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Star-Advertiser 2024-25 Girls Basketball All-State plus All-Defense and more

By Paul Honda on March 16, 2025

Honolulu Star-Advertiser Girls Basketball All-State Fab 15 2024-25 Voting done by coaches and media Player of the Year: Nihoa Dunn, Kamehameha Coach of the Year: Pua Straight, Kamehameha Fab 15 1. Nihoa Dunn, Kamehameha, F/C, 6-1, Jr. >> She averaged 19/10 at states. 25/7 against CIF powerhouse Bishop Montgomery. Her unique role in the offense, equal parts scorer and key distributor allowed Kamehameha’s perimeter scorers to become efficient and trusted. Had Dunn played old-school ball and muscled her way to […]

Mufi Hannemann Jamboree featured stars and promising 8th grader Charlotte Galloway

By Paul Honda on February 18, 2025

Led by Pua‘ena Herrington and Serenity Tacgere, Team Indigo beat Team Burgundy, 50-39, in the final of the Mufi Hannemann Jamboree Saturday at ‘Iolani’s Father Bray Athletic Complex. Coached by Punahou’s Elyse Umeda-Korth, the team was also comprised of Makenzie Alapai (Kamehameha), Rylie Ching (Kamehameha), Shaileah Hookahi-Bannister (Konawaena), Akemi Kawamata (Mililani), Clarilynn Mauai-Silifaiva (Nanakuli), Brielle Nueku (Damien), Callie Pieper (‘Iolani), Darsee Seegmiller (Maui) and Taina Tangaro (Kamehameha). In addition to the assembly of top players from across the state, coaches […]

Pupule power rating, D-II boys basketball

By Paul Honda on February 16, 2025

I’ve been working on a formula this season and applied it to Hawaii girls basketball teams. Never posted it, though. Now while we’re waiting for the Division II boys bracket to be unveiled, I crunched some numbers and here’s what the “report card” looks like for the eight teams in the HHSAA D-II field. >> This is not a predictor of future success. >> Some teams have stronger W-L rating with weaker SOS (strength of schedule). A team with below-average […]


Nobleza sparks Moanalua in 55-21 playoff win over gritty Nanakuli

By Paul Honda on January 25, 2025

Rhea Nobleza bided her time, patiently waiting for her chance on Saturday. The senior guard pumped in 14 points, including 10 in the second quarter after sitting out the first, as Moanalua ran away with a 55-21 win over a gritty Nanakuli squad in an OIA quarterfinal-round battle Saturday night. Junior guard Shanti Castillo added 11 points, including 5-for-6 from the free-throw line, and dynamic freshman guard Alofa Simanu had three points and seven assists. Ava Atagi chipped in nine […]

No. 1 Kamehameha routs Bakersfield Christian to open Showcase

By Paul Honda on January 9, 2025

All they wanted was a chance to fill a void in the schedule. Kamehameha, ‘Iolani and Punahou are getting all they wanted and more. No. 1-ranked Kamehameha opened the inaugural Honolulu Hoops Showcase with a 65-34 win over Bakersfield Christian (Calif.) on Thursday at ‘Iolani. Center Nihoa Dunn dominated with 18 points on 9-for-12 shooting from the field. The 6-foot-1 junior also hauled down 10 rebounds. Makenzie Alapai added 14 points on 5-for-7 field-goal shooting. Ruby Yanagi had 11 points, […]

No. 5 Hanalani is on a historic hoops run with Ellana Klemp and friends

By Paul Honda on January 3, 2025

Some bonus material from this week’s prep feature story on Hanalani senior Ellana Klemp. This is the stuff that we didn’t have space for from the story and her Q&A. * * * Q&A Ellana Klemp Hanalani basketball Sr. Did you know? >> All three Klemp siblings are Hanalani student-athletes. Her older brother Jackson (class of 2023) ran cross country and younger brother Trevor (2026) plays basketball. >> Ellana’s first name is pronounced el-LANE-ah. Top 3 movies/shows 1. “The Notebook” […]

White’s clutch shot forces OT, Punahou stuns Gonzaga Prep, 63-61

By Paul Honda on December 29, 2024

A thriller in Hemmeter Fieldhouse left Gonzaga Prep (Spokane, Wash.) stunned in the semifinal round of the Punahou Invitational. Zion White clutched up with a game-tying 17-foot jumper at the buzzer to force overtime, and No. 3-ranked Punahou edged Gonzaga Prep, 63-61, in the semifinal round of the Punahou Invitational. White has played through a thumb injury he suffered during football season. “I practice that shot so I pulled it. I wasn’t surprised at all,” said White, a 6-foot-5 sophomore. […]

No. 3 Maryknoll roars to huge lead, hangs on to edge King’s High, 62-52

By Paul Honda on December 26, 2024

Junior guard Pua‘ena Herrington scored all 27 points in the first three quarters and No. 3-ranked Maryknoll saw its 23-point lead melt down to eight in the final minute for a 62-52 win over King’s High (Seattle, Wash.) on Thursday night at the HBA Invitational. Senior point guard Hailey Perez tallied 12 points, including two key free throws with 49 seconds left after the Knights had cut a 60-37 deficit to 60-52. Skylyn Moore added 11 points and four steals. […]