Valley City State University football has a growing number of Hawai’i athletes in North Dakota

Valley City State University football has a growing number of Hawai’i athletes in North Dakota

Dec 17, 2024

Valley City State University football has a growing number of Hawai’i athletes in North Dakota

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 17, 2024

There’s ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ — and then there’s ‘Hawai’i’s Eleven.’

Valley City State University in North Dakota was home to eleven football players from Hawai’i during the fall 2024 season.

But just like the movie franchise, that number will probably grow.

VCSU offensive coordinator Dustin Yorek, the Hawai’i recruiter for the Vikings, is looking to continue the pipeline from across the Pacific Ocean.

Players from Hawai’i on VCSU’s roster include ‘Iolani running back Ka’ua Nishigaya, Waipahu offensive linemen Moziah Rogers-Tivao, Kishaun Salavea-Glover and Taison Tisalona and Kaiser skill position players Mason Nelson and Hunter Phelps.

Also on the roster are Castle’s Ksen Warren, ‘Aiea’s Micah Kealoha, Kea’au’s Malachi Torres, Campbell’s Rowen Bucao and Pearl City’s Tobias Vazquez.

“It feels more like home because we have each other and we always talk to each other and hang out with each other so so it feels just like home with all of them,” Vazquez said.

Yorek credits the coaching that players in Hawai’i get that allows them to be successful at the next level.

“Football is loved in Hawai’i and kids there can train year round with great coaches,” said Yorek.

“Our offensive linemen we get from Hawai’i are polished because of organizations like Trench Warriors or Trench Dawgz that train these guys year round.”

Yorek added that players from Hawai’i have a higher chance to see the field early in their careers playing for the Vikings.

“We have had offensive lineman come here and travel right away. I think part of the reason is we cap our roster at 100-110 players so each athlete has a real shot at making the 57-man travel roster. Hawai’i athletes also have a hand up getting onto the field early in their careers because like Texas, there are some tremendous coaches that coach these athletes and football year round.”

VCSU competes in the NAIA, which is very similar to Division II college athletics, but because it is not affiliated with the NCAA, a different governing body allows for slightly different eligibility and recruiting rules.

This allows the university to stack academic and athletic scholarships together. Combined with the low cost of living in North Dakota, the school provides a great opportunity for higher education with little to no debt.

“We have had great success with Hawai’i players coming here first and foremost because we are an affordable option,” Yorek said.

In addition to academic and athletic scholarships provided by the university, Fantastic Sams Hawai’i has partnered with VCSU on additional scholarship opportunities to Hawai’i student-athletes.

“Fantastic Sams has been a huge supporter of youth, high school and college sports in Hawai’i for over two decades now,” said regional director Chad Nelson.

Last year, Fantastic Sams awarded scholarships to five football players from five different OIA schools.

“In 2021-2022, I discovered that VCSU was recruiting heavily in Hawai’i, and I had to find out why and wanted to learn more about their program,” Nelson added.

“When I asked one of the of the assistant coaches why a small school from North Dakota would come so far to recruit these local boys, he gave me the answer we already knew ‘They’re straight dawgs on the field, I don’t know what it is, but they’re built different.’ And the second part of his answer we already knew too. ‘Off the field they’re some of the kindest, most respectful young men we’ve seen…

“They get it. The decision to support local athletes committing to VCSU was easy, and through the Fantastic Sams scholarship, we’re able to bring more awareness to this great opportunity, helping them get to that next level.”

Athletes in Hawai’i that are interested in these scholarship can apply by going to vcsuvkings.com and fill out the ‘Recruit Me’ form.

Elmasri powers Chaminade over HPU in close game, 73-69

Elmasri powers Chaminade over HPU in close game, 73-69

Dec 14, 2024

Elmasri powers Chaminade over HPU in close game, 73-69

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 14, 2024

Visiting Hawai’i Pacific started off slow before putting together a furious comeback attempt late against host Chaminade.

But Sameera Elmasri had other plans.

The senior forward scored a career-high 27 points and knocked down 10 of 11 free throw attempts to help the Silverswords hold off the Sharks, 73-69, Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 124 in a PacWest Conference matchup at McCabe Gymnasium.

Elmasri did work in all four quarters to help the Silverswords improve to 3-5 overall and 2-0 in PacWest play.

She started things off with an assist to Maddy Weaver for Chaminade’s first basket and then later picked up a steal that led to a Julien Parado layup for a 4-0 lead. Elmasri also hit on a jumper and pair of free throws late in the opening quarter helped the Silverswords take a 24-14 lead after the first 10 minutes of play.

Her second quarter was a quiet one, but a jumper in the paint gave Chaminade a 38-21 lead, its largest of the game at that point, at the 4:08 mark of the period.

The third quarter was when Elmasri really started to get cooking.

On the first three Silverswords’ possession of the second half, Elmasri hit a 3-point shot and back-to-back free throws before scoring on a fast break layup to make it a 49-30 game.

The Sharks (3-3, 1-1) trimmed the deficit to 11 midway through the third quarter, which prompted Elmasri to knock down two straight shot to push the lead back to 53-38.

HPU did not go quietly however as the visitors cut the deficit down to 10 heading into the fourth quarter.

By pushing the pace, the Sharks clawed their way back into the contest and even took the lead on an Ella Berge layup to go up 69-68, with 2:22 remaining in regulation.

But HPU could not get anything going the rest of the way as Elmasri converted on her final four free throw attempts for the final point total.

Dezaray Carter scored 12 points and Morgan Escobedo had nine to round out the top scorers for Chaminade, who saw nine different players register points.

Erika Glenn led the Sharks off the bench with 17 points in 16 minutes before having to leave the game with an apparent knee injury.

Silverswords cruise past the Sharks, 78-64

Silverswords cruise past the Sharks, 78-64

Dec 14, 2024

Silverswords cruise past the Sharks, 78-64

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 14, 2024

This one turned into a track meet on dry land.

Chaminade handled cross town rival Hawai’i Pacific in convincing fashion with a 78-64 win Saturday evening in a PacWest conference matchup before a crowd of 237 at McCabe Gymnasium.

A quartert of players finished in double figures for the Silverswords, who improved to 7-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Kent King had 19 points off the bench and Roland Banks II notched a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead Chaminade.

Also scoring in double digits were Jackson Last with 11 points and Jamir Thomas added 10 more off the bench.

A trio of players finished with 14 points or more for the Sharks, who dropped to 5-5 and 1-1.

Charlie Weber had 16 points off the bench, Sherman Brashear 15 and Joshua West for HPU.

UH Athletics NIL Bill Fails Final Senate Vote

by | May 9, 2026

Updated May 13, 2026Just one week after conference committee members described SB 3263 as a “win-win situation” for University of Hawai‘i student-athletes, the measure failed to pass final reading in the Hawai‘i State Senate on Friday in a dramatic reversal that...

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State-of-the-art $24 million athletic complex projected to open at McKinley High in Sept. 2026

State-of-the-art $24 million athletic complex projected to open at McKinley High in Sept. 2026

Dec 11, 2024

A photo illustration of what a McKinley football game would look like in the new facility. | Rendering courtesy: G70

State-of-the-art $24 million athletic complex projected to open at McKinley High in Sept. 2026

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 11, 2024

Go get ’em Tigers.

McKinley High School broke ground Wednesday on a $24 million state-of-the-art athletic complex that will elevate spectator experience and serve as a hub for the community, the Hawai’i Department of Education said in a press release.

With the design done by G70 and Nan, Inc. beginning construction on the project, fans and community members can expect to enjoy the new facility by Sept. 2026 the release said.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by several DOE administrators, legislators and supporter of Hawai’i high school athletics.

“We hope this facility will inspire student-athletes to go for gold and bring Tiger Pride to their classmates and their ‘Ohana,” superintendent Keith Hayashi said in the release. “This stadium’s reach goes beyond McKinley. It will be a center of activity for the surrounding neighborhood to be a part of and enjoy.”

There will be over 2,400 bleacher seats with many amenities under the bleachers to include male and female locker rooms, coaches’ offices, weight training room and more, the release said.

HIDOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi (center) and McKinley High School principal Ron Okamura take part in a groundbreaking ceremony. | Photo Credit: Hawai’i State Department of Education

“The McKinley community has been waiting a long time for this facility,” said principal Ron Okamura. “It is uplifting to witness everyone’s hard work come to fruition today. We are looking forward to seeing how this new complex will enhance not only the sports program but also energize school spirit as well.”

The football team, who will be the main occupants of the facility when it opens, is also on the uptick.

The Tigers snapped a 34-game losing streak and earned their first win since Sept. 7, 2019 when they defeated Kaimuki in early October, 9-7.

“It’s going to be good, our kids this year, they always want to play games at their home field,” said McKinley coach Steve Warner.

“I think the parent and the community will be very happy when it all comes to fruition.”

Former Kahuku WR Carvalho to join Hawai’i football instead of Utah after LDS church mission

Former Kahuku WR Carvalho to join Hawai’i football instead of Utah after LDS church mission

Dec 6, 2024

Kainoa “Kaikai” Carvalho takes a photo during an official visit to the University of Hawai’i. | Photo courtesy Stewart Carvalho

Former Kahuku WR Carvalho to join Hawai’i football instead of Utah after LDS church mission

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 6, 2024

The date is Dec. 6, 2024.

Former Kahuku wide receiver Kainoa “Kaikai” Carvalho is currently sharing the good news in Sapporo, Japan.

That good news is the gospel of Jesus Christ as Carvalho is nearing the conclusion of a two-year mission as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Dec. 6 is also a date that brought good news for Hawai’i football fans — Carvalho will be a Rainbow Warrior starting in the 2025 season.

Carvalho, who is 5-foot-7, 165 pounds, is the latest player to join the Hawai’i football team during the early signing period after the program’s social media accounts posted the news Friday afternoon.

It sent shockwaves across the state because the 2021 state Offensive Player of the Year was initially committed to play for the Utah Utes before he graduated in 2023 and embarked on his church mission.

What made it even more shocking was because his father Stewart, is an Utah alumnus, and his younger brother Mana signed his letter of intent to play for the Utes just two days prior.

With many moving pieces throughout the early signing period and as many other coaches and schools try to position themselves to get the best players and possibly flip some commitments, Stewart Carvalho just had one piece of advice for his son Kaikai.

“At the end of the day, Kaikai was kind of like, ‘hey dad, what should I do with all this hoopla going on and whatever,’ and I said: Go where you’re wanted, go where people believe in you,” said Stewart Carvalho, who is also an assistant coach for the Red Raiders.

Stewart Carvalho mentioned that there was conversations from other programs surrounding his two sons in hoping to get the younger Carvalho to flip his commitment from Utah.

But in the days of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and players getting compensated and getting paid either through collectives or from a portion of the university’s revenue share, relationships and being genuine and intentional still matters.

Stewart Carvalho credits Hawai’i wide receivers coach Jared Ursua in winning his son over, noting that Ursua “has never lost faith in Kaikai” and kept in touch while his son was on his mission.

Wide receivers coach Jared Ursua coaches from the sideline during the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors contest vs. UCLA in August | Michael Lasquero, HSRN

“My wife (Yuri) probably thought he was the classiest coach throughout this whole recruiting cycle,” Stewart Carvalho said. “(He) always showed (Kaikai) love, every time when we would talk, he always kept telling me ‘I’m going to get your boys, I’m going to get your boys.

“I think that resonated with Kaikai. At the end of the day, he wants to go somewhere where he’s love, where he’s appreciated more than someplace where I have been and I’ve gone.”

Stewart Carvalho added that he has no problem with Kaikai not playing for his alma mater.

“I’m happy with his decision, following his heart, but more importantly, following those that really believed in him because that’s when he plays his best.”

The Carvalho family moved to the Hawai’i from Utah when Kaikai was in fourth grade because Stewart Carvalho wanted to raise his family in the culture of the islands.

When Kaikai Carvalho eventually puts on the Rainbow Warriors uniform on his first game day, he will be representing something greater than the name on the back of his jersey.

“Hawai’i has given Kaikai, my son, basically my whole family so much love and appreciation that he knows that he’s playing (for) something bigger than himself. It’s not about him anymore,” said Stewart Carvalho.

“The two years on his mission has given him the perspective that you serve others to give back. The least he can do is give back to the home state, to the community, to his family and represent it the best way he can.”

Kaikai Carvalho’s final day of his mission is on the penultimate day of April 2025. He will enroll at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa in May and get to work as soon as possible with Ursua and head coach Timmy Chang helping with the transition.

“(They) will let him enroll as possible, start working out with the team, start doing those PRPs (player run practices), with the players, get used to the quarterbacks and by summer camp, he’s ready to go and into the 2025 season.”

Injuries hampered Kaikai Carvalho’s senior season in 2022, but he was a dynamic playmaker as a junior and scored a total 147 points via 10 receiving touchdowns, five return scores on special teams, one rushing TD, 45 PATs and two field goals.

He also caught 64 passes for 1,029 yards and was instrumental to the Red Raiders going 10-0 in 2021 as they denied a fifth state title for Saint Louis while jumpstarting a three-year run atop of the mountain.

In 2024, the Crusaders stopped Kahuku’s bid for a fourth consecutive title behind a strong performance from a similar sized player as Kaikai Carvalho in Titan Lacaden, who is also Manoa-bound.

Stewart Carvalho is ready to see the two players tear it up for the Rainbow Warriors.

“I could see (Kaikai) and Titan just killing it out there.”