Hurricanes Power Past Trojans, Advance to First OIA Open Championship Appearance

The Kapolei Hurricanes are headed to uncharted territory.

With a hard-fought 21–14 win over the Mililani Trojans at John Kauinana Stadium Friday night, Kapolei earned its first-ever berth in the OIA Open Division Championship game.

Behind a relentless rushing attack, clutch defense, and poise under pressure, the Hurricanes avenged a regular-season loss and silenced the home crowd in Mililani — setting up a title showdown next week against perennial powerhouse Kahuku.

First-Half Fireworks

Behind a bruising ground game and a resilient defensive front, the Kapolei Hurricanes punched their ticket to the OIA Open Division Championship.

Kapolei struck first midway through the opening quarter when Zeph Salis found daylight for a 27-yard touchdown run. The Hurricanes doubled their advantage early in the second, as running back Chazz-Michael Kapahu capped a steady drive with a one-yard score to put Kapolei up 14–0 at halftime.

Trojans Battle Back

Mililani rallied after the break when running back Jarius Borges jolted the Trojans’ sideline with a 49-yard touchdown scamper late in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth, Dallas Carter connected with Luke VanAntwerp on a 12-yard strike to even the score at 14–14, shifting the pressure squarely back onto the Hurricanes.

Kapolei Takes Control

Kapolei’s response came swiftly.

Less than a minute after Mililani’s equalizer, Valoia Amitoelau broke loose for an 11-yard touchdown run that restored the lead for good. The Hurricanes’ offensive line continued to impose its will, clearing paths for Kapahu, who racked up a career-high 148 rushing yards on 23 carries.

Quarterback Jacob Ballesteros managed the game efficiently, completing 9 of 15 passes for 96 yards and no turnovers—an area the team had emphasized since its regular-season loss to Kahuku.

Defensive Highlights

Kapolei’s defense sealed the win with timely stops and takeaways.

Toa Leffler came up big with two interceptions, while Amate Taimatuia and Kaimana Sione each recorded sacks to disrupt Mililani’s rhythm. The Trojans’ passing duo of Kekoa Koong and Carter combined for 179 yards but were intercepted three times by the Hurricanes.

Standout Performances

• Chazz-Michael Kapahu: 23 carries, 148 yards, 1 TD
• Valoia Amitoelau: 6 carries, 53 yards, game-winning TD
• Zeph Salis: rushing TD and 35 punt-return yards
• Toa Leffler: 2 INTs and 4 tackles

After the game, Kapahu credited his offensive line.

“My O-line gave me amazing blocks tonight—big gaps all game,” he said. “We just kept our heads up, kept pushing, and focused on ball security after learning from the loss to Kahuku.”

What’s Next

The Hurricanes will now face Kahuku for the OIA Open Division title at Farrington next Saturday, chasing the program’s first football championship in school history.

With renewed confidence and a balanced attack, Kapolei heads into the final believing this time could be different.

PHOTOS BY CJ CARAANG