Campbell wins first-ever girls flag football state title on a prom-ising night

Campbell wins first-ever girls flag football state title on a prom-ising night

May 4, 2025

The Campbell Sabers girls flag football team pose for a photo after winning the first-ever state championship in the sport after a 6-0 win over Leilehua Saturday night. | Photo Credit: CJ Caraang, Special to HSRN

Campbell wins first-ever girls flag football state title on a prom-ising night

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED MAY 4, 2025

MILILANI — As the quarterback of the Campbell girls flag football team, senior Maya Gonsalves is used to making decisions.

Her choices on Saturday night turned into a moment that will last for eternity.

Gonsalves and the Sabers became the first-ever Hawai’i girls flag football state champions after a 6-0 win over Leilehua at John Kauinana Stadium in the sport’s inaugural season that the state adopted it as an official sport in high school athletics.

The senior quarterback also was responsible for the only points of the game which came on a 33-yard scramble in the first quarter before the defense did the rest with the Sabers’ sixth shutout win of the year, their second in as many nights.

“It feels amazing to be a part of history and winning states for the first year ever for girls flag football,” said Gonsalves.

When Campbell (11-2) defeated Mililani, 14-0, on Friday in the semifinals of the Hawai’i Dental Service / HHSAA state tournament, the Sabers knew their roster for the championship was going to be thinner with the school’s senior prom being held that same night.

But Gonsalves, the lone senior in the Sabers’ starting lineup, had her priorities in order.

“This is very much important and I don’t regret the decision I made at all,” Gonsalves said about forgoing her senior prom.

“Knowing I came this far, I wasn’t going to bail out on my girls and we made each other proud.”

Gonsalves’ decision-making also gave the Sabers the necessary points needed to win the crown.

Campbell senior Maya Gonsalves celebrates in the end zone after scoring the state championship game’s only touchdown in the first quarter. | Photo Credit: CJ Caraang, Special to HSRN

Leilehua (10-3) played man coverage against Campbell early on in the championship game, which gave Gonsalves a prime opportunity to tuck the ball and run without no one accounting for her when she got sprung free away from the Mules’ pass rusher.

“It was a passing play, but when I went through my reads and seen that everything was covered, I checked the pukas (openings) and I took it home,” Gonsalves said.

Coach Will Naboa was ecstatic for his girls after the championship win.

“For these girls, it means everything because I know the work they put in, day in and day out, the long nights giving up stuff, sacrifice, for goodness sakes (Maya) had to sacrifice her senior prom, so there’s no one more deserving of this honor and title. Again, nobody can take this away from them, first-ever state champs.”

Sophomore Shaleah “Lala” Moore was named the tournament’s most outstanding player for the Sabers. In the championship game she recorded nine flag pulls, three for loss, one sack, two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry.

Jaynalyn Sotelo (1) high fives Shaleah Moore (2) after Campbell made a stop on defense against Leilehua. | Photo Credit: CJ Caraang, Special to HSRN

“It feels amazing, I love this feeling, I love winning and I’m just so happy,” said Moore, who finished the four-day tournament with nine total sacks.

Jaynalyn Sotelo recorded two interceptions and Aiesha DeWeever had another in the championship win and was also named to the all-tournament team. Sotelo also had the game-sealing interception on the final play of the game.

“I can’t say anymore good things about our defense,” said Naboa. It’s not where we just stay stationary or basic zone. We have so many plays on defense just as much on offense and the way they’re able to adjust on the fly I think that’s what separates our team versus anybody else. We’re able to adjust the girls are able to communicate.”

Hawai’i sweeps Senior Day doubleheader over UC San Diego

Hawai’i sweeps Senior Day doubleheader over UC San Diego

May 4, 2025

The 2025 Hawai’i softball team on Senior Night, celebrating five seniors and longtime head coach Bob Coolen. | Photo Credit: Ku’ulei Agbayani, HSRN

HAWAI’I SWEEPS SENIOR DAY DOUBLEHEADER OVER UC SAN DIEGO

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MAY 4, 2025

HONOLULU – Despite the distractions, Senior Weekend ended up a smashing success.

The University of Hawai’i softball team swept Saturday’s twin bill against UC San Diego (15-29, 13-14 Big West), bouncing back after a frustrating, clunky 4-1 loss on Friday night to close out the regular season with 7-4 and 4-3 victories over the Tritons. The games marked the final home contests in the careers of five UH seniors and longtime head coach Bob Coolen, causing for an emotional few days all around.

Right-handed pitcher Addison Kostrencich earned the victory in the first game for the Rainbow Wahine, going 7.0 innings and allowing four runs on eight hits, walking only one batter as the redshirt senior picked up her 13th win of the season.

“After last night, I said that was my last loss of the season,” Kostrencich smiled when asked about the sweep. “We knew all the emotion would be here today and that we have the talent to take over [UC San Diego]. We just came out strong, we knew we could hit, and we trusted that.”

Fellow seniors Izabella Martinez and Liliana Thomas also had standout days for Hawai’i (31-18, 17-10 Big West), combining for five RBI and a trio of hits over the course of the two victories. Martinez drove three runs in during the first game, helping to provide some much-needed breathing room for the Rainbow Wahine, while Thomas helped power a UH comeback in the second game with two different run-scoring hits.

Sophomore Macy Brandl earned the win in the circle in the encore game, going all 7.0 innings while giving up three runs on four hits and a walk. The right-hander was a bit shaky early but locked in late as she retired 12 of the final 13 Triton batters to secure the victory to close the regular season.

After a chaotic experience on Friday while trying to celebrate “Bob Coolen Night” with special guests and events taking away from his and the team’s focus, Saturday presented similar challenges. With emotions running high and a gameday routine that was far different from any other during the season, the head coach of 34 years and his team answered the bell.

“I appreciated [the celebration] but I just was not prepared, and I don’t think my team was prepared for the whole thing [on Friday],” Coolen said of the weekend. “Kudos to them for [still winning] today because you should see the locker room, it’s amazing what they did to the locker room.”

Turning in a 0-for-4 performance in Friday’s loss, sophomore 1B Jamie McGaughey flipped the script in two outings on Saturday as she went 4-for-5 with a pair of walks and drilled the go-ahead solo homer in the bottom of the fifth inning in the second game that ultimately proved to be the difference.

“Addi came out and pitched well, Macy had a challenge. I had to really get on her when she was looking doubtful on the mound because we weren’t making the plays [defensively] for her,” Coolen said in review on the doubleheader sweep. “[Macy] bore down, and we picked it up and came back again from a 3-1 deficit, which was great. It was good to see Jamie finally hit the ball; she’s been struggling all weekend trying to figure it out.”

GAME ONE: HAWAI’I 7, UC SAN DIEGO 4

The Tritons struck first in the opener of the twin bill with an Alexis Jimenez solo home run off Kostrencich in the top of the second inning, but the Rainbow Wahine responded in the bottom half of the frame with a run of their own when reigning Big West Field Player of the Week Ellyanna Cinzori smacked an RBI single up the middle.

UC San Diego re-took the lead in the fourth inning with a Lily Hermosillo RBI double, but Hawai’i punched back with a three-spot in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good.

The top of the seventh brought a couple of heart-pounding moments early as Kostrencich walked the leadoff batter and gave up a two-run home run immediately after, but the redshirt senior settled back in to induce three groundouts to end the Tritons’ rally try and secure the No. 5 seed in next week’s Big West Softball Championship tournament.

Hawai’i totaled 10 hits and did not commit a single error in the opening game, clicking in for another comeback victory in a season filled with dramatic rallies.

GAME TWO: HAWAI’I 4, UC SAN DIEGO 3.

Hawai’i wasted little time getting on the board to begin the second game, scoring in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out RBI single from Liliana Thomas. UC San Diego punched back with a three-run top of the third, tagging UH starter Macy Brandl with a pair of loud two-out hits after a pair of hit batters increased the traffic on the bases.

The Rainbow Wahine quickly answered in the bottom of the third, picking up their starting pitcher as four of the first five batters reached base and tying the game up 3-3 with another RBI single from Thomas and an RBI fielders’ choice from Cinzori.

After the rough third frame, Brandl diced up the Tritons’ lineup as she allowed only one more baserunner for the rest of the game. Hawai’i broke the scoreless tie with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, seeing Jamie McGaughey crush a no-doubt solo shot over the left field fence to give the Rainbow Wahine a 4-3 lead.

With the lead and a settled pitcher, Hawai’i locked down the second victory of the day for the 16th comeback win of the year. Best of all, Coolen got to keep with his plans for the day.

“I didn’t want to bring in another pitcher,” the veteran coach said of sticking with Brandl through the early rough spot. “I wanted it to be Addi’s day, and I wanted it to be Macy’s day, [as we’re] going into the tournament.”

SENIOR NIGHT + BOB COOLEN CELEBRATION

Following the Saturday sweep, the team, fans and families recognized the five seniors who are completing their time with the Rainbow Wahine program. Izabella Martinez, Addison Kostrencich, Alyssa Nakagawa, Liliana Thomas and Chloe Borges each were recognized for their various college careers with Hawai’i, all eliciting separate emotions but one common feeling: gratitude.

It was the second straight day of celebrating at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, coming after “Bob Coolen Night” took some time to honor the 36-year career of the coach with Hawai’i. Friday entailed surprises with various alumni coming back to show their appreciation for Coolen before his family (wife, kids, grandson Colt, etc.) threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

While the commotion was well-deserved and fun, it also threw off the regular routine for UH and set up for an awkward opening game of the series and ultimately a loss by the Rainbow Wahine. After Friday’s contest, Coolen was presented with a variety of gifts that included a stay at an OUTRIGGER resort and a commemorative bat while former Hawai’i state senate member Brian Taniguchi and acting UH athletics director Lois Manin each said some words to honor the longtime skipper.

Taniguchi and Coolen’s efforts combined to help get funding for major upgrades to Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, starting in 1998 and totally changing the venue by 2022, helping modernize the facilities for a program that has made many magical runs under Coolen’s watchful eye.

Those upgrades will help the program long after Coolen’s retirement, though replacing one of the less than 25 college coaches ever with more than 1,200 career wins will come with challenges too. As he steps down from his post, Coolen’s resume can go up against nearly any in collegiate coaching history regardless of division.

Saturday was more for the seniors, but each of them also admitted to having an extra pinch of motivation to send “Coach Bob” into his next evolution as a winner at home. With the hoopla of Friday out of the way, a familiar distraction of Senior Day seemed like nothing.

“We knew we were better [than last night] and we knew that we really wanted to win today,” senior Addison Kostrencich said after the games. “It’s a great way to close out [Coach Coolen’s] career, our careers. This field is really special, and I think we all knew that.”

The right-handed hurler’s battery mate agreed with Kostrencich’s assessment.

“I think we just knew that this was going to be it for us here [in Hawai’i], so I think we just played with so much more love and so much more compassion today than I’ve ever seen,” senior catcher Izabella Martinez said, nearly overwhelmed with emotion. “I’m so grateful that this isn’t where it ends … I’m so happy that I get to play next week with my best friends again. I’m so excited that I get to go on another plane ride with my best friends and … keep playing the sport that I love so much and that my teammates love so much.”

Hawai’i will take on No. 4-seeded Long Beach State on Wednesday, May 7 in the inaugural Big West Softball Championship tournament at Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, Calif., looking to survive the double-elimination tournament and punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. The winner will advance to face top-seeded Cal State Fullerton while the loser plays in an elimination game against the loser between No. 6-seeded UC San Diego and No. 3-seeded UC Santa Barbara.

Waipahu Pulls Away Late to Defeat Radford, 12-7

by | Apr 15, 2026

Waipahu used a big late-inning surge to break open a tight game and defeat Radford 12-7 on Tuesday afternoon, improving to 11-2 on the season. In a contest that remained competitive through the middle innings, the Marauders capitalized on timely...

read more
Braddahhood Grindz extends philanthropic efforts to next generation

Braddahhood Grindz extends philanthropic efforts to next generation

Apr 29, 2025

 

BraddahHood Grindz extends philanthropic efforts to next generation

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 29, 2025

HONOLULU — Four years ago, Braddahhood Grindz was just four restaurant owners taking turns to feed the University of Hawai’i football team during the summer months.

Since then, it has grown to include 25 participating restaurants and 50 corporate sponsors helping to feed over 300 student-athletes as well as providing career development opportunities through internships and full-time jobs.

Year four marks another significant milestone to Braddahhood Grindz’s contributions to the community — the next generation.

In a press conference Tuesday afternoon at Giovanni Pastrami, Braddahhood Grindz announced a new program in partnership with the Hawai’i High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) to help inspire local student-athletes at the high school level through opportunities to meet, network and learn from current college players.

“Our year four purpose is more clearer than ever: “we’ll continue to nourish, to develop and to raise the next generation of leaders, on the field, in their careers and in their communities,” said Ryan Tanaka, owner of Giovanni Pastrami and founder of Braddahhood and Sistahhood Grindz.

The announcement coincided with Braddahhood Grindz kicking-off its fourth year of supporting the university with members of the Big West championship-winning men’s volleyball team present.

The Rainbow Warriors were joined by the 2024 HHSAA boys volleyball state champions in Division I winner Kamehameha-Kapalama and Division II winner University Lab.

“We’re grateful just to be a part of this, this is something that’s new, innovative,” said Rob Hesia, director of campus athletics and human performance at Kamehameha-Kapalama.

“Our student athletes don’t get the opportunity to do these type of events and some of them are going to be a Division I athlete soon enough and they’re going to be thrusted into this type of world.”

In a college athletics world where Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) usually translates to how much money a collegiate athlete is getting paid, this new program started by Braddahhood Grindz gives student-athletes a chance to utilize their experiences to inspire the next generation.

“When you take a state championship team and you have them meet a college team, it’s more than just a meeting, it’s a transformational experience,” said Tanaka.

“It’s giving these high school players a chance to sit with college players across the table, they can see their future could be a reality, their dream could be a reality. It’s a way for them to discover a face, a name and a story that’s very similar to their own.”

It’s also an opportunity for the collegiate athletes to reflect on the humble beginnings that they came from.

“They’re looking at the high school athlete realizing that was them not long ago, that was how they started,” said Tanaka.

“Their hunger, their determination, their uncertainty and the selfness from so many of their administrators, coaches, teammates, family members and volunteers who poured countless hours to bring them to where they are today. No one, as good as they are, no one does this alone.”

Tanaka noted that the nature of this program is true to the ideals and values that make the state of Hawai’i great.

“In Hawai’i, we’re raised to believe that we want more for others and for ourselves. We want more for the next generation, for what was given to us. That’s why this group of stakeholders has not just grown together, but we’ve expanded, we’ve become stronger than ever.”

Waipahu Pulls Away Late to Defeat Radford, 12-7

by | Apr 15, 2026

Waipahu used a big late-inning surge to break open a tight game and defeat Radford 12-7 on Tuesday afternoon, improving to 11-2 on the season. In a contest that remained competitive through the middle innings, the Marauders capitalized on timely...

read more
Hawaii is king of the Big West once again

Hawaii is king of the Big West once again

Apr 27, 2025

The Hawai’i men’s volleyball team won its fourth Big West title in program history with a four-set win over Long Beach Saturday night. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Hawaii is king of the Big West once again

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 27, 2025

MANOA — Championship secured.

The Hawai’i men’s volleyball team bested top-seeded Long Beach State in four sets to claim the program’s fourth Big West title Saturday night before a crowd of 8,540 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

Finn Kearney finished with a team-high 14 kills and Adrien Roure put down 11 kills with no errors and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Louis Sakanoko added eight kills and had back-to-back aces late in set four to give Hawai’i a 24-20 lead before a Tread Rosenthal dump gave the Rainbow Warriors the 25-21, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22 victory.

The win gave Hawai’i an automatic berth into the NCAA men’s volleyball tournament in a couple of weeks at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio. The Rainbow Warriors were announced as the No. 2 seed on Sunday and will face the winner between Penn State and Daemen in the quarterfinals on May. 8.

“I just love to play volleyball, especially here,” said Roure. “I just want to play more, to play more and games and to go to Ohio, we needed to win yesterday and today, it’s just that simple.”

Hawai’i (26-5 overall, 7-3 Big West) played some of its best volleyball all season jumped out to early 6-3 leads in the first two frames against Long Beach State (27-3, 8-2) before taking a 2-0 set lead in the championship match.

The Rainbow Warriors were executing at a high level early on, hitting .500 in the opening frame and increasing that efficiency to .600 in the second set.

 

The Rainbow Warriors storm the court after Tread Rosenthal’s dump gave Hawai’i the championship over Long Beach State. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

“These guys, I could tell the energy that they had, the dialogue that they were having was meaningful and accurate,” said Hawai’i coach Charlie Wade.

“Super proud of the guys just embracing the moment and not just being meat-headed and screaming and yelling but really cerebral, meaningful dialogue going out throughout, how to receive, how to defend, just tactically, what we were doing it was a nice night for sure.”

The score was tied 12 times in the opening set, with a kill by Nato Dickinson tying it at 19 for Long Beach State.

That’s when Kearney started to take over.

Freshman Finn Kearney celebrates after a point against Long Beach State. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Back-to-back kills by the freshman gave Hawai’i a 21-19 advantage that forced a Long Beach State timeout. Kearney’s next kill made it a 23-20 game before a Roure kill and a hitting error gave Hawai’i the opening set win.

Kearney, who also had 10 kills the night before in the Rainbow Warriors’ semifinal win over UC-Irvine, has answered the call starting at opposite in place of the injured Kristian Titriyski, who earned All-Big West honors.

“Finn is a really great player,” Sakanoko said of Kearney. “He’s in a tough position, you don’t play a lot the whole year and one guy is injured and you need to replace Kristian Titriyski, it’s not just like some random guy, he was the go-to guy of the team, he did a really great job adapting with the setter, playing with a full crowd and just like take his spot, so definitely he did a really great job.”

Roure was the top threat of the second set, with six of his eleven kills in the frame. The freshman outside hitter took his game to another level in the tournament with his family traveling halfway across the world from France to see him play.

“The first thing they told me was I’m lucky to have them because every time they come see me I win,” Roure said. “Being able to play in front of my family, obviously it’s far, even some of my cousins, I don’t see a lot, just once a year and we never see each other play, I’m just happy to show them how I can play.”

Adrien Roure earned MVP honors for the Big West tournament after putting down 29 kills in two days with only three errors for the tournament. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Long Beach State’s Moni Nikolov came alive from the service line in the third set with four straight service aces to give the visitors an early 7-2 lead that grew as high as eight when Hawai’i trailed 16-8.

The Rainbow Warriors did manage to make a little bit of a run late in the set and got within three before an attack error gave Long Beach the set three win.

The fourth set was a slugfest with 11 ties and three lead changes, the most out of any frame of the match. Long Beach state led by as many as six, 12-6, before Sakanako sandwiched two aces in between a kill of his own to make it a one-point game to set up Roure’s tying kill at 13-13.

Sakanoko’s next service turn was just as effective when Hawai’i regained the serve after a service error gave the Rainbow Warriors a 21-20 lead. An attack error made it a two-point lead before Sakanoko’s third and fourth ace of the night, all in the fourth set, made it a 24-20 Hawai’i advantage.

“I just locked in,” said Sakanoko of the serving.

Long Beach State, who lost to Hawai’i in two of the team’s three meetings in 2025, is the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

HPU falls to Vanguard on Senior Day

HPU falls to Vanguard on Senior Day

Apr 19, 2025

The HPU baseball seniors pose for a photo to celebrate their senior game festivities. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

HPU falls to Vanguard on Senior Day

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED APRIL 19, 2025

WAIPAHU – Can’t win ‘em all. 

The Hawai’i Pacific University baseball team saw the bats go too quiet for too long in a shortened second game on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Vanguard Lions (27-19, 23-17 PacWest) in seven innings, 10-4. Sophomore right-hander Brennan Kettle was charged with the loss for the Sharks, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out one in 1.2 innings. 

Vanguard jumped all over the Sharks early as third baseman Brian Paymard started the scoring for the visitors with a two-out, two-run bomb and center fielder Tyler Shigenaka following promptly with a solo shot in the top of the second inning. A leadoff double and a few free passes led to another two runs for the Lions before left fielder Noah Madole cranked a three-run homer to make it an 8-0 game. 

HPU (27-19, 25-15 PacWest) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth as left fielder Bronson Rivera roped an RBI single into the outfield grass, but Vanguard tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh to put the Sharks in a 10-1 hole and three outs to work. 

The Sharks didn’t go down without a fight, putting up three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning before ultimately falling. Rivera got the rally going with an RBI triple to bring home Ethan Murakoshi and Noah Blythe followed directly behind with a double to bring home Rivera and make it 10-3. 

Daniel Johnson hustled out a ground ball that scored Blythe, keeping the Sharks’ two-out rally alive a bit longer before Tyler Arnold grounded out to end the game. Christopher Ceballos earned the win for Vanguard, going 4.0 innings and allowing just two hits in a scoreless outing. 

Despite the loss, HPU had cause to celebrate as a special group of 16 seniors played their final home games at Hans L’Orange Park. While the Sharks will play a doubleheader at the field next weekend against Chaminade, the Silverswords will play as the home squad in each of the two final regular season games.  

It has been a steady climb back up the mountain for HPU in four seasons under Dane Fujinaka, returning to the postseason for the first time since 2010 last season. This year has continued the Sharks’ growth, seeing multiple program records broken by a special senior class. 

All smiles for Noah Blythe, who became the program’s single-season record holder for total hits during the series against Vanguard. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Senior outfielder Noah Blythe had himself a record-setting year for the Sharks, resetting the high mark for hits in a season with 82. While ranking top five in the country in total hits, Blythe’s production also has him competing with Rivera for HPU’s runs batted in record as both hitters have racked up 64 RBIs. 

HPU captain and relief pitcher Vicente Molina is greeted by teammates with lei as he makes his way down the third base path. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

HPU relief pitcher Ryan Inouye will finish his career as the program leader in all-time saves. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Relief pitcher Ryan Inouye will finish his HPU career as both the single-season and all-time leader in saves. The Kailua product tallied 13 saves last year for the Sharks and has totaled 20 throughout his three seasons with HPU, passing B.A. Garner’s 19 saves for the high mark. 

Senior transfer Bronson Rivera from the University of Hawai’i set the new Sharks’ single-season record for home runs during the season. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Bronson Rivera, a local boy and transfer from the University of Hawai’i, made one of the biggest impacts possible on a program with standout leadership on and off the diamond while smashing a single-season HPU record 15 home runs. His powerful bat also helped the Holualoa native break the program’s single-season RBI record of 56, though his own teammate is continuing to battle him for that record with four games left before the playoffs. 

Captain and 1B/C Daniel Johnson is decked out in lei and accessories after rounding the bases and greeting teammates. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Skyler Agnew pinned an All-PacWest selection on his resume last year and may snag another similar honor this year after his power numbers have ticked up during another fantastic season. Captain catcher Daniel Johnson was voted the Shark of the Year at the Sharky Awards, acting as a main piece for a playoff caliber HPU squad while fellow captain Vicente Molina has had a sneaky solid stay with the Sharks by going 3-1 with 28 strikeouts in 36.1 innings across 33 appearances over two years in Hawai’i. 

“When you have the saves record holder in the senior class, you have the [single-season] hits record holder … Bronson’s got the home run record, it’s pretty spectacular to see and it’s a credit to those individual guys for putting in the work,” HPU head coach Dane Fujinaka said with a smile when asked about the class. “Even the guys who haven’t broken records … we’re not in the position we’re in right now if it wasn’t for them. It’s awesome to see them finally make their way to graduation day and make their mark on the program as seniors.”  

In all, HPU recognized the contributions of 16 seniors with a variety of stories that each held a part in putting together back-to-back postseason caliber seasons and changed the trajectory of the program back towards being a contender in the West region. 

“Each of them individually have impacted our program in their own way,” Fujinaka said of the group. “Some guys have been here for five years … It’s obviously a really great day when we get to celebrate them and all of their success individually and what they were able to accomplish here at HPU as a team.” 

Waipahu Pulls Away Late to Defeat Radford, 12-7

by | Apr 15, 2026

Waipahu used a big late-inning surge to break open a tight game and defeat Radford 12-7 on Tuesday afternoon, improving to 11-2 on the season. In a contest that remained competitive through the middle innings, the Marauders capitalized on timely...

read more
Moanalua pounces on Mililani to win first-ever OIA girls flag football title

Moanalua pounces on Mililani to win first-ever OIA girls flag football title

Apr 18, 2025

 

The Moanalua girls flag football team holds up the OIA championship plaque after defeating Mililani for the inaugural championship, 25-6. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Moanalua pounces on Mililani to win first-ever OIA girls flag football title

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 18, 2025

MILILANI — In the first-ever OIA girls flag football title game, the old saying still rings true — defense wins championships.

Moanalua came up with two early takeaways and jumped out to a 13-0 lead en route to a 25-6 win over Mililani in a battle of two undefeated teams for the league crown at John Kauinana Stadium Thursday night.

“It’s an amazing feeling because we’re here,” said Moanalua junior quarterback Zaira Sugui. “We’re playing, we’re balling out. A lot of us girls are playing the game that we love on the field. Yeah, we’re in their hometown, but we sure did ball out and we just trusted ourselves. We came in with a good mindset. We stood calm, we weren’t in our heads, we just went out there and showed them what we’re all about.”

Na Menehune (8-0) set the tone on the first play of the game when freshman Lofa Simanu intercepted a Zenn Nelson-pass that was deflected off the hands of a Mililani receiver. Four plays later Sugui found freshman Jodie Keo over the middle for a 3-yard score. The duo hooked up again on the conversion to give Moanalua a 7-0 lead.

The next pass by Nelson also ended up in the hands of Simanu, although this time she was able to return the interception 35 yards for a score to make it a 13-0 game four minutes into the contest.

The Moanalua girls flag football team celebrates in the end zone after Lofa Simanu (1) returned an interception for a 35-yard TD. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

“It was just minor mistakes that we capitalized on,” said Moanalua coach Ladd Mokiao, whose team held the Trojans (7-1) to just 90 yards of offense.

“Those two picks helped us get the lead early and it helped us where we can play comfortable and then lean on our defense to stop them and win the game at the end.”

Instead of trying to chase down the shifty-Nelson behind center, Na Menehune looked to keep her in the pocket with pass rusher Kaia Borje-Peeples keeping contain on Nelson, who accounted for all the touchdowns in the Trojans’ previous three games.

The defense also played tight coverage with Jailyn Smith keeping an eye over the middle and the likes of Marisa Lam and Simanu on the perimeter for the out-breaking routes.

“We came up with a game plan where she needed to beat us with her arms, and not her legs, because all the teams she was beating, she’s a helluva of an athlete, but she was beating everybody with her legs and she was putting the team on her back and just marching them down the field,” said Mokiao.

Moanalua’s Kaia Borje-Peeples gives chase to Mililani’s Zenn Nelson in the OIA championship game. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

The end result saw Moanalua come away with five total interceptions, three of them by Simanu. Sugui and Keo also had one apiece while Smith came close with two pass breakups. Borje-Peeples also notched three sacks and had a team-high five flag pulls.

The duo of Sugui and Keo hooked up a total of nine times to the tune of 106 yards and three TDs against the Trojans. Keo’s second TD of the game was from 33 yards out to give Moanalua a 19-0 lead midway through the second quarter while her final scoring pass of the night was on a 2-yard pass late in the third quarter.

The freshman receiver’s final stat line for league play saw her finish with 56 receptions for 876 yards and 18 TDs in eight OIA contests.

“She has a very big future,” Mokiao said of Keo, who earned HSRN’s ‘VIP of the Game’ award, presented by Fun Factory Games.

Mokiao added that they call Keo ‘MJ,’ referencing her to NBA legend Michael Jordan.

“She can go up for the ball, she’s fast, she plays like a boy, plain and simple. She can take on boys and ‘moss’ boys too, offensively and defensively. It’s hard to find a girl like that. Sometimes, it’s like a diamond in the rough, and I got one, I got lucky.”

Moanalua freshman WR Jodie Keo looks for some running room after catching a pass from Zaira Sugui. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Sugui finished the game completing 19 of her 27 passes for 208 yards. Although she threw three interceptions against her three TD passes, she never seemed to let the moment rattle her or her teammates, drawing on her experience as a two-time state champion.

“Being a state champion helped me become a leader on this team because wrestling is all about mentality so I just had to really put my mentality into football by leading the team and continuing to show them that they don’t need to be scared,” said Sugui.

“They just have to trust themselves, believe in themselves and when they step on that field, it’s just you against you, no matter who we challenge.”

The Trojans avoided the shutout in the fourth quarter when Brooke Kurasaki found Nahealani Choy Foo on a 5-yard TD pass.

Choy Foo, Ayreeana Manutai and Sienna Maafala each recorded interceptions to lead Mililani in the loss.

The two teams are among seven OIA teams to represent the league in the inaugural state tournament in a few weeks. Joining Moanalua and Mililani in the 16-team field will be Campbell, Nanakuli, Leilehua, Waianae and Kahuku.