Hawaii High School Football 2025

4/3/25 - Sterling Carvalho released by Kahuku as head coach

Hawaii High School Football 2024

1/12/25 - Sagapolutele and Manutai are All-State players of the year

1/6/25 - Sagapolutele flipped from Cal to Oregon, then back to Cal

11/30/24 - St. Louis defeats Kahuku 17-10 to win the Open Championships

11/26/24 - St. Louis' Pupu Sepulona is a two-sports star

11/15/24 - St. Louis rallies to defeat Campbell 27-24 after Sagapolutele departs

11/15/24 - Kahuku edges Mililani 8-6 in State Semi-Final

11/8/24 - Kahuku rallies over no. 1 Campbell 33-15 for OIA championship

11/8/24 - St. Louis defeats Kamehameha 33-9 for ILH championship

11/7/24 - No. 1 Campbell to face no. 2 Kahuku for the OIA title

11/6/24 - St. Louis vs. Kamehameha will be for the ILH championship (rather than the second round title)

11/5/24 - Campbell remains no. 1 though Kahuku gets a vote

11/1/24 - OIA Semifinal: Campbell comes back to defeat Kapolei 49-43, Sagapulutele breaks passing yardage record

10/31/24 - Brandon Gaea transferred from Bishop Gorman to Miliani this week and is eligible to play against Kahuku

10/19/24 - Lacaden runs for 248 yards and 4 TDs and St. Louis runs past Punahou 50-14

10/19/24 - No. 1 Campbell defeats no. 3 Kahuku 21-13

10/17/24 - Sagapolutele's next obstacle is Kahuku

10/15/24 - Matai Fuiava transfers from St. John Bosco to Kahuku

10/5/24 - Sagapolutele throws 6 TDs to lead no. 1 Campbell over no. 2 Mililani 41-20 / McKinley gets first win in five years

9/29/24 - no. 2 Kahuku edged by no. 3 Mililani 10-14 

9/15/24 - Kahuku no match for no. 1 Mater Dei

Hawaii High School football 2023

11/30/23 - Ron Lee steps down as St. Louis coach

11/24/23 - Kahuku edges Mililani 21-19 to win third straight state title

11/17/23 - Kahuku gets by Punahou 28-16 in HHSAA semifinal

11/4/23 - Mililani upsets Kahuku 28-21 for OIA Open title

9/17/23 - Kahuku upsets St. John Bosco

Cal Lee retires

This time, there is no ambiguity.

“I’m officially retired,” said Cal Lee, 76, the most successful coach in the history of Hawaii high school football.

Two months ago, Lee hinted that it was time to put away his clipboard, whistle and game-day stare. This time, Lee said, he has walked away from a coaching career spanning more than 50 years, the last two as Saint Louis School’s defensive coordinator.

“I enjoyed coaching, but you need the energy, the giddy-up, all that stuff,” Lee said. “After 50-plus years, like anybody else, you know when it’s time. It’s time.”

In two stints covering 27 years as Saint Louis’ head coach, Lee compiled a record of 296-41-5. From 1986 through 1999, Lee led the Crusaders in winning 13 consecutive Oahu Prep Bowls and then the inaugural state tournament. With brother Ron Lee as head coach and Cal Lee as defensive coordinator, Kaiser High won the 1979 Oahu Prep Bowl. Lee also was on the University of Hawaii coaching staff for eight seasons.

Among the Crusaders he coached were UH head coach Timmy Chang, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins, offensive linemen Dominic Raiola and Olin Kreutz, and running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma‘afala.

“He is, in one word, the definition of legend,” Chang said. “He’s the winningest coach in Hawaii football. He’s the reason why a lot of kids from around the state grew up playing for Saint Louis. My family has a great relationship with him. We’re very indebted to him for everything he’s done for me in my playing career, as well as my coaching career. He’s always been there for me.”

Lee said: “I look at myself as being fortunate I got to coach good players. Shoot, they were all good players. It’s all about timing, and I kind of hit it that they were there when I was there, and good things happened.”

Lee said there are too many standout players and games to fully acknowledge. But Lee said one of his fondest memories was a 1983 game against Kamehameha. With no score entering the final quarter, Kamehameha needed a victory to remain in contention for the ILH title and accompanying berth in the Prep Bowl. But with 14 seconds left, Saint Louis’ 5-foot-5, 160-pound nose guard Shawn Nakakura and 177-pound defensive tackle Dana Paikai sacked Kamehameha quarterback Garrett Awai for the game-winning safety in a 2-0 victory.

A year after struggling in his initial Saint Louis season as head coach, the Crusaders went undefeated in 1983 with an under-sized squad. Nakakura, who was named to the All-State first team, embodied that defense. Lee said Nakakura, pound for pound, was the strongest and one of the quickest Crusaders.

Lee, with a defense-sided view, also marveled about two of his former backs. Boyd Yap transferred to Kaiser in 1979, and helped lead the Cougars to the 1979 Prep Bowl title.

“I was really impressed with Boyd,” Lee said. “He was quiet, worked hard, never said much. I was thinking: what the heck did he do to get kicked out (of Kamehameha)? He was the nicest kid I ever met. I tell you what, he was one of the best players I ever saw. Boyd would run for 80 yards and come out and it was like nothing. He just played the game. He never celebrated. He acted like it was what he was supposed to do.”

Lee said George Ornellas was comparable to Yap. Ornellas was the state’s player of the year as a Saint Louis junior and senior. At one point, he averaged a touchdown ever three times he caught a pass or carried the ball, according to Honolulu Star-Advertiser historian Jerry Campany.

“That guy, I’m not kidding, I couldn’t get him tired,” Lee said of Ornellas. “He would go out there and play hard and he never once said, ‘Coach, I need a break.’ He could play 48 minutes non stop. A great player.”

Of his time at UH, where he coached the linebackers, he listed Solomon Elimimian, Corey Paredes, Adam Leonard and Blaze Soares as among the memorable. Elimimian holds the UH record with 434 tackles in a career.

“Solomon is another guy I was fortunate enough to coach,” Lee said. “He would do everything you told him to do. He was a great athlete. He was MVP in the Canadian Football League. He was gifted. I was fortunate to be there when they were there. When you have good players, you become a better coach. That’s all it is. I had good players.”

Lee said he is in good health. “You slow down, like everybody else, you’re not going 100 mph like before,” he said of retirement. “When you retire, you just can’t sit down. Everybody thinks you’re just going to relax. You can’t. You’ve got to move around.”

He said he and his wife plan to travel. He also has regular pickle ball games with older brother Ron, who will continue to coach at Saint Louis.

“I’m very fortunate,” Lee said of his coaching career. “The way things went, you have to be fortunate. It’s like when you’re on the craps table and you’re rolling and the numbers come out. That’s how it goes. And all of a sudden you have a good year. And then another one. All those guys — the players, the coaches — I really appreciate all the work they did. It was a good experience, and I’m very fortunate.”

2022 Hawaii All-State Football Team

The 2022 football season was a constant of highlight, instant-classic games with a bit of a twist.

More of the state’s top public-school teams and players emerged in the spotlight. The same is true of the Star-Advertiser Football All-State selections by coaches and media.

Kahuku linebacker Liona Lefau repeated as Defensive Player of the Year, eking out the honor ahead of teammates Leonard Ah You and Brock Fonoimoana. Punahou linebacker GianCarlo Rufo was also a contender for DPOY.

Offensive Player of the Year honors went to Waipahu’s multiple-position standout Tama Uiliata.

Coach of the Year voting was tight, with Brad Uemoto of Konawaena outpointing Kyle Linoz of Waimea and Sterling Carvalho of Kahuku.

Uemoto has scheduled his Division I program against behemoth Kahuku in recent seasons.

“I feel that Lefau, Ah You and Fonoimoana are all deserving of being recognized as the best defensive player in the state,” Uemoto said. “Each player had such an effect on the game individually that it could have gone to any of them.

“Lefau playing in the middle of that defense made it tough for opponents to avoid him. He was involved in every play being so athletic and instinctual. His ability to play sideline to sideline while being physical between the tackles is what separated him,” he added.

Lefau was one of five Kahuku seniors to sign National Letters of Intent in early December. He inked his letter with Texas. Ah You signed with Oregon State and Fonoimoana signed with Utah. Defensive lineman Stanley Raass, another first-team selection, also signed with Utah.

Last year’s offensive POY, Kainoa Carvalho, missed significant playing time as a senior due to a foot injury before returning for the postseason. He also signed with Utah.

Uiliata began the season at wide receiver and racked up eye-popping numbers, then shifted to quarterback after starter JJ Manu suffered a season-ending injury. The shifty playmaker moved back to wideout as freshman Eli Mendoza took the helm in the OIA D-I title game against Aiea.

During Waipahu’s state-tournament opener against Kapaa, the Marauders trailed 35-13 when Uiliata moved again to QB, sparking a wild 49-41 comeback win. He led Waipahu to a semifinal win over ‘Iolani but suffered an ankle injury in the state final and limped his way to a gutty effort in a loss to Konawaena.

Across the board, voters cast their ballots for the 5-foot-9, 170-pound senior. Punahou quarterback John-Keawe Sagapolutele, Campbell quarterback Jaron-Keawe-Sagapolutele and Konawaena quarterback Keoni Alani were also in the running.

Uiliata signed with Hawaii after finishing the season with 1,256 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air, throwing just two interceptions in 143 attempts. He also rushed for 597 yards (6.7 per carry) and 10 TDs. As a pass catcher, Uiliata had 69 receptions for 980 yards and 10 TDs. In all, he accounted for 2,833 yards and 33 TDs from scrimmage while also playing some cornerback and returning kicks.

In five games on defense, Uiliata came up with four interceptions, one returned for a TD.

A few years back, Konawaena was a somewhat reluctant climber in the BIIF’s classification reshuffle. The Wildcats were promoted from from D-II to D-I after losing a wild seven-overtime 75-69 thriller to Lahainaluna in the 2017 state final.

Five years later, Uemoto guided his team to an 11-1 season. The Wildcats opened the season with a 30-7 loss to Granger in Utah, then returned home and embarked on a long win streak with total domination of the BIIF. Konawaena averaged 61.9 points per game in league play, outscoring opponents 557-20.

In the state tourney, Konawaena edged Aiea 27-24, then outscored Waipahu 38-28 in the final for its first football state crown.

Linoz was a close second after lifting Waimea to a 9-2 season and its first D-II state title. The Menehune did it with a disciplined wing-T offense that goes back more than a half-century.

Bryson Carvalho of Waipahu, Nate Kia of Punahou, Kili Watson of Nanakuli and Tyson Valle of King Kekaulike also earned votes from the panel.

The ongoing recession-era phenomenon of private-school athletes transferring to public schools — and elite public-school athletes opting to stay home and play for their hometown teams — is reflected on the ballots of coaches and media. The All-State first-team offense is comprised of 10 public-school players and just three from private schools.

The first-team defense has nine public schoolers and four from private schools. All three state championship teams — Kahuku, Konawaena and Waimea — are from public schools.

ALL-STATE

Offensive Player of the Year: Tama Uiliata, Waipahu

Defensive Player of the Year: Liona Lefau, Kahuku

Coach of Year: Brad Uemoto, Konawaena

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr

OL Preston Taumua Aiea 6-5 315 Jr.

OL Josiah Timoteo Waianae 6-4 290 Sr.

OL Roebeck Rupp Kahuku 6-4 350 Sr.

OL Iapani Laloulu Farrington 6-2 358 Sr.

OL Brayden Mailo Kahuku 6-2 309 Sr.

RB Va’aimalae Fonoti Kahuku 5-10 193 Jr.

REC Astin Hange Punahou 5-9 165 Jr.

REC Jayden Chanel Aiea 6-2 190 Jr.

REC Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio Konawaena 5-9 180 So.

REC Raymond Roller Mililani 5-6 160 Sr.

QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele Punahou 6-2 210 Sr.

U Tama Uiliata Waipahu 5-9 176 Sr.

K Jordan Kapisi Punahou 6-0 190 Sr.

DEFENSE

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr

DL Kekai Burnett Punahou 6-3 235 Jr.

DL Stanley Raass Kahuku 6-1 290 Jr.

DL Julian Savaiinaea Saint Louis 6-3 230 Sr.

DL Logan Rouse Aiea 6-3 235 Sr.

LB Liona Lefau Kahuku 6-1 215 Sr.

LB Leonard Ah You Kahuku 6-3 201 Sr.

LB GianCarlo Rufo Punahou 6-2 215 Sr.

DB Brock Fonoimoana Kahuku 6-0 185 Sr.

DB Aiden Manutai Kahuku 5-11 176 So.

DB Travis Ross Punahou 5-10 175 Sr.

DB Gavin Hunter Mililani 6-2 190 Sr.

U Kamu Kaaihue Roosevelt 6-3 215 Sr.

P Yosei Takahashi Saint Louis 5-8 167 Sr.

RET Kaimana Carvalho Kahuku 5-10 156 So.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr

OL KJ Hallums Punahou 6-2 270 So.

OL Isaac Maugaleoo Campbell 6-7 310 Sr.

OL Houston Kaahaina-Torres Saint Louis 6-3 265 So.

OL Vaea Ikakoula Kahuku 6-4 295 So.

OL Kamilo Raass Kahuku 5-11 256 Jr.

RB Ala‘i Williams Punahou 6-0 215 Jr.

REC Tana Togafau-Tavui Campbell 6-1 175 So.

REC Kaimana Carvalho Kahuku 5-10 156 So.

REC Titan Lacaden Saint Louis 5-7 160 So.

REC Geronimo Ulgraran Aiea 5-6 160 Sr.

QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Campbell 6-2 210 So.

U Makana Naleieha Kaiser 6-1 180 Sr.

K Allison Chang ‘Iolani 5-5 151 Sr.

DEFENSE

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr

DL Hyrum Moors Kahuku 6-0 252 Jr.

DL Jabiel Lauvao Mililani 6-1 217 Jr.

DL Iosefa Tapeni Kapolei 6-3 275 Sr.

DL Tristan Waiamau-Galindo Kamehameha 6-3 220 Jr.

LB Blesyng Alualu-Tuiolemotu Campbell 6-2 220 Sr.

LB Iona Purcell Saint Louis 5-10 201 Sr.

LB Alika Cavaco-Amoy Punahou 6-1 215 Jr.

DB Shaun Niu Kahuku 6-1 180 Sr.

DB Jordan Fetu Mililani 5-10 165 Sr.

DB Kela Moore Campbell 6-1 185 Jr.

DB Madden Soliai Kahuku 5-10 160 Fr.

U Romeo Tagata Waipahu 6-1 245 Sr.

P Kaimana Carvalho Kahuku 5-10 156 So.

RET Coby Tanioka Castle 5-8 155 Sr.

THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr

OL Caleb Rhinelander Punahou 5-8 270 Jr.

OL Max Rouse Aiea 6-4 270 Sr.

OL Teancum Moeai Kahuku 6-2 270 Sr.

OL Kimo Moniz-Kekumu King Kekaulike 6-0 360 Jr.

OL Tuineau Muti Punahou 6-2 310 Jr.

RB Anieli Talaeai Waipahu 5-8 150 Jr.

REC Mason Muaau Campbell 6-5 215 Sr.

REC Onosa’i Salanoa Mililani 5-11 170 So.

REC Taniela Taliauli ‘Iolani 6-0 182 Jr.

REC David Kalili Nanakuli 5-8 150 Sr.

QB Keoki Alani Konawaena 5-10 160 Jr.

U Nakoa Ige Konawaena 5-10 210 So

K Elijah Dinkel KS-Hawaii 5-10 167 Sr.

DEFENSE

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr

DL Anelu Lafaele Saint Louis 6-3 220 Jr.

DL Viliami Vakalahi Maui 6-3 300 Jr.

DL Ha‘aheo Dela Cruz ‘Iolani 6-2 218 Sr.

DL Howie Iongi Kahuku 6-1 298 Sr.

LB Aizik Mahuka Aiea 6-1 200 Jr.

LB Robbie Correa Waimea 5-8 170 Sr.

LB Jacob Gaudi ‘Iolani 5-10 188 Sr.

DB Ezekiel Rodrigues Mililani 6-1 185 Sr.

DB Bishop Foumai Aiea 5-6 150 Sr.

DB Terahiti Wolfe Punahou 5-10 180 Jr.

DB Ro‘onui Satta-Ellis Konawaena 6-0 175 Sr.

U Jeremiah White Kaimuki 6-1 175 Jr.

P Jordan Kapisi Punahou 6-0 190 Sr.

RET TItan Lacaden Saint Louis 5-7 160 So.

HONORABLE MENTION

QUARTERBACKS

Waika Crawford, Kahuku

Kini McMillan, Mililani

Kekahi Graham, Saint Louis

Ezekiel Olie, Aiea

Liatama Amisone, Kapolei

Easton Yoshino, Kaiser

Kayman Lewis, Roosevelt

RUNNING BACKS

Michael Hayslett, Radford

Ofa Vehikite, Kaimuki

Kaimana Lale-Saole, Aiea

Jamal Plunkett, Waianae

Nathan Pele-Tukumoeatu, Nanakuli

Aukai Emayo, Waimea

Keao Kawa‘akoa, ‘Iolani

Iosepa Lyman, Punahou

Kapono Na-O, Kapaa

Piercen Evans, Maui

Clyde Taulapapa, Kahuku

Christian Asinsin, Nanakuli

Braeden Togafau, Waipahu

Kawelu Kaiawe, Konawaena

Lincoln Tihada, Lahainaluna

Tysin Zackious, King Kekaulike

RECEIVERS

Rowen Bucao, Campbell

Noah Macapulay, Punahou

Kainoa Carvalho, Kahuku

Tai Aipia-Barrett, Waipahu

Chazen Rodillas-Vesido, Waipahu

Eric Stephens, Moanalua

Bradley Kansou, Pearl City

Jayden Montgomery-Gaopoa, Roosevelt

Jacob Ah Mook Sang, Konawaena

Frank Abreu, KS-Maui

Donovan Reis, Kaiser

Chris Holt, Kalani

OFFENSIVE LINE

Zack Vigilia, Waimea

Tayson Tiitii, Punahou

Skyden Hanisi, Punahou

Kealii Dikilato, Kamehameha

Salesi Anitema, Maui

Kanai Aguilar, Kapaa

Joshua Tavui, Campbell

Nui Crozier, King Kekaulike

Terrance Pemasa, Kamehameha

Dylan Bugayong, Waimea

Bula Montgomery, Lahainaluna

Dallas Sagapolutele, Campbell

Blaze Manley, Mililani

Sone Sanerivi, Saint Louis

Oakland Viliamu, Waipahu

DEFENSIVE LINE

Sila Unutoa, Aiea

Kielan Siamani, Punahou

Nitus Auelua, Kahuku

Joshua Sagapolutele, Saint Louis

Colby Casinas, Moanalua

Chray Flanary, Konawaena

Alaka‘i Molina, Saint Louis

Nazaiah Caravallo, Kamehameha

Kamaehu Kopa-Kaawalauole, Campbell

Noah Wily, Saint Louis

Maximum Fonoimoana, Kahuku

Roy Ma‘afala, Saint Louis

Vincent Tautua, Saint Louis

Solomone Malafu, Kapaa

LINEBACKERS

Elijah Nua, Mililani

Keawe Navas-Loa, Konawaena

Trez Uemoto, Konawaena

Ofa Falekaono, Maui

Lamana Tapusoa, Kahuku

Sylas Alaimalo, Damien

Tysic Puni, Campbell

Zion Junk, ‘Iolani

Josiah Ko‘o Kia, Punahou

Blayne Shiraki, Punahou

Rhaziah Tacub-Taniguchi, Waimea

Brennan Dupio, Kamehameha

Charles Correa, Saint Louis

Kamaehu Roman, Mililani

Faleali‘i Atuaia, Kahuku

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Vili Toilolo, Kahuku

Aiden Takuma, Punahou

Kaonohi Casco, Kamehameha-Maui

Zanden Willis, Saint Louis

Ana Monteilh, Saint Louis

Agenhart Ellis, Punahou

Thomas Marcellino, Hilo

Jeremy Garner, Moanalua

Keegan Gantala, KS-Maui

Cyprus Rombawa-Kai-Rivera, Nanakuli

Chansen Nicodemus-Garcia, Kahuku

Isaiah Iosefa, Mililani

UTILITY

Blade Kaululaau, Pac-Five

Makel Paiva, Mililani

Allen Mahoe III, Nanakuli

Kainalu Davis, Roosevelt

Tyson Apau, Waialua

Kaleopono Wong, King Kekaulike

Hezekiah Anahu-Ambrosio, Konawaena

KICKERS

Bryson Boyea Quiton, Aiea

Sevy Scofienza, Maui

Marcus Rodriguez, Pearl City

Journey DePeralta, Roosevelt

Xavier Transfiguracion, Waipahu

2021 Hawaii High School Football All-State team

Prep football special: The best of the best in Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State 2021

Kahuku’s Kainoa Carvalho made all the right moves

No ’backer was better than Liona Lefau

2020 University of Hawaii Football

12/24/20 - Hawaii defeats Houston 28-14 in New Mexico Bowl held in Texas

12/18/20 - Aloha Stadium moratorium impacts Rainbow Warrior football

12/16/20 - Muasau named All-Mountain West

12/16/20 - Miles Reed enters transfer portal

12/13/20 - Hawaii accepts invitation to play in New Mexico Bowl against Houston

12/12/20 - Hawaii runs over Nevada 38-21 to finish 4-4

12/5/20 - Hawaii falls to San Jose State 24-35

12/2/20 - San Jose State game moved to Aloha Stadium

11/28/20 - Hawaii stops Nevada 24-21

11/21/20 - Hawaii comeback falls short against Boise State 32-40

11/14/20 - Hawaii falls to San Diego State 34-10

11/7/20 - Hawaii scrambles back to beat New Mexico 39-33

10/30/20 - Hawaii run over by Wyoming, 31-7

10/24/20 - Hawaii broke the rock in defeating Fresno State 34-19 in Graham's debut

10/22/20 - Calvin Turner faced uncertainty

10/18/20 - Hawaii will play in empty Aloha Stadium (I mean actually empty)

10/18/20 - Todd Graham's salary ranks 10th out of 12 MWC teams

10/18/20 - Kim McCloud joins Hawaii staff

10/17/20 - Hawaii PPV will be $69.99 per game (no discount for the whole season?)

10/15/20 - Kody Cooke wants to be able to take people into the fifth quarter

10/13/20 - Only two Hawaii games to be nationally televised

9/30/20 - Four players test positive, team activities suspended

9/30/20 - Todd Graham says Chevan Cordeiro is our quarterback

9/25/20 - Mountain West approves season starting October 24

8/10/20 - Mountain West cancels fall football season
8/6/20 - University of Hawaii's current schedule has 10 games starting on September 26
7/23/20 - Hawaii picked to finished third in the West Division
7/19/20 - Rico Bussey picked as Mountain West newcomer of the year
7/13/20 - Robert Morris replaces Fordham on Hawaii's schedule
7/10/20 - U.H.'s three games with Pac-12 opponents are cancelled
6/28/20 - Kody Cooke is involved in everything
6/25/20 - Trent Figg has a plan
6/23/20 - Hawaii game with Fordham in jeopardy
6/21/20 - Why was Brennan Marion called 50-50?
6/19/20 - Todd Graham looking forward to training camp
6/19/20 - Abraham Elimimian sets the tone
6/18/20 - Sam Bennett has seen all the angles
6/14/20 - Laiu Moeakiola is trying to keep pace
6/12/20 - Tony Hull likes to figure how things work
6/11/20 - G.J. Kinne's move to Hawaii was a no-brainer
6/10/20 - Victor Santa Cruz and the war dogs
6/9/20 - Dan Phillips skill is the grill
6/8/20 - Bo Graham will be the eye in the sky
5/31/20 - Rico Bussey Jr., WR, transferring from North Texas
5/31/20 - Preliminary depth chart taking shape
4/20/20 - Armani Edden, QB, College of the Canyons, commits to Hawaii
4/15/20 - Adam Stack (Kamehameha 2017), K, to transfer from Oregon to Hawaii
4/2/20 - Zelly Henderson, WR, verbally commits to Hawaii
3/16/20 - Hawaii lands Jake Farrell, QB from Arizona
2/6/20 - Hawaii gets seven on signing day: Zion Bowens WR, Quin Bright WR, Cameron Lockridge CB, Sergio Muasau C, Jalen Perdue CB, Logan Taylor S, Riley Wilson WR
2/5/20 - Hawaii signs two receivers: Zion Bowens of Long Beach City College and Riley Wilson of Prestonwood Christian in Plano Texas
1/29/20 - Cameron Lockridge, DB, Reedley (CA) College and Logan Taylor, DB, El Camino College commit to Hawaii
1/5/20 - Isaiah Mays, DB, City College of San Francisco accepts scholarship offer
12/19/19 - Hawaii signs 10: Ezra Evaimalo DE, Kilohana Haasenritter SB, Dae Dae Hunter RB, Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala SB, Sterlin Ortiz S, Matt Shipley K, Kemon Smith DT, Micah Soliai Howlett OL, Maurice Ta'ala DT, Calvin Turner WR
12/18/19 - Dae Dae Hunter, RB, Chandler (Ariz) accepts scholarship offer
10/3/19 - Maurice Ta'ala to join brother at Hawaii
9/10/19 - Micah Soliai Howlett, OL, Kahuku, pledges to join Hawaii in 2020
8/22/19 - Isaiah Tufaga to transfer from Oregon State
6/30/19 - Matthew Shipley, K, Liberty Hill High, Texas to sign with Hawaii
6/18/19 - Kilohana Haasenritter, WR, Hilo High, accepts offer from Hawaii
6/10/19 - Jake Tuatagaloa, OL, Mililani, commits to Hawaii
5/9/19 - Ezra Evaimalo, DE, Kamehameha, orally commits to Hawaii for 2020
1/24/19 - Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala, DB/WR, Campbell commits to Hawaii

2020 High School Football

8/6/20 - HHSA postpones football to January
2/18/20 - Cal and Ron Lee switching roles at St. Louis

Damien dismisses football and basketball coaches

Damien Memorial School has released its football and boys basketball coaches and reassigned its athletic director in a shakeup involving as many as 20 employees.

“Given all the guidance that is being provided by authorities on the reopening of schools, all of which indicates a probable change in the number of teams that will be fielded, the length of each season and presence or absence of spectators, it seemed in the best interest of all involved in our athletic program and of the school, to inform some coaches that at the present time a position is not available,” Brother Brian Walsh, the school’s president, said in a news release.

Football coach Eddie Klaneski and boys basketball coach Alvin Stephenson — the latter of whom led the Monarchs to the Division II state championship in 2019 — were terminated. The girls volleyball program also was impacted, although Don Faumuina retired after Damien won the Division II state title last year.

Rudy Alejo has been reassigned from athletic director, a position he held the past year, to full-time teacher. Alejo has been with Damien since 1973.

“In specific reference to the athletic director, if the duties of the office were to be reduced from full to part time, in deference to Mr. Alejo’s long years of service, it was felt wise to have him return to his full time teaching position,” Walsh said in the release.

Walsh cited school policy in not provided specifics about individuals terminated.

“Some coaches are employed as full time Damien Memorial staff members,” Walsh said. “School policy is that personnel decisions concerning full time staff members are never discussed.”

*** [7/1/20] ***

Damien re-hires Eddie Klaneski as head football coach and appoints him as athletic director

Tua Tagovailoa and Vavae Malepeai top All-Decade Team

The argument — or debate, if emotions are left to the side — about the best offensive player of an entire decade could last a lifetime.

After all, how does a one-time state champion at quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, rate above a one-time state-champion at running back, Vavae Malepeai? If the selection for this All-Decade team is solely on leadership, the nod goes to Tagovailoa simply because QB is the man.

Over his three seasons as Saint Louis’ field general, Tagovailoa exploded with a seasoned group, then felt the weight on his shoulders as the leader as a junior, and then evolved into a new version of himself as a senior.

The statistical wow factor was still there, but the management of key situations became another part of Tagovailoa’s mastery. It was needed. In his senior year, still without a state title, Saint Louis had just begun to reassert its dominance on defense. Tagovailoa, battling injuries as the team’s leading rusher during his career, didn’t need to dominate, didn’t need to make all the big plays anymore. He still did much of the time, but scaling back and letting his maturing teammates carry more of the burden led to a Crusaders state title in the Open Division.

Malepeai was an alpha warrior as much as Tagovailoa on the gridiron. Mililani’s offense depended heavily on his durability, versatility and talent. The read-option offense gave Malepeai plenty of work. Through big games, injuries and high expectations, Malepeai continued to set the tone with his blend of power and breakaway speed.

Saint Louis had a talented group of pass catchers, a very good offensive line, but as the dynasty was reborn, offensive coordinator Ron Lee notes that it wasn’t a supremely dominant unit around Tagovailoa. At Mililani, the balance of the offense with QB McKenzie Milton — who also has a case as the All-Decade top offensive player — and WR Kalakaua Timoteo, plus a sterling O-line and plenty of depth, made the Trojans an offensive juggernaut.

Between editor/prep historian Jerry Campany, writer Billy Hull and yours truly, two of us leaned to Tagovailoa and one preferred Malepeai. Tua over Vae? That’s the call here, even if it is just by the slightest of nods.

2019 High School Football

12/22/19 - de Laura and Herbig top All-State team (see section W of print replica)
12/19/19 - Signing Day: Jayden de Laura (Washington State), Alaka'i Gilman (Stanford), Faaope Laloulu (Oregon), Jordan Botelho (Notre Dame), Nick Herbig (Wisconsin), Roman Wilson (Michigan)
12/3/19 - St. Louis to play in GEICO State Champions Bowl Series in Las Vegas
11/29/19 - St. Louis downs Kahuku 45-6 to win fourth consecutive state title
11/1/19 - no. 1 St. Louis holds off no. 2 Punahou 21-14 to win ILH championship
10/26/19 - Kahuku knocks off Mililani 7-3 to win OIA Open title
10/11/19 - no. 2 Punahou 3, no. 3 Mililani 0
9/28/19 - no. 5 Campbell held off by no. 2 Punahou 21-31

9/27/19 -  no. 1 St. Louis pulls away from no. 3 Mililani 54-21

9/21/19 - Mililani overpowered by St. John Bosco 10-42
9/20/19 - no. 1 St. Louis gets by no. 2 Punahou 25-19
8/30/19 - St. Louis defeats Bishop Gorman 31-19 at Aloha Stadium
8/30/19 - Mililani comes back to beat Liberty (Nevada) 34-22
8/9/19 - no. 3 Campbell falls to no. 4 Mililani 26-30 as Malosi Sam runs for 259 yards in 43 attempts
8/2/19 - St. Louis reloads
8/1/19 - Despite exodus, Punahou still has talent
7/31/19 - Campbell is a machine on offense
7/30/19 - Mililani has a tough schedule
7/28/19 - Kamehameha is going to play fast-break football
7/29/19 - Kahuku hoping to stay healthy
7/27./19 - Waipahu continues to ascend
7/26/19 - Lahainaluna endure change at top
7/25/19 - Hilo ready to make another title run
7/24/19 - Iolani aims to be special
7/23/19 - St. Louis ranked no. 11 in MaxPreps poll
3/7/19 - St. Louis to play Bishop Gorman at inaugural Aloha Football Classic

2020 commitments

4/23/19 - Jordan Botelho, LB, St. Louis orally commits to Notre Dame

2019 Hawaii high school football signings

Dillon Gabriel, QB, Mililani - Central Florida
Faatui Tuitele, DL, Saint Louis - Washington
Arasi Mose, OL, Saint Louis - Hawaii
Ben Scott, OL, Saint Louis - Arizona State
Gino Quinones, DL, Saint Louis, USC
Isaiah Filisi, DL, Saint Louis, Army
Julius Buelow, OK, Kapolei, Washington
Tim Horn, K/P, Punahou, Washington
Miki Ah You, LB, Kahuku, Washington
Sama Paama, DL, Kaimuki, Washington
Sitiveni Kaufusi, FB, Punahou, Navy
Tausili Fiatoa, DE, Kahuku, Navy
Akalea Kapono, LB, Kamehameha, Navy
Darrellson Masaniai, OL, Radford, Navy

more

Elijah Unutoa, OL, Kapaa, Brigham Young
Ethan Erickson, TE, Kahuku, Brigham Young
Kupono Blake, Kamehameha, Air Force
Maninoa Tufono, Punahou, USC
Duke Clemens, OK, Punahou, UCLA
Maris Liufau, Punahou, Notre Dame
Peni Naulu, LB, Kapolei, Washington State
Leif Fautanu, Pac-Five, UNLV

Tauli Tagovailoa, QB, Kapolei, Alabama
Treven Ma'ae, DL, Kapolei, Oregon

Tilini Livai, Hilo, USC

***

[4/19/19] Mika Makekau signs to play football for La Verne (she's a girl)

Gabriel and Tuitele top All-State team

When Saint Louis brought Cal Lee and staff back to campus five years ago, the cupboard wasn’t exactly bare.

What Lee wanted first and foremost was depth on his defensive line. Two years later, Faatui Tuitele arrived on the varsity, a sophomore with the tools to impact game plans.

Tuitele’s senior season at Saint Louis completed a string of three consecutive Open Division state championships. Coaches and media voted Tuitele the Star-Advertiser All-State defensive player of the year.

Tuitele outpointed teammate Jordan Botelho, a junior linebacker and key contributor for one of the best defensive units in state history.

Other top vote-getters were safety Marist Liufau of Punahou, linebacker Nick Herbig of Saint Louis, defensive lineman Tupu Alualu of Moanalua, defensive tackle Mykah Tuiolemotu of Mililani, and Waipahu defensive backs Deacon Kapea and Zeondre Benjamin.

In all, nine Crusaders were voted to the first team: Tuitele, Quinones, Botelho, Herbig, S Kamo‘i Latu, CB Korvin Feagins, OL Ben Scott, OL Arasi Mose and WR Roman Wilson.

Tuitele, a scholar-athlete raised in Mayor Wright Housing, committed to Washington in November. He turned down offers from 38 other universities. Other island players who have committed to UW are Miki Ah You of Kahuku, Julius Buelow of Kapolei, Sama Paama of Kaimuki and Tim Horn of Punahou.

On the other side, Mililani quarterback Dillon Gabriel was a near-unanimous selection as offensive player of the year.

“It’s amazing. The state of Hawaii will forever be the place I’m most proud of. The football and everything, it is the place that raised me. I am so proud to be from here,” Gabriel said.

With the senior southpaw at the controls, the Trojans captured the OIA Open championship behind the most potent offense in the league. He passed 13 QBs, including Tua Tagovailoa and Timmy Chang of Saint Louis, to become the all-time leader in passing yardage with 9,848 yards. His 105 TD passes are second only to Chang.

His 2018 season included 3,747 yards and 38 TD passes as Mililani went 10-3 and reached the state final. For the year, Mililani racked up 456 points, 35.1 per game. The only teams to limit the Trojans to fewer than 20 points were St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) and Saint Louis, who are Nos. 3 and 14 in the USA Today Super 25 national rankings.

Gabriel doesn’t say a whole lot, but is concise, much like his actions on the field. His process is about eliminating bad decisions. For all the TDs and yards, he’d love to zap the 13 interceptions he threw this season.

Running a hybrid system crafted by Trojans coach Rod York, Gabriel has grasped run-and-shoot concepts along with RPO timing and vision. In early 2017, York hoped Gabriel would get an offer from Hawaii, which happened.

Gabriel also got an offer from Army, committed to West Point, and then decommitted. He currently is weighing offers from Georgia, USC and UCF.

The coach of the year honor went to Bryson Carvalho, who guided Waipahu to the Division I state championship just one season after the Marauders were crowned D-II OIA champions. Carvalho edged Cal Lee in the voting. Other coaches receiving votes were Kui Kahooilihala of Roosevelt, Garret Tihada of Lahainaluna, Philip Rapozo of Kapaa, Kale Ane of Punahou and York.

2018 High School Football

12/16/18 - Gabriel and Tuitele top All-State team
11/24/18 - St. Louis sacks Mililani 38-17 to win state championship
11/21/18 - Cal Lee was there in the early days
11/16/18 - St. Louis romps past Kahuku 49-22
11/16/18 - Mililani gets by Campbell 24-2 in Open Division semifinal
11/12/18 - Dillon Gabriel decommits from Army
11/2/18 - Mililani defeats Kahuku 27-7 to win OIA title
11/2/18 - Campbell defeats Farrington 42-26 for state playoff berth
10/27/18 - No. 1 St. Louis knocks out no. 2 Punahou 45-21
10/20/18 - Undefeated St. Francis forfeits season
10/6/18 - Campbell stuns Kahuku 28-27
9/29/18 - Kahuku stunned at home by Mililani 10-38
9/22/18 - Dillon Gabriel becomes career passing leader
9/8/18 - no. 3 Mililani taken down by no. 5 Punahou 21-43
9/7/18 - no. 1 St. Louis overwhelms no. 2 Kahuku 30-14
8/31/18 - St. John Bosco 52, Mililani 14
8/10/18 - OIA and ILH together again
8/2/18 - St. Louis is the team to beat (again)
8/1/18 - Stacked Class of 2019
7/22/18 - How the OIA-ILH alliance came about
3/9/18 - Randall Okimoto steps down as Farrington head coach
2/22/18 - ILH agreed only after pledges from Kurisu and Amemiya
2/13/18 - OIA and ILH agree to two-year pilot program of interleague play
1/23/18 - OIA will move to three tiers
1/18/18 - Kahuku names Sterling Carvalho as head coach, fifth head coach in six years

2017 High School Football

12/17/17 - Cordeiro and Mauga are players of the year
12/12/17 - Cordeiro named Gatorade Hawaii player of the year
11/28/17 - Chevan Cordeiro stuck it out
11/18/17 - St. Louis pulls out the victory in battle with Kahuku 31-28
11/18/17 - Lahainaluna 75, Konawaena 69 in seven overtimes
11/10/17 - HHSAA semifinal: St. Louis runs away from Mililani 47-23
11/10/17 - HHSAA semifinal: Kahuku slips by Waianae 10-7
9/23/17 - St. Louis comes back to edge Narbonne 56-50 at Aloha Stadium
9/20/17 - Kaiser cancels the rest of the football season
7/8/17 - OIA compromise / Iolani in Division II? / a Pyrrhic victory for the OIA (Reardon)
6/18/17 - OIA counter-proposal
6/14/17 - OIA, Dave Reardon has a solution
6/9/17 - OIA won't participate in open division
6/9/17 - Three-tiered tournament passed 63-27 with all 27 OIA ADs voting against it
6/8/17 - Why not OIA-ILH for the whole season?

2/10/17 - Vavae Tata won't return as Kahuku head coach

Alexandra Buchanan is the real deal

McKinley didn’t get the win it was searching for on Saturday night, but the Tigers might have found their quarterback.

Oh, and it just happens to be a girl.

Alexandria Buchanan, summoned from the JV team, made her first varsity appearance and was 7-for-16 with 135 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. However, the Tigers fell 27-26 to Kalaheo at Skippa Diaz Stadium and are still looking for their first win since 2013.

“I just joined the varsity team this Tuesday. They moved me up after some consideration,” Buchanan said after the game. “It means a lot. This is my team; they’re like my second family, so it feels great to be able to play with them.”

The McKinley-partisan crowd was rocking on Saturday night in Kalihi, and the Tigers roster seemed to double that of Kalaheo, which had forfeited its matchup against Waipahu the previous week.  Mustangs coach Darrell Poole was inspired by the iron man performance of his team. Almost every Mustang played on both sides of the ball.

In addition to the team’s size, he knew facing Buchanan would be a challenge after previously watching her play on the JV team.

“She’s the real deal. You give her more time and she can throw with the best of them,” Poole said. “To me, it was awesome. I told my boys she’s gonna complete some passes against us. Hat’s off to her.”

*** [9/7/17]

She’s a 4.0 student, class president, assistant editor of the school newspaper and plays center on the girls basketball team.

“It’s kind of hard managing all those different activities, but they’re things I’m really interested in,” says Alexandria Buchanan, a 15-year-old sophomore at McKinley High School.

She also has a passing interest in football.

That’s not “passing” as in a casual curiosity about the game, that’s “passing” in the sense of throwing the ball. In addition to all of the above, Buchanan happens to be the varsity football team’s starting quarterback.

*** [9/16/17]

McKinley defeats Waialua to break four-year losing streak

*** [9/17/17]

Buchanan did her part

every All-State selection since 1972

The 2016 Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State football team will be released this month, adding a new group of talented players to the list of greats going all the way back to the first All-State team published by the Honolulu Advertiser in 1972.

Five years later, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin released its first All-State team in 1977. Prior to that, the Bulletin published only all-league teams using the rational that they hadn’t seen enough neighbor-island teams to accurately choose the best.

Here is the list of every All-State first teamer, you can sort by columns or if you are interested in a single team just type the school name in the search box.

I'll just list the Players of the Year (Offense and Defense)

2015 - Vavae Malepeai (O), Keala Santiago (D)

2014 - McKenzie Milton (O), Rex Manu (D)

2013 - Larry Tuileta (O), Kelii Padello (D)

2012 - Aofaga Wily (O), Kawahena Johnson (D)
2011 - Kenan Sadanaga (O), Benetton Fonua (D)
2010 - not listed, but Marcus Mariota was the QB
2009 - Ryan Ho (O) / Andrew Manley (O), Hauoli Jamora (D,D) / Beau Yap (D) [why are there 3 Ds?]
2008 - Andrew Manley (O,O) / Robby Toma (O), Mani Teo (D,D)

Forget it, it's confusing.  Why does 2010 have no players of the year and 2009 has three defensive player of the year awards?  You can look for yourself..

OK, I now see I have a post below on the 2010 All-State team.  Mariota was indeed the offensive player of the year, while Juda Parker was the defensive player of the year.  Parker went on to play at Colorado.

Bill Kwon

It’s fitting that during the same week in which Bill Kwon’s life was celebrated the University of Hawaii football team is preparing to play an opponent with a starting safety named Weston Steelhammer.

Two of the many things Kwon loved were UH sports and athletes with great names.

The longtime Star-Bulletin sportswriter and editor got such a kick out of the latter that he’d pore through the high school rosters each year in search of unique names to write a column about.

There was Maunakea Mossman and Cash Petty. Bruddah Choy Foo, Sista Palakiko, Boy and Pal Eldredge.

Datsun Nihipali — who did not change his first name to Nissan in 1986. And who could forget Earvin and Magic Atuaia? Or Allen Allen and Samoa Samoa?

Honolulu Mika and Hawaii Mika.

His favorite was Laborday Hunkin.

Too bad Kwon, who died two weeks ago at age 82, had retired before Wave Ryder (who ended up at the Naval Academy, of course) and Peanut Butter Kaaialii made names for themselves in Hawaii high school sports. He would’ve had so much fun writing about them.

Kwon had his serious side, but he never forgot sports were supposed to be enjoyed — even if you were a Red Sox fan who had to endure (stuff) like Bucky #$%^ing Dent, bled green while your beloved ’Bows lost to BYU every year, and waited patiently for Michelle Wie to live up to the hype.

He was the first daily newspaper editor to give a rough-around-the-edges kid a chance to work in sports, first with high school football stats in 1981. My first writing assignment came a year later.

I was eager, and Kwon gave me all I could handle. A lot of high school baseball and local golf. Tractor pulls and youth soccer. But also a few tastes of bigger events, like the Pro Bowl and the Hawaiian Open. It was all great on-the-job training.

As an editor, Kwon was patient and understanding. He was a teacher who corrected privately and tactfully.
As a columnist, he was clever yet meticulous. Critical at times, but fair.

And it was obvious which sport was his favorite.

“He taught me about golf,” said retired Star-Bulletin sportswriter Randy Cadiente. “How to cover it. But especially how to play it.”

I can’t remember him losing his temper. Ever.

He was Mr. Consistency as a columnist.

“I remember calling him once with a question and I can’t even remember what it was about,” said Clyde Mizumoto, who edited Kwon’s column for 10 years.

“He was professional, always on time,” said Curtis Murayama, the Advertiser’s sports editor at the time and now the Star-Advertiser’s deputy sports editor.

I was fortunate to have Kwon as a mentor and also to be part of his unofficial book club. We shared good reads for many years, and good conversation until just a few weeks before he passed.

On Thursday at Waialae Country Club, speakers representing the many facets of his life recalled Bill’s wit and his vast knowledge and appreciation of many subjects. Mostly, though, we talked about what he meant to us as a friend.

David Ishii, the great golf champion, noted it was “the liveliest and funnest” celebration of life he’d been to.

I drove home smiling, remembering Bill did finally get to see the Red Sox win three World Series, the ’Bows thrash BYU a few times, and Michelle Wie capture an LPGA major.

-- Dave Reardon, Star Advertiser, 10/21/16

Hawaii High School Football recruiting news (2016)

5/17/16 - Rolo offers 15-year old Tui Tuitele
5/13/16 - Rolovich makes offer to eighth grader Noah Sewell
5/3/16 - Tua chooses Alabama
3/18/16 - Hawaii first to offer Taulia Tagovailoa, QB, Kapolei
3/9/16 - Alabama offers Tua Tagovailoa, QB, St. Louis