It’s like Christmas in August.

The 2024 edition of Hawai’i high school football kicks off Friday night with five games on the docket with an additional 10 games on Saturday.

Among those games on Friday includes HSRN’s radio broadcast of the Waialua Bulldogs’ home opener against PAC-5 at Toshiyuki Nakasone Field. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and can be heard on 95.1 FM and AM 760.

“Everybody is excited,” said Waialua coach Gary Wirtz. “I now the community is ready, excited to get back and fill up the stadium. We probably got the best fans on the island because they pack this place out and cheer for us.”

 The Bulldogs will be debuting a new offense this year in what Wirtz described as a “power spread.” Junior quarterback Emery Abilla is back after one year of varsity experience and will look to take a step forward after spending the offseason improving in the pocket, learning how to use his eyes to move the defense as well as working on his footwork speed to limit the amount of sacks taken.

Waialua will need to replace the production of running back Makoakai Fierro and receiver Jayvie Arellano, who each scored five touchdowns in their respective categories. Fierro also added 19 total points in the kicking game.

Helping the ground game this year will be running backs Rayden Wilson, Taylor Calaro and Jace Apau while transfer Kaies Demello will step in at kicker. In the receiving game, Hayze Ramos, Jeremiah Kahalewai and Kaleb Rice are expected to be contributors.

Rice will also have his name called on defense as a safety and special teams as a returner. He and two-way lineman Coda Kalama were ScoringLive All-OIA Division II Second Team selections in 2023.

Sky Hirota, Jensen Fujishige and Ramos are players on defense that Rice said will be key.

“I think this year we have more skill and more potential with all the boys and I think we can pull something off,” said Rice.

Waialua’s opponent this week, the PAC-5 Wolfpack, are coming off a state semifinal appearance and their first ever-state tournament win with an opening round victory over Kaimuki. Among the key players coming back for the Wolfpack include the All-Hawaii Division II Defensive Player of the Year in safety Jerome Lilio and First Team running back Seth Miller.

“They’re a really solid team” Wirtz said of PAC-5. “I think it’s going to be a really good game. I know they’re going to bring it so we’re just ready and prepared to give them the best shot we got.”

Friday, Aug. 9 schedule

Tafuna (American Samoa) at No. 11 Waipahu

Division I reigning state champion Waipahu starts its campaign with a home game against an out-of-country team. The Marauders lost around 30 players to graduation and another 10 more to transfer this offseason and will need to lean on returning RB Faafetai Failauga.

No. 9 Leilehua at No. 8 Kamehameha (TV)

The Mules and Warriors are separated by just one spot on the ScoringLive Power Rankings despite being in different divisions. Leilehua is tabbed by some coaches to be the favorite to win it all in Division I while Kamehameha is looking to bounce back in year two under coach Kaeo Drummondo after losing the final five games of 2023.

No. 12 Waianae at No. 7 Kapolei (TV)

Waianae will see the coaching debut of its new head coach in Vince Nihipali, who previously was the head coach of Moanalua. The Seariders and Hurricanes also play for a perpetual war club trophy it what is known as “The Clash for the Club.”

Aiea at Roosevelt 

Long term assistant coach Mika Li’ili’i makes his head coaching debut for Na Ali’i after taking over the recently retired Wendell Say, who was the lead man for 32 years. The Rough Riders boast a loaded junior class that helped the team win the OIA Division II championship a year ago as sophomores.

Saturday, Aug. 10 schedule

No. 10 Konawaena at No. 6 Punahou

The Wildcats are making one of two scheduled trips to Oahu this month and is primed for another trip in late November after reaching the Division I state final the past two seasons. QB Sean Connell has transferred back to Punahou after playing for Kaiser last season, but not before setting a new state track record in the 400-meter dash back in May.

Kalani at No. 13 ‘Iolani

Another new head coach makes their coaching debut in Kenric Pai for the Falcons in what will be the Raiders’ 59th annual Father Bray Memorial Football Classic Saturday afternoon. ‘Iolani is hoping to start the season in winning fashion after missing out on the state tournament a year ago.

No. 2 Mililani at Kailua

The reigning Offensive Player of the Year and future University of Washington QB Kini McMillan starts his senior year against the Surfriders and will have a pair of talented transfers to throw to in WR Tana Togafau-Tavui from Campbell and TE Kekua “Rhino” Aumua from Kahuku. Kailua signal-caller Romeo Ortiz also has a wealth of experience as a four-year varsity player.

Damien at No. 3 Campbell

The Monarchs are looking to build on their ILH Division I championship win from 2023 with RB/LB Sylas Alaimalo back for his senior year. The Sabers are loaded with Division I FBS talent that includes Cal-commit Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele at quarterback and OT Jordan Kernaghan, who is committed to Hawai’i.

Nanakuli at KS-Hawai’i

The Golden Hawks were competitive in many games last year, but fell short of the postseason in 2023. They will travel to Hawai’i Island on Saturday in their first game against the Warriors since 2014. KS-Hawaii returns a number of key starters, including junior LB Diesel Demello.

Moanalua at Radford

Because of field situations, the battle of Salt Lake Boulevard this weekend is actually the lone regular season matchup of week one. The Rams avoided a move down to Division II this year with a late surge in 2023 while Na Menehune is back in Division I after a rough two years in the Open Division.

No. 14 Kapaa at No. 5 Farrington (TV)

The Governors have been at the top of the offseason news with the hiring of Mike Lafaele as head coach and the addition of a number of transfers, including OLB Zaden Mariteragi and OL Abel Hoopii from Kahuku. The Warriors are looking to build off a state semifinal appearance in 2023 in Mike Tresler’s fourth year as the head man.

Castle at Pearl City

The Knights and Chargers have flopped divisions this season with Castle in Division II and Pearl City in Division I for the first time under veteran head coach Robin Kami. Both teams have elite kickers on their respective squads with Aztin Pitt of Castle and Kahai Chang of Pearl City.

Honokaa at King Kekaulike

Both teams were a few plays from winning a Division II state title in 2022, but failed to make the state tournament in 2023. This game might have the shortest duration of the weekend with both the Dragons and Na Ali’i utilizing run-first offenses.

No. 4 Saint Louis at No. 1 Kahuku (TV)

Tupu Alualu makes his debut as the head man for the Crusaders after taking over for offensive guru Ron Lee. Almost the entirety of the Red Raiders’ starting defense will play Division I collegiate football, but they could be without University of Utah-commit and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in safety Mana Carvalho with multiple sources saying he may have suffered a season-ending injury.