Siliado shows out in final game of football showcase for high school seniors

Siliado shows out in final game of football showcase for high school seniors

Dec 21, 2025

Siliado shows out in final game of football showcase for high school seniors

Saint Louis senior Kingston Siliado gets past the Oahu Team White defense in Oahu Team Red’s win. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Whatever position his coaches were going to put him in, Kingston Siliado was going to be ready.

The Saint Louis receiver put on a number of different hats as he helped the Oahu Team Red defeat the Oahu Team White, 17-3, in the nightcap of the second annual 808 Senior P.R.O. Bowl at Waipahu’s Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex Saturday night.

Siliado saw time at quarterback, running back and even safety for Oahu Team Red, which was comprised of mostly players from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

“It was good fun,” said Siliado. “Having these new coaches with me is a new experience and they trusted me to do all these new positions like go safety. I was having fun and playing some quarterback and as a running back as well so it was good fun.”

Hosted by the Hawaiʻi Chapter of the National Football Foundation, the 808 Senior P.R.O. Bowl brings together senior football standouts from across the islands for a full day of competition, player development and recruiting exposure, with multiple college coaches in attendance.

“That kind of pushed me more because I never really had offers going into this game, but after this game I just got a spot on this college so I’m just blessed after they told me,” said Siliado, who earned overall most valuable player honors in the game.

“I was really locked in and getting ready for this game so it was kind of big for me.”

Siliado got the scoring started in the opening quarter after taking a direct snap and going around left end.

A second-quarter touchdown pass by Leysen Rodrigues down the right sideline to Xavier Brown gave Oahu Team Red a 14-0 advantage at the break.

Oahu Team White, a team compromised of Open Division player from the OIA, got on the board with a field goal by Rodel Alano before Jadyn Parker hit a field goal of his own for Oahu Team Red.

Ioane Kamanao, who was playing in his second game of the day, was the skills MVP for the winning team while the lineman MVP was Samatua John Shafer Robins.

The skills MVP for Oahu Team White was Jarius Borges while the lineman MVP was Chaesten Eliu.

Oahu Team Gold cruises past Maui Team Pink in 808 Senior P.R.O. Bowl

Oahu Team Gold cruises past Maui Team Pink in 808 Senior P.R.O. Bowl

Dec 20, 2025

Oahu Team Gold cruises past Maui Team Pink in 808 Senior P.R.O. Bowl

Overall MVP Isa’ako Sopoaga makes a tackle for the Oahu Gold Team against Maui Team Pink. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Isa’ako Sopoaga made sure to end his high school career on a high note.

The Kaiser senior defensive lineman earned overall most valuable player honors in the 808 Senior P.R.O. Bowl after helping Oahu Team Gold to a 28-13 win over Maui Team Pink at Waipahu’s Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex.

Sopoaga, the son of former NFL and Hawai’i defensive lineman Isaac Sopoaga, was a force in the trenches as Maui Team Pink was held without an offensive score until the final minute of the game.

“It feels really good, just being able to make my parents proud and all of us boys,” said Sopoaga. “This past three weeks I got to know these guys, they’re all like brothers to me and being ale to come out here, win, have a good time and being able to perform well, just feels good.”

Kaiser moved up to Division I during Sopoaga’s senior year, but the higher-tiered competition wasn’t as kind to the Cougars as they ended the season on a seven-game losing streak.

“Even though this past season wasn’t our best, still want to leave a good impression, good mark for our younger generation, next people coming up in line,” Sopoaga said on the opportunity to represent Kaiser in the annual showcase.

Hosted by the Hawaiʻi Chapter of the National Football Foundation, the 808 Senior P.R.O. Bowl brings together senior football standouts from across the islands for a full day of competition, player development and recruiting exposure, with multiple college coaches in attendance.

Radford quarterback Afi Togafau tossed four touchdowns in the win for Oahu Team Gold, with two going to skills MVP Champ Colburn. Nanakuli’s Malosi Muaau and Waipahu’s Jayvren Pinera also caught TD passes.

Earning lineman MVP honors for Oahu Team Gold was Wyatt O’Neill.

Kamehameha-Maui’s Zedekaiah Campbell scored the final TD of the game for Maui Team Pink in the final minute of the game.

While Maui Team Pink has majority of its players from Maui, players from Moloka’i, Lana’i and even Kauai were on its roster.

Earning MVP honors for Maui Team Pink were a pair of Kapa’a players in Ryan Peters and Kanoa Lopez in skills and lineman respectively.

“It was a really fun experience playing with guys from other islands. We got to see how they function and how they play football,” said Peters, who scored on an interception return.

“Representing Kauai, representing Kapa’a just means everything to me and Kanoa.”

Cousins ball out in final game back home on Oahu

Cousins ball out in final game back home on Oahu

Dec 20, 2025

Cousins ball out in final game back home on Oahu

Cousins Taimane Souza-Fautanu and Jahsiah Souza-Armstead get lined up for Hawai’i Team Black. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

The 808 Senior P.R.O. Bowl is an annual showcase that brings together standout high school seniors from across the islands for a full day of competition and player recruitment opportunities.

It also gave cousins Taimane Souza-Fautanu and Jahsiah Souza-Armstead one last opportunity to play a game back home on Oahu.

Originally from Roosevelt, the duo played their senior season on the Big Island at Konawaena. On Saturday at Waipahu’s Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex, the two helped Hawai’i Team Black rally from a 10-0 halftime deficit to force a 10-10 tie with the Oahu Team Blue.

“I really enjoyed it, I know he enjoyed it. We went through this journey together since we were 4-5 years old so it’s real special, even the fact that we got to finish out our high school careers at Konawaena is great,” said Taimane Souza-Armstead.

“For me it was great,” said Jahsiah Souza-Armstead. “I’ve been playing with Taimane since I was four years old now — our last game together well on Oahu anyways — we going to go college (together). Just playing finishing it out with my bro, couldn’t ask for any other way.”

Souza-Fautanu had nearly 50 tackles for the Wildcats with three receiving touchdowns and a special teams score while Souza-Armstead led Konawaena in receptions with 41 grabs for 596 yards and eight TDs while recording three interceptions on defense and scoring on a kickoff return.

“Big island can ball, all the islands can ball, especially big island. We just want to showcase that,” said Jahsiah Souza-Armstead.

The cousins also got to play against former Roosevelt teammates Ioane Kamanao, Ezekiel Soon and Kona Siamani.

“That’s a brotherhood that’s a bond that’s going to last a lifetime,” Souza-Fautanu said of playing against his former teammates. “We came up playing big boys together till our time at Roosevelt. it’s always love with those guys for sure.”

After wrapping up their high school career, Souza-Fautanu is hoping that a college is interested in the services of him and Souza-Armstead.

“We’re definitely a package so if you want us come get us,” he said. “We’ going to go together for sure.”

Oahu Team Blue and Hawaii Team Black play to thrilling 10-10 tie

Oahu Team Blue and Hawaii Team Black play to thrilling 10-10 tie

Dec 20, 2025

Oahu Team Blue and Hawaii Team Black play to thrilling 10-10 tie

Oahu Team Blue and Hawai’i Team Black pose for a group photo after the conclusion of their game. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Oahu Team Blue and Hawaiʻi Team Black played to a 10-10 tie in the opening game of the second annual 808 Senior P.R.O. Bowl on Saturday afternoon at Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex in Waipahu.

Hosted by the Hawaiʻi Chapter of the National Football Foundation, the annual showcase brings together senior football standouts from across the islands for a full day of competition, player development and recruiting exposure, with multiple college coaches in attendance.

Oahu Team Blue struck first when Moanalua’s Makaniʻolu Markle-Kane connected on a field goal to open the scoring. Kailua’s Micah Sua later extended the lead by taking a direct snap into the end zone, giving Team Blue a 10-0 advantage at halftime.

Hawaiʻi Team Black, made up primarily of players from the Big Island, responded in the third quarter when Kealakehe’s Gabriel Chong broke free for a touchdown run to cut the deficit.

Kapolei’s Larry McCarley — the lone non–Big Island player on Team Black — delivered the decisive play late, drilling a 47-yard field goal in the final minute to force the tie.

Roosevelt’s Ezekiel Soon was named the game’s overall most valuable player after disrupting Oahu Team Blue’s defense with multiple sacks and tackles for loss.

“I just really appreciate all my teammates and coaches for putting me in the right position to succeed,” Soon said. “It was a hard-fought game between both teams, and I just tried to do my part and make the plays.”

Soon also reflected on the opportunity to reunite with former teammates and compete alongside new ones while continuing to pursue college opportunities. He got to play against former Roosevelt teammates Taimane Souza-Fautanu and Jahsiah Souza-Armstead while playing alongside fellow Rough Riders Ioane Kamanao and Kona Siamani.

“It was good seeing my former teammates Taimane them on the other side of the ball,” said Soon. “Those are my brothers for life, I love them. It was good seeing Ioane, Kona familiar faces, just cause we have that chemistry and being able to play with them is just easy. It’s nice to meet new players too, get to make new connections and relationships with my players on this blue team.”

Kailua quarterback Isaiah Keaunui-DeMello earned the skills MVP award for Oahu Team Blue, while Kaimukī’s Toloa Loketi was named the team’s lineman MVP.

For Hawaiʻi Team Black, Keaʻau quarterback Trustin Gomes and defensive end Kainalu Vierra were selected as the team’s MVPs.

“Really blessed to represent the Big Island and show that there’s skill outside of Oʻahu,” Gomes said.

Vierra echoed that sentiment, praising the effort of players from both Division I and Division II programs on the Big Island.

The 808 Senior P.R.O. Bowl continues to serve as a platform for Hawaiʻi’s top senior football players to showcase their abilities and pursue opportunities at the next level.

End of an Era: Demolition of Aloha Stadium has begun

End of an Era: Demolition of Aloha Stadium has begun

Dec 18, 2025

End of an Era: Demolition of Aloha Stadium has begun

‘AIEA — Aloha Stadium Authority Chair Eric Fujimoto made it crystal clear Thursday morning — “demolition/dismantling of Aloha Stadium has begun.”

December’s Stadium Authority board meeting marked the end of an era with the announcement that steps to remove the current structure of Aloha Stadium have already started in preparation for the construction of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District (NASED).

“This is a pretty historic thing,” Fujimoto said. “We’re going to say aloha to a community asset, but also build a new community asset for people to share community and culture.”

The announcement of dismantling comes about five years since the old Aloha Stadium ceased operations in December 2020 after being condemned due to years of deferred maintenance and structural safety concerns.

NASED Special Projects Manager Chris Kinimaka provided an update on the project, saying key agreements and preparations have finally aligned to allow physical work on the site to move forward.

“We have very exciting news happening just this past week,” Kinimaka said. “Since September, execution of the necessary agreements to open the floodgates for the stadium work has come to fruition.”

Among the recent milestones, the stadium swap meet was successfully relocated in October and the relocation of stadium offices is underway, with a target completion in time for the January 2026 board meeting. The December 2025 meeting marked the last time the board would meet in the stadium’s current office space.

The conference room where the Aloha Stadium Authority Board held its meetings prior to January 2026.

Kinimaka said Aloha Halawa District Partners (AHDP), the project’s developer, completed its upfront work to procure materials and equipment and to finalize subcontracting needed for the dismantling process. Active work for dismantling on the site began Friday, Dec. 12.

Motorists passing the area will begin to notice changes, including the installation of dust fencing starting from the north side of the property. Early work includes site preparation, removal of hazardous materials from inside the stadium and dismantling of interior equipment and furnishings before crews begin taking down the main structure.

While much of the work may not be immediately visible, Kinimaka said the state and developer are committed to keeping the public informed.

“We are asking the developer to take good pictures and put them on site so everybody can stay up to speed on what’s happening and stay connected to all the activity,” he said.

The state will work closely with AHDP to ensure environmental safeguards are in place, including dust control, traffic management and regular communication with the surrounding community. Most of the work is expected to take place on weekdays during normal business hours.

In September, project leaders announced that AHDP signed two key agreements: the Stadium Development and Operation Agreement, which covers dismantling, design, construction and long-term operations of the stadium, and an Initial Ground Lease granting access to portions of the site to support the work.

The master development agreement and infrastructure agreement, which relates to the district’s real estate development, have not been signed yet.

“The remaining agreements for development of the real estate parts are continuing,” Kinimaka said. “We’re anticipating that being wrapped up in the coming months.”

Despite the ongoing negotiations, officials said the project remains on schedule, with completion of the new stadium targeted for March 2029.

Stadium board member Claire Tamamoto, who is on the board as a ‘Aiea community member, raised questions about traffic impacts and debris removal.

Kinimaka said cranes are already on the island and are being relocated to the site, typically after hours. Trucks hauling debris will follow designated routes and schedules to minimize impacts on major roadways, including Kamehameha Highway.

Project leaders are also working to salvage as much material as possible from the old stadium, including steel, with specialized companies brought in for that effort. Final destinations for the debris are still awaiting approval.

University of Hawai‘i Athletic Director Matt Elliott welcomed the update, calling the start of dismantling “wonderful news” for the future of UH athletics and the state. The Rainbow Warriors have had to play home football games on campus in a retrofitted stadium since the old Aloha Stadium ceased operations five years ago.

Elliott also shared a monthly update about UH athletics to the Stadium Authority and highlighted the continued growth of attendance on campus at home football games over the past two seasons. He noted that UH sold out three of the seven Rainbow Warriors’ games and that there were around 88,000 fans in attendance throughout the 2025 season.

Hawai’i football fans take part in the 2025 season-opener against Stanford, one of three sellouts this season.

As the university prepares to become a full member of the Mountain West Conference ahead of the 2026 season, Elliott also shared attendance figures from around the league to provide context for UH’s current trajectory.

He said Fresno State led the conference in average attendance this past season, drawing about 38,000 fans per game and that the Mountain West average ranged between 26,000 and 27,000 fans per game.

UH posted the lowest average attendance in the conference at approximately 13,700, though Elliott noted the number reflected capacity limitations at on-campus venues rather than a lack of interest.

“Just to give you some context what attendance was like in the Mountain West Conference this year and thinking about what our capacity is going forward,” Elliott said. “But obviously, we’re trending in a very good direction for us and excited about our full membership in the Mountain West.”

The current plans for the new Aloha Stadium is for a seating capacity of 22,500 — although there is potential for expansion if additional external monies come in towards the project.

Among other actions at its December meeting, the Aloha Stadium Authority board appointed member Mike Yadao as deputy stadium manager.

Tamamoto praised the selection, citing Yadao’s background as the project shifts deeper into the construction phase of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District.

“He is a good choice as we move into a different phase of the developing of the stadium,” Tamamoto said. “You have a construction background. We’re not managing anything — it’s not an operational thing anymore. We need those bricks and cement, so I wish you luck.”

The deputy stadium manager role was previously held by Chris Sadayasu, who was promoted to interim stadium manager earlier this year following the departure of Ryan Andrews at the start of the calendar year. Sadayasu was not present at the December meeting and has since transitioned to another role within state government.

Fujimoto commended Sadayasu’s leadership during his interim tenure.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how he has done in the interim stadium manager position,” Fujimoto said. “I think he’s brought us to this point today as we transition. I wanted to wish him and his family well. He’s still with the state.”

The board also approved a measure delegating authority for the upcoming 2026 legislative session to track legislation related to the Stadium Authority and to draft and submit testimony on its behalf, consistent with board-adopted policies.

That authority was granted to Vice-Chair Andrew Perreira, Deputy Stadium Manager Yadao and member Michael Imanaka.

Fujimoto said the group will continue to meet regularly and provide updates to the board as the legislative session progresses.