Football

Latest news

Latest news

Safe Sports 808: Resolution to bring sports back to Oahu marches forward

By Paul Honda on January 12, 2021

They called Chad Owens a superhero of sorts back in the day. The former Hawaii and pro football player was “Mighty Mouse” back then as he dominated competition on the turf at Aloha Stadium. Now, he’s an activist on behalf of high school student-athletes. Owens announced the establishment of “Safe Sports 808” on Tuesday afternoon. This comes just days after the former Hawaii standout gave his full support to son Chad Owens Jr., a Moanalua football player who began a […]

Long debate ends with KIF cancelling fall, winter sports

By Paul Honda on January 12, 2021

After roughly a week of deliberation, the Kauai Interscholastic Federation has cancelled postponed fall and winter sports. Despite having the lowest COVID-19 case numbers in the state, administrators opted to follow the rest of the leagues in continuing to keep high school sports closed until spring season. The KIF went nearly a week after beginning talks amongst athletic directors and principals. Other public-school dominant leagues — the Oahu Interscholastic Association, Maui Interscholastic League and Big Island Interscholastic Federation — needed […]

Hope for prep sports? Tupola, Blangiardi on tiers and flexibility

By Paul Honda on January 9, 2021

Diligence and persistence matter in high school sports, COVID-19 pandemic era. While Hawaii maintains some of the lowest rates and numbers in the nation, the state’s high school student-athletes and the communities that support them are bearing the brunt of complete cancellations. State restrictions and a City and County of Honolulu tier format — both are factors according to Oahu Interscholastic Association Executive Director Raymond Fujino — continue to draw large-scale discussion across the islands. Fujino declined to comment on […]


Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, Wynden Ho‘ohuli, Peter Manuma in Pylon All-American games

By Paul Honda on January 8, 2021

A week of heartbreak ends with a weekend in the home of America’s Team. Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, Peter Manuma and Wynden Ho‘ohuli will play in the Pylon All-American games on Sunday in AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The three Hawaii players — Mokiao-Atimalala and Manuma of Campbell, and Ho‘ohuli of Mililani — have a workout with the Stars squad on Saturday. Game day is Sunday. “This is for the 808,” said Mokiao-Atimalala, a Star-Advertiser All-State wide receiver last year. […]

Coaches, players reeling after BIIF principals ax fall, winter sports

By Paul Honda on January 8, 2021

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation made it official on Thursday as principals voted to cancel fall and winter sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league’s athletic directors had voted to cancel two days earlier as case numbers increased after the holiday season. The BIIF followed in line with the Oahu Interscholastic Association and Maui Interscholastic League. “This hurts my heart,” said Konawaena girls basketball coach Bobbie Awa, who has guided the Wildcats to nine Division I state crowns. Several […]

Max Holloway to Hawaii’s athletes: ‘Stay strong, be the author of your path’

By Paul Honda on January 7, 2021

Several time zones away, preparing for a huge UFC showdown, Max Holloway thought about Hawaii’s high school student-athletes. As the UFC’s No. 1 contender in the featherweight class, Holloway is prepping for a battle with No. 6 Calvin Kattar next week. Before Holloway departed from his training grounds in Las Vegas, he shared his thoughts about the young athletes whose fall and winter sports seasons have been cancelled by leagues across the state due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Stay positive, […]

Chad Owens Jr. starts petition drive to save prep sports season

By Paul Honda on January 7, 2021

Chad Owens Jr. is optimistic even in the face of certain impossibility. The cancellation of football season has only optimized his motor. “We still have eight weeks until the season should’ve started,” the Moanalua senior quarterback said. “They pulled the trigger too quickly.” When the Owens ohana moved home, Chad Jr. embraced the move 100 percent. The son of former Roosevelt, Hawaii and CFL great Chad Owens Sr. was ready for a new chapter. Even as a senior, having to […]

BIIF ADs vote to cancel fall, winter sports

By Paul Honda on January 5, 2021

Falling in line with the public-school Oahu Interscholastic Association, athletic directors in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation voted on Tuesday to cancel fall and winter sports. The BIIF, comprised mostly of public schools, will take the athletic directors’ recommendation to a principals’ vote on Wednesday — which is almost always a mere formality. That means no air riflery, basketball, bowling, competitive cheer, cross country, paddling, soccer, swimming and diving, and wrestling. In addition, previously postponed sports that were originally pushed […]

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