Football

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Latest news

Kahuku DC Sola Soliai recalls excellent adventures with late Matt Faga

By Paul Honda on August 10, 2021

The first time Sola Soliai met Matt Faga, it was two alpha dogs sizing each other up. Soliai was an assistant at Kaimuki back in 2007. Kaimuki was in the process of searching for an additional defensive line coach. “Practice starts. We’re running a drill with the D-line. Here comes this huge guy from the parking lot wearing a red shirt. I’m telling the D-line something, Matt walks on the field with his mad dog face, and I’m who the […]

Former Kaimuki Bulldog recalls transformation from player to coach under late Matt Faga

By Paul Honda on August 8, 2021

It took no time for Matt Faga to walk from the highest level of the game back to his roots. Faga died on Saturday at 39, a victim of COVID-19 complications. The football community, from Kaimuki to Kaiser to Kahuku, remains in disbelief. He was an assistant coach at Kahuku under head coach Sterling Carvalho and defensive coordinator Sola Soliai, mentoring and guiding young players with the Rebel Squad in the offseason. The former Kaimuki and Hawaii standout defensive tackle […]

DOE postponement of fall sports ends Mililani’s dream matchup with Mater Dei

By Paul Honda on August 6, 2021

There will be no Mililani showdown against national powerhouse Mater Dei. The game, scheduled for Sept. 11 at St. John Bosco’s stadium, has been called off. The DOE announced on Wednesday that all fall sports have been put on hold until Sept. 24, ending what could have been a peak experience for the Trojans. “(Coach Rod York) broke the news that we’re not going to end up going to Cali,” wide receiver Kainoa Ferreira said. “All the boys were really […]


Coaches react to OIA/DOE’s decision to postpone fall sports

By Paul Honda on August 4, 2021

Some coaches are understanding, but others are doubtful that the right decisions are being made at the best time. Coaches around the state reacted to the DOE and Oahu Interscholastic Association’s decision to postpone fall sports until Sept. 24. The league and DOE are requiring vaccination of all student-athletes in fall sports, which led one unnamed coach to question the level of fairness. “My thing is, OK, why are they making the athletes vaccinate? What about the students in the […]

OIA to postpone fall sports until late September

By Paul Honda on August 4, 2021

The Oahu Interscholastic Association is pushing the start of fall sports back to late September. The official press release is expected by 11 a.m. today, but three administrative sources confirmed the OIA will take action. All fall sports practices are cancelled until further notice. The rising rate of COVID-19 cases, spurred by the Delta variant during the pandemic, is the cause for concern. Preseason games were scheduled to begin on Friday. The OIA’s regular season was slated to start on […]

Game Changers: Hawaii’s pipeline to Bishop Gorman

By Paul Honda on August 4, 2021

LAS VEGAS — Temperatures had cooled to the 80s in sultry Las Vegas, but on this day, not so cool. The thermometer read 108 as players jogged onto the field at Bishop Gorman on Monday afternoon. It was 2:30 p.m., time for practice, Time to prep for the first game of the season against Hawaii powerhouse Saint Louis on Aug. 20. The Gaels were in stations, Bob Marley roaring through the sound system, and all was well — unless you […]

Evaluation process keeps Saint Louis staff, 100-plus players busy

By Paul Honda on August 1, 2021

Two scrimmages into preseason, the Saint Louis Crusaders got some confirmation about their core players. They also have a big question mark at a key position. Coach Ron Lee’s squad went 80 plays deep on Friday in a scrimmage with OIA powerhouse Mililani. Saturday’s matchup with Kailua was shorter, but also valuable. “We ran about 80 plays (against Mililani). Good work. Mililani is really good. They’re in midseason form. They’re very impressive. We just got through with Kailua. We didn’t […]

Talented and growing: QBs John-Keawe and Jaron Sagapolutele

By Paul Honda on July 19, 2021

The arms wars are growing in high school football. Whether they’re a part of it or benefit from the decades of development in passing talent, John-Keawe and Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele are right there at the upper echelon. John-Keawe Sagapolutele enters his junior year with Punahou, nearly two years removed from a remarkable freshman season. Jaron, who enjoyed a major growth spurt and is now taller than his older brother, is a freshman slinger at Saint Louis. While John had an opportunity […]

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