Waianae football HC Nihipali on making OIA playoffs: “We Needed this for the Community”

Waianae football HC Nihipali on making OIA playoffs: “We Needed this for the Community”

Oct 29, 2024

Waianae’s defense comes off the field after recovering a fumble on Radford’s final possession last Friday night. | Michael Lasquero/HSRN

Waianae football HC Nihipali on making OIA playoffs: “We Needed this for the Community”

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 29, 2024

The winds are changing out on the West Coast of Oahu.

Waianae secured its first winning record in the regular season since 2017 when it came away with an important 24-15 road win over Radford at John E. Velasco Stadium last Friday night in both team’s OIA Division I finale.

Combined with Kailua’s 37-13 win over ‘Aiea the following day, the Seariders’ win over the Rams gave them a 4-3 record in league play and secured one of four playoff spots in the postseason tournament. 

Waianae DB Deegan Anduha celebrates after recovering a fumble against Radford in the fourth quarter. | Michael/HSRN

They will play at top-seeded Leilehua this Friday as the Seariders seek their 19th OIA crown and first since 1997.

Waianae first-year coach Vince Nihipali, who grew up playing pop-warner football for the Waianae Tigers and watching the Seariders under legendary coach Larry Ginoza, got emotional talking about what a playoff berth meant for his hometown.

“We need something, and I say we because I’m from Waianae also… we needed this for the community, for the team, for the school and I’m just so proud of them and the coaching staff,” said Nihipali, who was hired in early April.

The Seariders line up in a jumbo package against Radford. | Michael Lasquero/HSRN

A grounded approach, both on and off the field, has been the formula for success for the Seariders in 2024.

After back-to-back losses to start October to bring its OIA record to 2-3, Waianae has implemented a run-first approach the past two weeks and averaged 298 yards rushing in wins over Nanakuli and Radford. A number of ball carriers including Alika Idica Jr. (583 rush yards) and Slater Kaleiohi (478 rush yards, 11.7 yards per carry) can line up behind center for the Seariders in their jumbo, heavy-set packages.

The Seariders did not score a single offensive touchdown in the second half against the Rams, but kept the clock churning and imposed their will in the trenches.

Versatile Slater Kaleiohi (10) takes the direct snap in Waianae’s heavy-set formations against Radford. | Michael Lasquero/HSRN

“I knew our best set when we need to is the heavy set,” said Nihipali. “I didn’t want to come out in it early, I thought we could get some passes going but we dropped some balls, but I said ‘let’s buckle down, let’s go play old-school ball,’ and went into it and it worked and I think we wore them out.”

Nihipali said the players’ work ethic helps fuel their ability to run those packages.

“These kids when I got hired in April, they’re out here every day. There’s never a problem with these boys man, they work hard,” said Nihipali. “They’re still boys right, they still need some guidance, but they always come into practice and they work hard, they want to go into heavy. When I say ‘we’re going into heavy,’ they get a spark in their eyes and they want to go.”

Waianae football head coach Vince Nihipali patrols the sidelines against Radford. | Michael/HSRN

Nihipali continued: “they’re a very physical group of kids. Tough, and I’m from Waianae. These are tough kids. It’s not easy for them, just life in general, coming out here and playing with your boys and your teammates and playing a game like this against a good team shows resiliency.”

Keeping the chains and the clock moving also gives the defense ample time to get rest and prepare for when it has to get back on the field.

It was complimentary football at its finest in the second half against Radford when Waianae got at least three turnovers.

Waianae LB Chaunston Kido-White goes in for a blitz up the middle against Radford. | Michael Lasquero/HSRN

Chaunston Kido-White’s 60-yard pick-six helped grow Waianae’s 14-9 halftime lead into a 24-9 advantage midway through the third quarter while Deegan Anduha recorded an interception and a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter to derail any rally by the Rams.

“All year the defense has played well. They get a turnover when they need a turnover,” said Nihipali. “When they needed to make the play to seal it, they made a play to seal it.”

Kickoff between the Seariders and Mules on Friday at Hugh Yoshida Stadium will be 25 minutes following the 5 p.m. junior varsity contest.

Menes are queens of the OIA once again

Menes are queens of the OIA once again

Oct 24, 2024

 

The Moanalua Na Menehune sing their alma mater after defeating Kapolei for the OIA Division I championship. | Michael Lasquero/HSRN

Menes are queens of the OIA once again

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 24, 2024

MILILANI — Standing on business.

One year after falling short in the OIA championship, Moanalua is back atop the mountain top after besting Kapolei in four sets, 25-23, 25-17, 22-25, 22-14, Wednesday night in the league’s Division I title match.

It was the team’s sixth OIA crown and the first since 2017.

“Every single day at practice, we remembered that and we are like, ‘Hey, that’s not happening this year. This title is ours,’ and that really reflected in our practices,” said senior Zaria Queen, who is committed to play for Stanford.

Queen was one of two players to put down 17 kills for Moanalua and was selected as the HSRN’s “Grinder of the Game” award, which is presented by Timmy T’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop.

She said that their goal to get back and win the championship never wavered throughout the season.

“There was no time that we were slacking off, we were holding each other accountable to make sure that when we got to this, we could take care of business,” said Queen.

Fellow senior Jerney Tang-Silva also finished with 17 kills while senior transfer from Damien Kaila Kalama-Bajet stuffed the stat sheet with 26 assists, 12 digs and 11 kills.

“We really wanted it this year and we were all mentally focused from the get go. Ever since preseason we knew that we wanted to be in this OIA championship and we wanted to push ourselves to be the best that we could be, so all the girls, I’m really thankful that we all had that one goal in mind ever since last year,” said Tang-Silva, who also came up with eight digs and was in on three blocks.

Freshman Surfia Grounds put down seven kills off the bench and middle Chloe Fukumitsu had six kills and four blocks to round out the attack for Moanalua (13-0).

“I think that’s a big thing with our team, we have so many weapons from front row to back row so everyone is a threat and so the other side never knows where the ball is going to go and everyone has their nights where they’re killing it and it’s always someone different, so I think that’s a really big part of why we were able to do this tonight,” Queen said.

The Hurricanes (11-2), who were seeking their second OIA title and first since 2008, were led by Leila Paraoan’s 21 kills in the loss.

Kapolei sophomore Anny Scott also had a near triple-double with 26 assists, 12 digs and nine kills after appearing to roll her ankle towards the end of the first set.

Both teams already clinched spots into next week’s New City Nissan Division I state tournament and will be two of five squads representing the OIA.

The Hurricanes will host Mililani on Monday while Moanalua has a bye through next Thursday and will play the winner between Waiakea and Kalaheo in the second quarterfinal match at Kamehameha.

Castle wins first OIA girls volleyball championship in 35 years

Castle wins first OIA girls volleyball championship in 35 years

Oct 24, 2024

 

The Lady Knights pose for a photo after winning the OIA Division II Girls Volleyball Championship. | Michael Lasquero/HSRN.

Castle wins first OIA girls volleyball championship in 35 years

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 24, 2024

MILILANI — The drought is over.

Castle won its first OIA girls volleyball title since 1989 after besting Farrington in four sets Wednesday night in the league’s Division II championship match.

Seniors Trystin Lum and Emily Robins put down 19 and 17 kills respectively to help the Knights (8-4) come away with a 25-15, 17-25, 25-15, 25-17 victory for the team’s fourth OIA crown in school history.

It was a championship run that was fueled by a senior class of nine players that came up short to eventual OIA champion Waialua in the playoffs the past two seasons.

“We didn’t want to let down and we knew that we’ve been fighting for this the past three years and every year we came up short and we knew that this was our year to take it,” senior setter Lehiwa Kapu said. “It feels amazing because we’ve been fighting for this for three years and we finally became D2 champions.”

Kapu finished with 41 assists, seven digs, four aces, two kills and a block to earn HSRN’s “Grinder of the Game” award, which is presented by Timmy T’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop.

She also was the server during a 15-0 run in a pivotal third set that allowed Castle to go from a 12-8 deficit to a 23-12 advantage.

“I think that I knew that I had to get us back up and I concentrated. I just fought for my team and we won the (third) set,” Kapu said. “I think that we knew that we wanted it. We had a lot of energy and then the second set we just kind of let down, but we got back up from there.”

The Knights’ championship run was also in George Ehia’s first year as the varsity head coach. He helmed the school’s White Division team a year ago.

Lum, who is committed to play for the University of Hawai’i at Hilo, talked about the improvement of the team with Ehia in charge.

“He pushes us every day at practice,” said Lum, who took a match-high 47 swings. “We run a lot, we do a lot of conditioning, we play a lot and we scrimmage, so I think we were set up for this and it just made us a whole lot better and especially for our seniors — we got nine seniors on the team — so it made us make our imprint.”

It wasn’t just the seniors getting involved for the Knights.

Junior libero Rylie Matsuda dazzled in the back row with a match-high 21 digs with four assists and an ace. Lum spoke highly of Matsuda after the match.

“She’s amazing. She’s amazing at our out-of-system setting,” Lum said of Matsuda. “She puts the ball where it needs to be and she doesn’t give the hitters a problem with messing up our footsteps and getting our approach right.”

The Governors (6-7) were led by Abelyn Toloai’s 13 kills and 11 digs in the loss.

Both Farrington and Castle, along with third-place finisher Pearl City, will represent the OIA in next week’s New City Nissan/HHSAA Division II State Championships.

The Knights swept the Govs when the teams met in the regular season back on Sept. 16 in Kaneohe.

Farrington was seeking its 11th OIA championship and first since 2015.

No. 1 Campbell completes perfect regular season with 21-13 win at No. 3 Kahuku

No. 1 Campbell completes perfect regular season with 21-13 win at No. 3 Kahuku

Oct 21, 2024

Campbell RB Brystin Sansano celebrates in the end zone after scoring one of his two rushing TDs against Kahuku. | Photo Credit: Andrew Lee

No. 1 Campbell completes perfect regular season with 21-13 win at No. 3 Kahuku

BY HSRN STAFF
PUBLISHED OCT 21, 2024

Undisputed No. 1 team in the land.

Top-ranked Campbell completed an undefeated run through the regular season after picking up a 21-13 win at No. 3 Kahuku’s Carleton E. Weimer Field Saturday night.

The Sabers’ first win at the Red Raiders’ field since 1996 saw them improve to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in OIA Open play.

Campbell boasts one of the top quarterback in the state with Cal-commit Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, but it was actually the defense that helped set the tone holding Kahuku (6-4, 3-2) to just two field goals by Manoa Kahalepuna in the first half.

The Sabers also forced two fumbles, highlighted by Braysen Cullen’s strip sack and recovery on the corner blitz.

Running back Brystin Sansano was also solid with an increased workload as he ran for 62 yards and two touchdowns on a season-high 19 carries.

Sagapolutele still was efficient with 239 yards and a TD on 18-for-25 passing. Jayden Alviar-Costa was the top target with seven receptions for 122 yards and a 33-yard scoring reception in the back of the end zone to give Campbell a 14-3 lead midway through the second quarter.

Tainoa Lave (three catches, 54 yards) and Rusten Abang-Perez (six receptions, 52 yards) were also key contributors as they had important grabs to help Campbell milk the clock after Kahuku scored on an Aiden Manutai 34-yard pass to make it a 21-13 game with 4:38 left in regulation.

St. John Bosco transfer Matai Fuiava was 12-for-27 passing for 174 yards and a TD after just joining the team earlier this week.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW LEE

Kalaheo keeps postseason hopes alive with 38-13 win over Kaimuki

Kalaheo keeps postseason hopes alive with 38-13 win over Kaimuki

Oct 21, 2024

Kalaheo keeps postseason hopes alive with 38-13 win over Kaimuki

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 21, 2024

Kalaheo kept its postseason hopes alive with a 38-13 win over Kaimuki at Farrington’s Skippa Diaz Stadium Saturday night.

The Mustangs shook off a turnover-filled first quarter and scored 31 straight points to improve to 4-3 overall and 3-3 with one game left in the regular season.

Waialua (4-4, 3-3) owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Kalaheo so the Mustangs will need a win next week at Castle and a Roosevelt win over Waialua to clinch the league’s final playoff berth.

Vance Ramolete ran for three touchdowns during the run of 31 straight points for the Mustangs and finished with a career-high 166 yards on 23 carries.

His 62-yard TD run to start the second quarter gave Kalaheo the lead for good as Ramolete earned HSRN’s “Grinder of the Game” award, which is presented by Timmy T’s Gourmet Grinders Sandwich Shop.

Nainoa Barbieto also was solid in the running game with 15 carries for 88 yards and the game’s first scoring run from 11 yards out.

Kicker Loch Moorman kicked a 22-yard field goal as time expired in the first half and was a perfect 5-for-5 on PATs while also adding a 21-yard TD run as a read-option quarterback in the second quarter.

Jeremyah Toilolo did a solid job on defense and special teams as he recorded two interceptions and the opening kickoff.

Kaimuki (0-6) tied the game on a recovered fumble in the end zone by Hilton Edward to end the first quarter and scored the final TD of the night on a Gabriel Logan 13-yard scoring pass to Zechariah Kuratsu-Cook.

No. 14 Moanalua rallies in the fourth quarter to stun ‘Aiea, 17-13

No. 14 Moanalua rallies in the fourth quarter to stun ‘Aiea, 17-13

Oct 19, 2024

Moanalua defensive back Shonn Keaunui intercepts the ball on the final play of the game to seal Na Menehune’s comeback in the fourth quarter. | PHOTO CREDIT: ANDREW LEE

No. 14 Moanalua rallies in the fourth quarter to stun ‘Aiea, 17-13

BY HSRN STAFF
PUBLISHED OCT 18, 2024

Moanalua Miracle.

Without their starting quarterback and running back, 14th-ranked Na Menehune rallied from a 13-3 deficit heading into the fourth quarter to stun visiting ‘Aiea, 17-13, Friday night in an OIA Division I matchup.

Tyler Gines-Hufana’s delivered the game-winning pass to Kyson Kealoha with 17 seconds left in regulation to give Moanalua its first lead of the game while Shonn Keaunui came down with an interception on the final play of the game to cap the comeback.

It was a much-needed win for Na Menehune, who was coming off their first loss in league play last week. They improved to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in OIA D1 play with one game left in the regular season.

SCORINGLIVE

FINAL 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q  T
Aiea (4-4-0) 0 0 13 0 13
Moanalua (7-2-0) 0 0 3 14 17

PHOTOS BY ANDREW LEE

Hawai‘i Football Spring Roster 2026

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