HALL PASS: Kaiser’s Kristen O’Handley

Kristin O’Handley was a force in track and field throughout her career. Bruce Asato / Star-Advertiser

Over the next 24 hours, Hawaii Prep World and the Star-Advertiser will release 12 small features on the 2017 inductees into the Hall of Honor ahead of Sunday’s ceremony.

The orders keep coming, and business is cranking at Sophie’s Gourmet Hawaiian Pizzeria. Kristen O’Handley, scholar-athlete and part-time employee, doesn’t consider herself an expert on business or pizza, but she understands the underpinnings of success.

Long before pulling off a rare feat — winning gold in the high jump, 100-, 200- and 400-meter sprints at the 2017 Island Movers/HHSAA State Track and Field Championships — O’Handley was part of a small, but powerful quintet at Kaiser that had already won the state crown in 2015. The Lady Cougars knocked on the title door in ’16, coming up just short to Hawaii Prep.


Kristen O’Handley is the fifth Kaiser girl inducted into the Hall of Honor. Cindy Ellen Russell / Star-Advertiser

There was no slacking in the offseason. The hours of weight training and running added up, and O’Handley’s lanky frame became more and more muscular. Explosive. Dominant.

This spring, the opportunity was there again. The Cougars came within a few points of taking the title, but fell just short as Seabury Hall’s distance runners pulled out a narrow victory. O’Handley was gracious in defeat, but equally proud of her team.

In an era of specialization and power in numbers, she and her teammates trained year-round to gain the power and endurance necessary to challenge the best foes on humid, soggy nights like the ones in Keaau during states.


Her time in the 100 would have eclipsed the existing state mark easily, but the wind gauge was measured at 2.2 — just above the cutoff point of 2.0. Her senior-year peak performance came off of a junior season with gold in the 100, silver in the 200 and 400, and sixth place in the high jump. As a sophomore, she was part of the 4×400 relay team that took first place, and also placed second in the 4×100 relay.

O’Handley matched seven other girls by winning the 100, 200 and 400, the last one being Hall of Honor member Alyssa Bettendorf of Seabury Hall in 2014. O’Handley also won the high jump, no girl has ever won those four events in the same meet before. The last four girls to sweep the sprint events are all in the Hall of Honor.


O’Handley is Kaiser’s first member of the Hall of Honor since Ashley Swart in 2002 and fifth overall.

O’Handley, who graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average, will remain busy as a shift supervisor at Sophie’s before leaving to run at Portland State next season.

Robynn Bicoy, 1984 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Adrian Murrell, Leilehua, 1989 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Agenhart Ellis, Kamehameha, 1991 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Kamuela Borden, Iolani, 2015 (Photo by Jay Metzger / Special to the Star-Advertiser
Gabbie Ewing, Hawaii Prep, 2015 (Jamm Aquino/Star-Advertiser)
Lena Hayakawa, Mid-Pacific, 2015 (Jay Metzger / Special to the Star-Advertiser)
Sabrina Hollins, Waipahu, 2015 (Cindy Ellen Russell)
BJ Hosaka, Hawaii Baptist, 2015 (Bruce Asato)
Ian Kahaloa, Campbell, 2015 (Craig Kojima)
Kanoa Kaleoaloha, Kamehameha, 2015 (Jay Metzger / Special to the Star-Advertiser)
Kawika Lam, Punahou, 2015 (Jay Metzger / Special to the Star-Advertiser
Sarah Lau, Kamehameha, 2015 (Craig Kojima)
Micah Ma'a, Punahou, 2015 (Cindy Ellen Russell)
Kanawai Noa, Punahou, 2015 (Dennis Oda)
Tiyana Hallums, Kamehameha, 2015 (Cindy Ellen Russell)
Teshya Alo, Kamehameha, 2016
Emalia Eichelberger, Punahou, 2016
Mariel Galdiano, Punahou, 2016
La'akea Kaho'ohanohano-Davis, Baldwin, 2016
Kaeo Kruse, Kamehameha, 2016
'Aukai Lileikis, Punahou, 2016
Vavae Malepeai, Mililani, 2016
Lalelei Mata'afa, Lahainaluna, 2016
Austin Matautia, Moanalua, 2016
Chanelle Molina, Konawena, 2016
Shandon Hopeau, Kapolei, 2016
Emma Taylor, Hawaii Prep, 2016
Kayla Afoa, Kamehameha, 2017 (Cindy Ellen Russell / Star-Advertiser)
Jocelyn Alo, Campbell and Kahuku, 2017 (Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
Lia Foster, Punahou, 2017 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Hugh Hogland, Iolani, 2017 (Photo by Cindy Ellen Russell / Star-Advertiser)
Kekaula Kaniho, Kahuku, 2017 (Photo by Cindy Ellen Russell / Star-Advertiser)
Kesi Ah Hoy, Kahuku, 2017 (Photo by Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
Celena Molina, Konawaena, 2017 (Photo by Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
Kristen O'Handley, Kaiser, 2017 (Photo by Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
K.J. Pascua, Iolani, 2017 (Photo by Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
Ava Shipman, Seabury Hall, 2017, (photo by Barry Frankel / Special to the Star-Advertiser)
Tua Tagovailoa, Saint Louis, 2017 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Dane Yamashiro, Iolani, 2017 (Photo by Craig Kojima / Star-Advertiser)
Saydee Aganus, Kamehameha-Hawaii
Teniya Alo, Hawaii Technology Academy
Corey Cabanban, Saint Louis
Andre Ilagan, Farrington
Teagan Keep, Kauai
Gwen Maeha, Leilehua
Cherilyn Molina, Konawaena
Taysia Pimentel, Seabury Hall (right)
Mikayla Tablit, Konawaena
Ally Wada, Hawaii Baptist
Ryan Wilcox, Punahou
Veronica Winham, Seabury Hall
Alohi Robins-Hardy, Kamehameha, 2013 (Photo by Craig T. Kojima / Star-Advertiser)
Alyssa Tobita, Mililani, 2014 (Photo by Michael Darden / Special to the Star-Advertiser)
Amosa Amosa, Campbell, 1984 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Ana Vidinha, Punahou, 1992 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Ashley Ruff, Kamehameha, 2002. (Star-Advertiser photo)
Bern Brostek, 'Iolani, 1985 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Brandon Brooks, Punahou, 1999 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Breland Almadova, 'Iolani, 2009 (Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
Brendyn Agbayani, Saint Louis, 1993 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Brian Norwood, Radford, 1983 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Bryan Clay, Castle, 1998 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Byron Beatty, Kahuku, 1987 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Carl Fraticelli, Kalaheo, 1984 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Carly Kan, Punahou, 2013 (Photo by Cindy Ellen Russell / Star-Advertiser)
Casey Flores, Konawaena, 1996 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Courtney Kessell, Kailua, 2005 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Dakota Grossman, Seabury Hall, 2014 (Photo by Bruce Asato / Star-Advertiser)
Debbie Lambert, Punahou, 1994 (Star-Advertiser photo)
DeForest Buckner, Punahou, 2012 (Photo by Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
Derrick Low, 'Iolani, 2004 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Endia Abrante, Kaiser, 1998 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Eri Macdonald, Punahou, 1999 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Erin Stovall, Iolani, 1997 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Fiona Nepo, McKinley, 1995 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Gerald Welch, Saint Louis, 2000 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Glenn Freitas, Waianae, 1992 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Hoku Nohara, Kamehameha, 2007 (Photo by Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
Jacob Edwards, Kau, 2010 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Jarrett Arakawa, 'Iolani, 2009 (Photo by Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
Jasmine Mau, Punahou, 2014 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Harrison "Jeeter" Ishida, Punahou, 2008 (Photo by Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
Jodi Jackson, Punahou, 1995 (Craig T. Kojima / Star-Advertiser)
Joe Igber, 'Iolani, 1999 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Joel Lane, Saint Louis, 1993 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Joelynn Naki, Baldwin, 1993 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Joey Bunch, Radford, 1983 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Jonathan Spiker, Saint Louis, 2003 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Joshua Terao, Mid-Pac, 2014 (Photo by Cindy Ellen Russell / Star-Advertiser)
K. Mark Takai, Pearl City, 1985 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Kanani Herring, Kamehameha, 2008 (Photo by Cindy Ellen Russell / Star-Advertiser)
Kawehena Johnson, Kahuku, 2013 (Photo by Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
Kawika Shoji, 'Iolani, 2006 (George F. Lee / Star-Advertiser)
Kealoha Pilares, Damien, 2006 (Photo by Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
Keelan Ewailiko, Baldwin, 2013 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Keiko Price, Mililani, 1996 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Kekoa Kaluhiokalani, Waianae, 1990 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Kena Heffernan, Punahou, 1992 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Keoni Ruth, Kamehameha, 2003 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Kirk Uejio, 'Iolani, 1998 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Kolten Wong. Kamehameha-Hawaii, 2008 (Photo by Bruce N. Omori / Special to the Star-Advertiser)
Kyle Pape, 'Iolani, 2005 (Photo by Cindy Ellen Russell / Star-Advertiser)
Larry Khan-Smith, Campbell, 1986 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Larry Tuileta, Punahou, 2014 (Photo by Bruce Asato / Star-Advertiser)
Lauran Dignam, 'Iolani, 2002 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Lia Galdeira, Konawaena, 2012 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Lauren Ho, HBA, 2006 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Maile Golden, Waimea, 1988 (SB Photo)
Manti Te'o, Punahou, 2009 (Photo by Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)
Marcus Mariota, Saint Louis, 2011 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Matt Bell, Farrington, 2004 (Photo by George F. Lee / Star-Advertiser)
Matt Stevens, Hawaii Baptist, 1997 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Miah Ostrowski, Punahou, 2007 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Micah Christenson, Kamehameha, 2011 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Mysha Sataraka, Punahou, 2012 (Photo by Cindy Ellen Russell / Star-Advertiser)
Nancy Hoist, Konawaena, 2004 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Natasha Kai, Kahuku , 2001 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Pam Nihipali, Kahuku, 1983 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Pomai Kapule, Kailua, 1997 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Richard Torres, Kahuku, 2007 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Robynn Bicoy, 1984 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Sarah Palmer, HBA, 2010 (Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Stewart Chong, Punahou, 1993 (Star-Advertiser file)
Tamari Miyashiro, Kalani, 2005 (Photo by George F. Lee / Star-Advertiser)
Tani Costa, Kalani, 2009 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Tino Sellitto, Pac-Five, 1983 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Tita Ahuna, Kamehameha, 1984 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Tuli Peters, Kahuku, 2003 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Vera Simms, Mililani, 2000 (Photo by Dennis Oda / Star-Advertiser)
Billy Pieper, Kamehameha, 1996 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Yoshi Honda, Radford, 1983 (Star-Advertiser photo)
Zhane Santiago, Kahuku, 2011 (Photo by Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser)

Hall of Honor Members

COMMENTS (1)

  1. Mahatma Gandhi June 3, 2017 6:42 pm

    a honor well deserved.


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