Kapolei softball seniors ink commitments to play at the next level

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 13, 2024

WAIKIKI — A quartet of Kapolei softball seniors enjoyed a special moment together Wednesday morning.

The Hurricanes’ Kendalyn Cordeiro-Felise, Kandi Malama-Ahlo, Hayden Imai and Kaylisa Nakoa were among 49 student-athletes that put pen to paper at the annual Hawai’i State National Letter of Intent Signing Day at the Honolulu Elks Lodge.

“Honestly it’s really a surreal feeling being able to share this moment with them,” said Cordeiro-Felise, who will play at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington.

“We all wanted it cause we’re all seniors so we all wanted to have our last time together before we go off to college in different states,” said Malama-Ahlo, who signed with California State University, Bakersfield.

Imai will play at Eastern Arizona College while Nakoa signed with Menlo College (Atherton, Calif.). The four players were part of a 2024 squad that reached the OIA Division I final and state quarterfinals in the spring.

“I’m very happy for this years class and their commitment to college and playing at the next level,” Kapolei coach Enson Queypo said. “These girls are built with high character and are very respectful people. They will be great assets to their respective colleges.”

For Cordeiro-Felise, Wednesday morning was a validation of all her hard work and choices that she had to make for her softball career.

She spent her freshman and sophomore year and played with two older sisters at Waipahu, who competes in Division II, before transferring to Kapolei as a junior.

The move up to D1 did not hinder Cordeiro-Felise as she batted .500 with 29 hits, 22 runs scored, 13 RBIs, nine doubles and two home runs and was named second team All-OIA D1 West at catcher, which was a loaded position last season.

“This moment means a lot,” Cordeiro-Felise said after signing her letter of intent. “Going to a different place and also moving schools changing from a D2 to a D1 and going from a different setting to a more competitive setting, it was a lot and I think it was the right choice to further my softball career.”

Saint Martin’s has a lot of students and athletes from Hawai’i and was a campus that Cordeiro-Felise knew she wanted to be a part of early on in her journey.

“I went there my freshman year and I just fell in love with the place and the coaching. They’re really good coaching and I think that’s where I’m meant to be,” said Cordeiro-Felise.

She said she is planning on majoring in kinesiology and hopes to become an athletic trainer or a physical therapist some day.

For Malama-Ahlo, location mattered with selecting her college team.

“I liked it because it was close to home and it wasn’t like a big school, it was like small, it wasn’t too big for me. I felt comfortable with my decision,” Malama-Ahlo, said of CSU-Bakersfield.

“I’m excited to start my next chapter of life and I just can’t wait to see what happens to me and how my future pans out.”

Malama-Ahlo, who will major in business management, was a second-team All-OIA D1 West selection as pitcher in 2024. She led the state in innings pitched at 100 while also finishing in a tie for the second-most hits in the state (33) and batting .550.

She is eager for one more season with the Hurricanes before going to play for the Roadrunners.

“I feel like we just have to be more confident this year. I feel like we have to work harder more than we worked last year and I feel like we just need to have more fun.”

Kapolei infielder Hayden Imai and pitcher Kandi Malama-Ahlo meet in the circle during the 2024 OIA Division I title game.

Imai was also a second team selection while Nakoa earned honorable mention honors.

Queypo added that all four Kapolei seniors are versatile players.

“Kandi is a great hitter and can also play in the outfield as well as pitch. Hayden is very versatile and can play any position you put her at. Kendall is a plug-and-play athlete. Kaylisa is a great infielder that can play anywhere you need her to play.”

Kapolei’s Kaylis Nakoa poses for a photo during the signing day event at the Honolulu Elks Lodge.