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
Acuff, Arkansas end special Hawai’i season in NCAA Tournament opening round
As Isaac Johnson turned to the Rainbow Warrior faithful, the big man who goes by “Big Fish” provided a poignant visual to end an unforgettable campaign for the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team. Flashing a double shaka to the UH fans who...
Captain Noah Hata nears 150th career start for HPU Baseball
Noah Hata’s final season with the Hawai’i Pacific University baseball team didn’t start the way he envisioned. Tabbed to finish third in the conference preseason poll, the Sharks had just two wins before the start of PacWest play, which was...
Hawaii draws Arkansas in 2026 NCAA Tournament opening round
HONOLULU – Déjà vu dancing. After winning the 2026 Credit Union 1 Big West Championship title over UC Irvine on Saturday night, the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team comfortably watched on and waited to hear their name called on Selection...
Hawaii overpowers UC Irvine to claim 2026 Big West men’s basketball title
As the final seconds ticked off the clock inside Lee’s Family Forum, emotion swelled from the Rainbow Warrior bench. The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team punched their ticket to March Madness on Saturday night, upsetting top-seeded UC...
Offensive miscues doom Hawaii in straight set loss to UCLA
MANOA — Just wasn’t their night. The University of Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team had an off night offensively and fell to No. 1 UCLA in straight sets Saturday before a sellout crowd at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Set scores were 25-18,...
UC San Diego halts red-hot Hawai’i in Big West Championship
The clock has struck midnight on Hawai’i’s fairytale Big West finale. After back-to-back magical overtime wins in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, the University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team’s 2026 Credit Union 1 Big West Championship...
Hawaii Pacific’s magic carpet ride ends in NCAA Tournament opening round
All good things must come to an end. After a season that started with a historic upset at Boise State and provided multiple other memorable moments on the way to the third NCAA Tournament berth in program history, the No. 7-seeded Hawaii...
Flavell’s late heroics help No. 4 Hawaii stun top-seeded UC Irvine
Fabulous freshman to the rescue. Behind late heroics from Big West Freshman of the Year Bailey Flavell, the No. 4-seeded University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team stunned top-seeded UC Irvine (26-6) in overtime of the 2026 Credit Union 1...
Titriyski returns as Hawaii sweeps Mount Olive at Outrigger Invitational
MANOA — Welcome back Kristian Titriyski. The All-American opposite recorded a match-high 10 kills in his first appearance in nearly a month as the University of Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team swept Mount Olive 25-18, 25-19, 25-17 on the opening day...
HPU Softball growing and learning under new coaching staff
The record may not reflect it, but the Hawai‘i Pacific University softball team is trending in the right direction. Despite being swept in their most recent home series against Dominican University of California, the Sharks (4-14) showed flashes of...