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
Rosenthal rises to occasion to help Hawai’i to split with No. 7 Pepperdine
HONOLULU – Calmed waters. After falling to the Waves in Honolulu for the first time since 2009 on Wednesday night, the third-ranked University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team bounced back in four sets on Friday to take down No. 7 Pepperdine,...
Long distance barrage helps Point Loma hammer Hawaii Pacific in PacWest semifinals
Raining threes on the Sharks’ parade. The No. 4-seeded Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball team saw their PacWest Tournament title hopes flame out on Friday afternoon, falling to No. 1 Point Loma (24-5) in the conference semifinals,...
Hawaii-ties a plenty for the Saint Martin’s University baseball team
The Saint Martin’s University baseball team has a distinctly local feel — if you’re from Hawai‘i. Half of the Saints’ 40-man roster is made up of players from the islands, giving the program based in Lacey, Washington a strong Hawai‘i presence as...
Hawaii Pacific holds off Vanguard in PacWest quarterfinals
Who wins when you pit Lions versus Sharks? The No. 4-seeded Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball team used a big second half start to down No. 5-seed Vanguard inside Golden Gymnasium on Thursday afternoon, advancing from the PacWest...
Waianae uses big inning to defeat Leilehua in OIA West opener, 11-5
PRINTABLE VERSION Wai’anae erupted for six runs in the third inning to defeat Leilehua 11-5 on Wednesday afternoon at Ka‘ala Neighborhood Park in the OIA Division I West softball opener for both teams. The Seariders finished with 15 hits and used a...
Pepperdine pops Hawai’i win streak behind Hartke’s huge night
HONOLULU – Hit a speed bump. The University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team saw an 11-match winning streak come to an end on Wednesday night, falling inside Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in four sets against No. 7 Pepperdine, (28-26, 25-22,...
Hawaii Pacific guards West, Meza earn All-PacWest honors for Sharks
HONOLULU – Dynamic duo in the backcourt. Hawaii Pacific University guards Joshua West and Quentin Meza became the second pair of Sharks in head coach Jesse Nakanishi’s three seasons to earn all-PacWest honors on Wednesday, seeing West named to the...
‘Aiea cruises by McKinley to open OIA softball season, 30-5
One of the favorites for the OIA Division II softball crown certainly look the part in the season opener. ‘Aiea started the 2026 regular season slate with a mercy-rule win, 30-5, Tuesday afternoon at Annex Field. After going down 4-0 in the top of...
Baby ‘Bows blooming to help Hawai’i climb towards title potential
HONOLULU – It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see it could be a special season in the islands. After registering a 27-6 record and a national semifinal appearance in 2025, the University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team returned 12 players and...
HPU completes series sweep over Jessup with 9-6 comeback win
WAIPAHU — This was a momentum-shifting weekend. The Hawai’i Pacific University baseball team completed a four-game PacWest series sweep over Jessup with a 9-6 win at Hans L’Orange Park Monday night. It was a much-needed stretch of victories for the...