OIA Flag Football Gallery: Kahuku vs Kalaheo

OIA Flag Football Gallery: Kahuku vs Kalaheo

Mar 29, 2025

Kahuku beats Kalaheo, 20-6, for first win of the season

PHOTOS BY ANDREW LEE
PUBLISHED MARCH 29, 25

PHOTOS BY ANDREW LEE

OIA Flag Football Gallery: Castle vs Kaiser

OIA Flag Football Gallery: Castle vs Kaiser

Mar 29, 2025

Castle too much for Kaiser, knights win 36-0

PHOTOS BY ANDREW LEE
PUBLISHED MARCH 29, 25

PHOTOS BY ANDREW LEE

Kaimuki squeaks by McKinley in opening night flag football duel

Kaimuki squeaks by McKinley in opening night flag football duel

Mar 25, 2025

Kaimuki QB Taimane Nahinu evades defenders during the Bulldogs’ opening night victory over McKinley. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Kaimuki squeaks by McKinley in opening night flag football duel

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MARCH 25, 2025

PRINTABLE VERSION

HONOLULU – One score is all it takes. 

At least, that was the case for Kaimuki against McKinley on Tuesday night as the Bulldogs took down the Tigers, 6-2. The game was the second of a doubleheader at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium as the 2025 OIA girls’ flag football season kicked off all over O’ahu, following up Moanalua’s 44-0 victory over Roosevelt. 

Sonja Ammons snared the game-winning touchdown for the Bulldogs at the start of the fourth quarter, working herself open to catch versatile freshman Honey Kuiee-Matias’ only passing attempt of the night for the 1-yard score. Kuiee-Matias had a pair of catches for 21 yards to go along with her touchdown pass, earning HSRN’s “Fun Factory VIP of the Game” honor as she chipped in with multiple defensive plays in the win as well. 

Kaimuki senior Angel Joy Agrippa led the Bulldogs’ receivers with 39 yards spread across three catches while Ammons recorded a trio of receptions for 20 yards and the lone touchdown of the game. Freshman QB Taimane Nahinu completed 8-of-16 passes for 84 yards in the victory for the Bulldogs, though she was also intercepted twice. 

McKinley and Kaimuki combined for five interceptions in total, showing off the defensive chops from opening possession. The sides traded stops throughout the entirety of the first three quarters, entering the final 12 minutes without any score. 

Kaimuki finally broke through as the fourth quarter began, finishing a drive for the only time all night as Kuiee-Matias went into the backfield and tossed the rock over the middle of the field and by a bevy of defenders to an open Ammons to put the Bulldogs up 6-0 with 10 minutes left in regulation. 

It appeared as though Kaimuki clinched the win when Asomailu Kerman intercepted McKinley QB Ayva Walthall at the goal line with under three minutes to play, but an errant snap over Nahinu’s head resulted in a safety and provided new life to the Tigers with one final possession and 1:10 to work. 

The Kaimuki defense held strong though, forcing a turnover-on-downs as time expired to hold on against McKinley, 6-2. The teams combined for 243 yards of total offense, flexing the defensive might all night to open the 2025 season. 

Kaimuki huddles during a tightly-contested victory over McKinley to begin the 2025 OIA girls’ flag football season. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

McKinley’s Walthall turned in a strong effort despite the loss, completing 7-of-10 passes for 50 yards through the air while running for a game-high 67 yards on the ground. The senior split quarterback duties with freshman Maryan Tagalicod, who went 5-for-11 passing for 36 yards and two interceptions in her first action on the gridiron for the Tigers. 

Kaimuki (1-0) will return to action again on Friday, facing off against Roosevelt (0-1) at Moanalua High School in the first game of a doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. while McKinley (0-1) takes the field on Saturday with eyes on redemption against Anuenue at Kailua High School with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. 

Moanalua roughs up Roosevelt to open OIA girls flag football season

Moanalua roughs up Roosevelt to open OIA girls flag football season

Mar 25, 2025

Moanalua QB Zaira Sugui prepares to launch a pass down field in Na Menehune’s 44-0 win over Roosevelt on Tuesday. Sugui threw for 7 TDs, earning Fun Factory “VIP of the Game” honors. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Moanalua roughs up Roosevelt to open OIA girls flag football season

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MARCH 25, 2025

PRINTABLE VERSION

HONOLULU – New opportunities have arrived. 

The OIA kicked off the inaugural season of high school girls flag football on Tuesday evening as visiting Moanalua took down Roosevelt at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium, 44-0. Na Menehune junior QB Zaira Sugui threw for seven touchdowns on the night, completing 19-of-28 passes for 305 yards on the way to being named HSRN’s “Fun Factory VIP of the Game” in the victory. 

Freshman wide receiver Lofa Simanu hauled in eight catches for 147 yards and three of Moanalua’s touchdowns while fellow freshman receiver Jodie Keo snagged three passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. Senior Kaia Borjes-Peeples scored touchdowns with both of her catches and Kiani Ramos had the final touchdown for Na Menehune on the last play of the game, a 26-yard reception that drained the final seconds of the running clock. 

“Very exciting,” Moanalua head coach Ladd Mokiao said of finally getting the season started. “[Tonight’s score] doesn’t define Roosevelt or us. It’s the beginning of the season and there’s a lot of work that still needs to be put in on both sides … hopefully, we can evolve this game.” 

Moanalua got active early and often, taking the game’s opening possession all the way down the field for a score with a long 30-plus yard touchdown pass from Sugui to Simanu less than three minutes into action. With a running clock and few stoppages, the first quarter raced by with just three total possessions between the teams as Jodie Keo put Na Menehune up 12-0 with 90 seconds left in the frame. 

The advantage grew to 24 by game’s midway point after Roosevelt’s lone threatening first half offensive drive ended with an interception deep in Moanalua territory. The turnover helped the visiting Menes tack on two more scores in the second quarter without allowing a single point defensively. 

Moanalua senior Kaia Borjes-Peeples tries to speed around the edge during Moanalua’s season-opening victory against Roosevelt. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Simanu and Sugui hooked up two more times for touchdowns after halftime before Kiani Ramos capped off the scoring as Moanalua proved to be primed for the start of the regular season, taking down the Rough Riders, 44-0. Na Menehune (1-0) will look to make it two wins in a row on Friday when they host Farrington at 6:45 p.m. in the second game of a doubleheader at Moanalua. 

Chaselyn Marzan provided a spark on the ground for Roosevelt as the junior rushed for 42 yards on 10 attempts in the loss. The Rough Riders (0-1) also return to action on Friday, taking on Kaimuki (1-0) at 5:30 p.m. HT at Moanalua High School. 

OIA Photo Gallery: Waiʻanae vs Nanakuli

OIA Photo Gallery: Waiʻanae vs Nanakuli

Mar 25, 2025

Seariders beat Golden Hawks, 18-15, to win OIA season opener

PHOTOS BY ANDREW LEE
PUBLISHED MARCH 25, 25

PHOTOS BY ANDREW LEE

Aiea climbs back to stun Pearl City in OIA opener, 9-8

Aiea climbs back to stun Pearl City in OIA opener, 9-8

Mar 7, 2025

Aiea celebrates after recording the final out against Pearl City in the top of the seventh inning. | Photo Credit: Brian Bautista

Aiea climbs back to stun Pearl city in OIA opener, 9-8

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED MARCH 7, 2025

‘AIEA — Thursday’s regular season opener for ‘Aiea and Pearl City did not disappoint.

Na Ali’i overcame an early deficit and took their first lead in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 9-8 win over the Chargers at ‘Aiea District Park to begin OIA Division I-West play.

‘Aiea faced multiple four-run deficits in the game before pushing across three runs in the penultimate frame to pick up its third straight win at home dating back to last season.

“Honestly that was dog mentality,” said ‘Aiea second-year coach Brennan Alejo.

Senior right fielder Dennison Zakahi led the way in the batter’s box for Na Ali’i by getting on base in all four plate appearances, batting 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored to earn HSRN’s “VIP of the Game” award, presented by Fun Factory Games.

“I just wanted to be on time and just wanted to be the next man up and do my job,” said Zakahi. “It feels good to start off this season like this.”

It was also a get-back game for ‘Aiea, who saw its 2024 season end to Pearl City in the state tournament in a 11-inning marathon contest. Na Ali’i had defeated the Chargers in the previous three meetings that year.

“We came out really wanting to beat them,” said Zakahi.

Senior Caden Schaefer came over from center field in relief of starting pitcher Dylan Wong to start the fifth inning to pick up the win in the longest pitching stretch of his career. He went three innings and allowed just two hits and two unearned runs, needing just 29 pitches.

“It was really just to hold (the score) for us, throw a couple of zeroes and if we got him the lead, it was going to be his game to win. We’re happy we left him out there. He just pushed through and he got us that win,” said Alejo.

Having graduated nine seniors, which included eight starters, for an ‘Aiea team that reached the OIA final, a lot of players for Na Ali’i stepped up to get the win over the Chargers.

Kamu Ohia-Pratt had a game-high four RBIs and Matthew Higa had a hit in his first plate appearance and scored two runs after only getting one at bat in 2024.

Aiea’s Brennan Tsue celebrates after driving in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning. | Photo Credit: Brian Bautista

Brennan Tsue also drove in the go-ahead run to redeem himself after committing an error in the top of the sixth that allowed Pearl City to go ahead by two runs.

“We talked about the shoes being filled and they didn’t think too much of it, they really wanted their chance,” Alejo said. “It’s guys that could have played last year, it’s just we were senior heavy and we had a lot of depth they were waiting their turn and they got it and they made most of it.”

Jase Lorenzo was tagged with the loss for the Chargers, after being the third pitcher to take the mound in the bottom of the fourth inning when ‘Aiea took tied the game at 6-all.

Leading Pearl City at the plate was Ian Wicklund with a two-run homer in the top of the second and Jayson Au Hoy with three RBIs. Leadoff hitter Logan Honma also scored three runs despite not recording a hit as Na Ali’i gave him a base on balls on his first plate appearance before intentionally walking the USC-bound third baseman the next three times.