of Mount Hokulani, the professor directs the player's attention to the other mountain on Ula'ula Island, Mount Lanakila. It is here that Kukui plans to build Alola's own Pokémon League. Kukui believes that the time has come for Alola to make a name for itself in the world, and that establishing a Pokémon League will help achieve that. He then introduces the player to Molayne.
Later, after the trial of Hokulani Observatory, the player is asked by Molayne to return the Professor's Mask to Kukui, who is at Malie Garden. There, Kukui is confronted by the boss of Team Skull, Guzma. He calls both the professor and himself "fellow rejects who never could become captains." The boss then criticizes Kukui's idea of building a Pokémon League. Kukui then reveals he chose not to become a captain because he had other goals to pursue. Those goals are what lead him to build the League. The professor then asks the player to battle Guzma. The player wins, and Guzma leaves. Kukui thanks the player by giving them the Z-Crystal for the final evolution of the starter Pokémon they chose; Decidium Z, Incinium Z, Primarium Z for Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina, respectively. He also takes back the mask, while continuing to deny he is The Masked Royal.
Much later, the Professor greets the player at the gates to the now completed Pokémon League. Kukui welcomes the player, and if SolgaleoS/LunalaM is in their party, Kukui will share a few words with the Legendary Pokémon, as well. Once the player enters the League gates, Kukui explains how the Elite Four challenge works, and wishes the player luck.
Upon defeating all four members of the Elite Four, the player makes their way to the Champion Chamber, and sit on the throne. However, Kukui approaches the player, saying they have one more challenge to complete before they can rightfully take their place as Champion. Professor Kukui challenges them to a battle for the Champion's throne, acting as the final battle of the player's Pokemon League challenge. He uses the final evolution of the starter the player's choice is weak to. After being defeated, Kukui congratulates the player, and names them the first ever Champion of the the Alola Pokémon League, entering them in the Hall of Fame.
Kukui can be battled again as a challenger in a Title Defense battle, despite not wishing to be the Champion of a League that he created.
"Nice to meet you, Sun! The name's Kukui. I hope we can be friends!"
"That's right, yeah! I let myself get hit with all kinds of moves so I can test their power!"
"That came right out of the blue! What's up, Hau?"
"I see... I wouldn't want you to be in any trouble if you got attacked again."
"You wanna go through a trial to make yourself stronger?"
Sure, I'll try it!: "Totally focused on training before I even tell you what it is, yeah? I respect that! Just like the focus of Machamp, the Superpower Pokémon, using a Focus Blast!"
A trial?
"Trials are a custom we have here in the Alolaregion. Young boys and girls go through them to get stronger as Trainers and to get closer to their Pokémon."
"Well, whenever you're ready, come on out to where we'll hold the trial—Ten Carat Hill! Woo!"
"That guy over there will take you out to Ten Carat Hill when you're ready!"
"Wild Pokémon will jump right out of the tall grass at you! You're a Pokémon Trainer, yeah, so you can battle alongside your partner, Greninja! On the other hand, if you don't want to run into any wild Pokémon, you should avoid walking through the tall grass. All right, I'll be waiting for you inside Ten Carat Hill!"
Ten Carat Hill Trial Site
"Hey there, Sun! I've been waiting for you! Let me explain the trial for you."
"There're four Pokémon on Ten Carat Hill. Two are called Jangmo-o and two are called Hakamo-o. Your goal in my trial will be to photograph all of them, yeah! Take this Poké Finder—you'll need it to take the pictures."
"If you've got a Poke Finder, you can take pictures in places where you thing you'll find Pokémon."
"My Pikachu is really strong, too! He's every bit as strong as your Greninja, so you can count on him to help you out with your trial!"
"Go find a Jangmo-o first! There should be one hiding somewhere close by."
If talked to, before finding a Jangmo-o
"Look for a Jangmo-o close by, and take a picture of it!"
After finding one Jangmo-o
"You've successfully photographed one, yeah! Sorry, there's one thing I forgot to mention! When you take a picture of a Jangmo-o, it'll get startled and attack you. What's more, they're Dragon-type Pokémon, yeah, so they can be tough, scary opponents! You've got your Greninja and my Pikachu with you, though, so you should be fine! Just 3 more until you complete the trial! Have fun out there taking pictures!"
If talked to, after finding two Pokémon
"Just 2 more until you complete the trial! Have fun out there taking pictures!"
If talked to, after finding three Pokémon
"Just 1 more until you complete the trial! Have fun out there taking pictures!"
"I can't believe you beat the Totem Pokémon, Sun! You and that team are awesome! Woo! It looks like you took pictures of all four Pokémon, including the Totem Pokémon! You cleared the trial! Congrats, Sun! I'll give you a Z-Ring as a present!"
"Once you've got a Z-Ring and a Z-Crystal, yeah, you can use really awesome Pokémon moves—Z-Moves!"
"Don't sweat it, Sun! Pikachu can use Z-Power now! But you can only use it once in a battle! Are you gonna face off against her with Greninja's Water Shuriken? Or are you gonna go with Pikachu, which can use Z-Power?"
"What a great match, Sun! Woo! Pikachu, thanks for helping him out with that trial!"
"You drew out the power of the Pokémon and showed us the best moves you could, yeah! Sun, you're gonna be a wonderful Pokémon Trainer!"
"Well, the two of you should both train up during your island challenge!"
"Great idea, yeah! As a welcome gift, it'll be my treat!"
Hau'oli City Shopping District - After finishing the trial
"Allow me to congratulate you again on clearing the trial, Sun! Let me give you all the good stuff you'll need to ride Pokémon!
"Here in the Alola region, Pokémon will lend you their strength by letting you ride on their backs! Sun, I think it's time for you to ride on a powerful Pokémon that can run across the land and smash right through rocks!"
"Let me read you the manual. "Press Ⓨ to turn on your Ride Pager! Hold Ⓑ to dash!" This is your Riding Wear! It's the special outfit you wear when riding Pokémon, yeah. When you ride Tauros, your world gets a whole lot bigger! Maybe you could even find something new if you head out to Ten Carat Hill... I'll be at the Pokémon Center, so if you need me, just stop by!"
Hau'oli City Pokémon Center
"Hey there, Sun! You need something?"
Send to full version: "What are you sending to the full version?"
Let's chat: "It looks like a bunch of Pokémon Trainers have gathered along the road to the trial site."
"Over by the tourist bureau, yeah—there's somebody who'll take you someplace fun!"
"It's a hot one out here today—a perfect day for Pokémon! Woo!"
"You been riding Tauros? Hold Ⓑ down to dash. You can even smash through rocks when you get a good head of steam!"
"Did you try the catching challenge? It's on the way to the trial site."
Nothing: "Let me know whenever you need anything, cousin!
"Let's see what you can do in the Pokémon-catching challenge, Sun!"
"Yeah, Pokémon Trainers can get out there and catch wild Pokémon! Now I'll show you how it's done, so keep your eyes on me, cousin.
After tutorial
"Wild Pokémon do attack people sometimes, but once you catch them, they'll become your strong allies. Yeah! All right, get out there and enjoy the Pokémon-catching challenge! I'll be cheering for you."
