Moanalua Ends Decades-Long Wait, Stuns Punahou for Division I Boys Volleyball State Title
The Koa Head trophy belongs to the OIA once again.
For the first time since Roosevelt won the Boys Volleyball State Championship in 1979, an OIA program has captured Hawai‘i’s top boys volleyball crown and it was Moanalua that delivered the breakthrough.
The unbeaten Na Menehune rallied past defending champion Punahou School in five sets Saturday night, 14-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-19, 15-13, to complete a perfect 16-0 season.
The victory snapped decades of ILH dominance in the sport, with Punahou, Kamehameha and ‘Iolani combining to win nearly every championship since Roosevelt’s title run in the late 1970s.
Photo Credit: Brian Bautista
Punahou controlled the opening set behind a powerful attack led by Cameron Porter, who finished with a match-high 25 kills. The Buffanblu rolled to a 25-14 win and later reclaimed momentum with a 25-18 third-set victory to move within one set of another state title.
But Moanalua responded every time.
Na Menehune evened the match in the second set behind strong play from Jarryn McCutcheon, Puka Tauane and Jerome Obrero before delivering their biggest stretch of the night in the fourth. McCutcheon repeatedly found openings in the Punahou defense while Colby Kawaa added two key service aces to help force a decisive fifth set.
The championship set ultimately belonged to Lionel Gannon.
The senior erupted early in the fifth, powering Moanalua to an 8-4 advantage with a string of kills that shifted momentum permanently toward Na Menehune. Punahou later rallied within 14-13, but Moanalua closed the match when Kawaa connected with McCutcheon for the championship-winning kill.
McCutcheon and Gannon led Moanalua with 18 kills each, while Tauane added nine kills. Kawaa finished with 30 assists and two aces in the title-clinching performance.
For Punahou, Porter’s 25 kills paced all players while Tanoaalofa Scanlan added 16 kills and Kanalu Akana totaled 49 assists.
After nearly five decades, the Division I boys volleyball Koa Head trophy belongs to the OIA.
PHOTOS BY BRIAN BAUTISTA
Hawai‘i NIL Bill SB 3263: Where Things Stand After Latest Legislative Movement
Hawai‘i’s debated Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) bill — SB 3263 — has reached its most advanced stage yet, with lawmakers moving closer to establishing a formal NIL framework for University of Hawai‘i student-athletes. After months of amendments across both chambers,...
USA Volleyball Hall of Famer Robyn Ah Mow steps down after nine years with Hawai’i
HONOLULU – It’s always hard being the coach after the coach, but it’s even harder to ask for anything more than what Robyn Ah Mow gave the University of Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine volleyball program. After nine years and eight seasons at the helm of...
Hawai’i gains commitment of former Davidson fan favorite wing Manie Joses
HONOLULU – The NBA Global Academy to islands pipeline is alive and well. Former Davidson forward Manie Joses became the latest player to announce their commitment to the University of Hawai’i on Tuesday, joining the Rainbow Warriors after spending...
Sharks Split Senior Day Doubleheader with PacWest-Bound Vulcans
On a day that celebrated leadership, resilience, and growth, Hawai‘i Pacific softball delivered a fitting Senior Day performance—opening with a statement win before falling in the finale to PacWest Tournament-bound Hawai‘i Hilo. Behind a dominant...
Long Beach State stuns Hawai’i late to take 2026 Big West Championship crown
They don’t say it’s hard to beat a team three times for no reason. The top-seeded University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team learned that saying the hard way on Saturday night in the 2026 OUTRIGGER Big West Men’s Volleyball Championship,...
No. 1 Hawai’i dispatches No. 5 UC San Diego in Big West semifinals
Good time for some get back. It took a little bit of a warm up, but the top-seeded University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team turned up the gas to accelerate away from No. 5 UC San Diego (13-14, 3-7 Big West) in four frames on Friday evening,...
Former UC San Diego big Bol Dengdit decides on Hawai’i for final year
HONOLULU – Priority locked. Former UC San Diego starting forward Bol Dengdit announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i on Thursday, agreeing to jump to the islands for his final season of eligibility in 2026-27 as the Rainbow Warriors...
Tyler Arnold delivers Senior Day show as HPU smashes Chaminade
HONOLULU – Leave it to a sophomore to steal the day for the seniors. Behind a monster showing from 3B Tyler Arnold at the plate, the Hawaii Pacific University baseball team slugged a 19-1 mercy-rule shortened victory over rival Chaminade...
Khalilah Mitchell introduced as ninth head coach of Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine basketball
HONOLULU – On a day that she would field questions about her first collegiate head coaching job, Khalilah Mitchell first presented the local media with an inquiry of her own. “How do people hold their excitement?” She followed up quickly with her...
Moanalua Rallies Past Aiea, Advances to Face Mililani in OIA Playoffs
Moanalua used a late offensive surge to defeat Aiea, 10-6, in the opening round of the OIA Division I baseball playoffs Tuesday, punching its ticket to the quarterfinals against West No. 1 seed Mililani. Aiea came out aggressive, plating three...