Moanalua Outlasts Kahuku in Five-Set OIA East Thriller

by HSRN Staff | Sep 17, 2026

Moanalua’s Kingston Auva’a celebrates with teammates after big play against Kahuku | Photo Credit: Riley Guillermo, Special to HSRN

HONOLULU — Moanalua and Kahuku needed five sets — and then some — to settle another chapter of their growing OIA Division I girls volleyball rivalry Wednesday night.

Nā Menehune survived a back-and-forth deciding set to defeat the defending OIA Division I champion Red Raiders, 25-18, 20-25, 15-25, 25-22, 21-19, improving to 5-0 in the OIA DI East.

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Moanalua Forces a Fifth

Moanalua opened the match with a 25-18 first-set victory before Kahuku responded emphatically. The Red Raiders took the next two sets, 25-20 and 25-15, putting Nā Menehune on the brink.

Moanalua answered with a 25-22 win in the fourth to force a deciding fifth set between two teams already familiar with going the distance.

The matchup was a rematch of last year’s OIA Division I championship, when Kahuku defeated Moanalua in five sets, 24-26, 25-20, 24-26, 25-19, 15-12. Moanalua also won the teams’ first meeting this season on Aug. 31 in four sets.

Photo Credit: Riley Guillermo

Fifth Set Goes Beyond 15

Wednesday’s finale turned into a marathon.

Neither side could create separation late, with the teams tied at 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. Kahuku’s Haley Kotobalavu and Makamae Schilling repeatedly delivered with the match hanging in the balance, while Moanalua leaned heavily on Surfia Grounds.

Grounds tied the set at 19 with her 19th kill of the night. Moanalua then moved ahead 20-19 before Hannah Leung and Alessandra Siazon combined for the match-ending block, finally giving Nā Menehune the 21-19 victory.

Grounds led Moanalua with 19 kills, while Nora Carey added 10 and Kingston Auva’a finished with nine. Setters Alea Chew and Rylie Ramones combined for 47 assists as Moanalua totaled 55 kills.

Kahuku was led by Kotobalavu’s 20 kills, 17 digs and seven aces. Schilling added 14 kills and 15 digs, while Anny Scott recorded 39 assists and 16 digs.

Photo Credit: Riley Guillermo

Photo Credit: Riley Guillermo

Fun Factory VIP of the Game: Kingston Auva’a

Kingston Auva’a was selected as the Fun Factory VIP of the Game after providing a major presence at the net for Moanalua.

Auva’a finished with nine kills, two solo blocks and four block assists, including a key block alongside Leung during the extended fifth set. Her work in the middle helped the Nā Menehune withstand Kahuku’s late push and remain unbeaten in league play.