Former Damien football player and wrestler Keoua Kauhi has filed a civil action against Blane Gaison and the ILH challenging the league’s transfer rule.
Kauhi, who led the Monarchs with 914 rushing yards and five touchdowns last year, transferred to Saint Louis in March and applied for an exemption of the ILH’s transfer rule but was denied because of “a standing league and state policy regarding transfer students,” according to the lawsuit obtained by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Kauhi claims that the Damien coaching staff had an issue with him and some teammates participating in trips sponsored by the Hawaii Athletes in Action Foundation, and one of those trips led to the group being punished in front of the rest of the team for participating.
The filing claims that the situation devolved into verbal abuse including at least one racial slur by the Damien head coach that resulted in Kauhi suffering from anxiety, stress and depression. The filing claims that attempts to resolve the situation with the school were ignored.
Kauhi, who lives in Kaneohe and had been enrolled at Damien since seventh grade, is currently ineligible to participate in ILH sports. The filing asks for the right to play football and wrestle at Saint Louis in his senior year so as to not hurt his college prospects. Kauhi claims that he has drawn ‘definite interest’ from seven different college football programs, including Utah, Idaho State and UNLV.
Civil case No. 18-1-1064-07 asks for an exemption of the transfer rule because of the following:
“The ILH’s applicable rules on their face are impermissibly vague, ambiguous and overbroad in violation of provisions of article I of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and and the fifth and fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution.”
The Monarchs have won the last three ILH Division II championships.
Let the kids play!!!! How many times we gotta say this!
I feel for Keoua, although I am not aware to both sides of the issue. I do know he is a great student, athlete and young man. These ILH rules are tough. And it is sad that it affects the kids. I think there should be no rules on transferring in ILH or the OIA. Thats just my opinion. After all, there are many OIA athletes that participate outside of their district. And also there are some in the ILH that transfer to OIA with no one year suspension to play. ILH to ILH is the only league that has this rule, that hurts the kids chance of playing a sport that they love. Something has to change for our kids sake. Like I said before its just my opinion.
This been going on at Damien for years! Finally somebody is standing up and fighting for what’s RIGHT for the KIDS… I can understand if he just decided to transfer but u see the circumstances and all the evidence, for Blaine Gaison to deny the request is unbelievable… he must have somehow overlooked all the facts when he reviewed the request for the transfer because I can’t possibly understand how a committee that stresses so much about the well being and success of the kids can overlook all the facts and evidence submitted! SHAME ON YOU BLAINE GAISON! RIGHT IS RIGHT AND WRONG IS WRONG! If this kid was transferring to be part of the St. Louis band, I pretty sure his request would’ve got accepted… but for football??! HMMMMMM!! Let’s not forget, this is for the KIDS…
I feel for this kid, but rules are in place for a reason. So that teams such as St Louis can’t just go and grab good kids from other schools to have them play for them. Question, why didn’t he transfer to Castle, since he lives in kaneohe? why did he choose to transfer to one of the best Football school’s in the state?
Like I said before, I feel for him, but maybe we ought to take a look at the Damien staff who belittled this kid and group of kids infront of the rest of the team, needs to be looked at more closely. There in lies the problem. Why punish this kid, they should have had them benched and worked their way to playing time. I understand about making an example out of the kid. I’ve heard that other schools have strict policies on being present for preseason workouts, prior to the season. I know of a family at anohter ILH school that had made plans for their son to travel to the mainland to play basketball for his club team, but had to cancel and get their money back due to the mandatory practice policy for their school’s football team. So it’s a matter of sacrificing going on a trips for the sake of your team and being a member of that team. Just because you’re a returnee and the starting running back for the team, doesn’t make you above the team. We all have decisions to make, and he made a decision to go on the trip. But where is his committment to the team?
Either follow the rule 100% (within its parameters) or completely get rid of it.
I’m sure in past years other kids had justifiable reasons to transfer, had to sit out and possibly lose collegiate opportunities. Where would the fairness be to those kids?
I’d like to see the rule removed, but then we would see a lot of crying and finger pointing.
Blaine Garson should be done with!!! When my son got ejected for a fight for two games where clearly everyone in the stadium saw he didn’t start or even throw a punch. Blaine said St. Louis dumb A.D filled out the protest wrong. In my eyes it’s his job to review the actions regardless of any improper filings. Only the kids suffer in the end.
He transferred to St Louis because of the top notch education. Nothing to do with football.
Coach K… on the real… u pay for a catholic school education for 5 years and ur kid is goin thru this day in and day out… to bring him to Castle (his home school) for something he had no control over is ridiculous… the kids get penalized but the coaches keep on trucking like nothing happens! C’mon… maybe the main focus shouldn’t be on the transfer rules for the student athletes but on the numerous coaches that jump from team to team every year! Do they have to sit out a year????? Let’s take a serious look at that!!!!
If he wants to last years ship team that’s fine, he may be sorely disappointed after this upcoming season though (wink, wink).
Chehoo.
Just let St.Louis take the best and to squat with any rules. This is not the first “one year”senior to play for STl. Iosepa from Waipahu and Herbig from Kauai did it. How can other schools compete when their best gets recruited away. Now ALL high schools gotta check their back to make sure chicken hawks are not prowling.
Damn right, Coach C! St Louis has been stealing talent from other schools for too long now. Them and Cal Lee have destroyed the competive balance of Hawaii state high school football. I remember the Prep Bowl blowouts from 1986 to 2000. I doubt the Damien player reached out to St Louis. I’m sure St Louis reached out to him and coached on what to say to the ILH admin.
Funny how everyone is overlooking the fact of the reason for transfer… at the bottom of the article the documents can be read.. I’m all for the rules, but in this case (after reading deep into it), it’s clear as day…. let’s take a look at this situation NOT AS FOOTBALL FANS but as parents and mentors (since I see a lot of coaches on here)…. BTW… tell me when teams like Kaiser, Mililani, Kapolei had talent like it has now??? I know at least 7 kids that aren’t even from that district… stop pointing the fingers at St. Louis… all you other coaches know dam well you trying to build teams to try beat them! IF THIS WAS MY KID, I sue the shit outta the ILH AND THE SCHOOL!!
I think this is simple…. do an investigation into what exactly happened. This isn’t about football. This is about a kid and his family that approached the powers that be at Damien and guess what? No one believed them. Shocker coming from a catholic institution. Good luck to this family for standing up for what’s right.
It’s funny he just so happen to end up at St.Louis lol but there’s two sides to it’s story don’t jump to conclusions because it’s he’s version.
If there is other players also been punished or verbally abuse then he may have a case but the coaches needs to say their side also.
Also why only St.Louis why not the public school district he lives in college scouts will still look at him?
Birdman, maybe every school does recruit athletes . Even OIA. But not to the point that they destroy the competitive balance. As is the case with St Lulu.
At the end of the day parents do what’s best for their child. May it be private schools or public it’s their decision. Let the kids transfer with out penalty the end goal is COLLEGE. If it gets them one step closer why not
Mahatma I agree… I not for any teams recruiting and I’m not a fan of St Louis but I train young athletes so my opinions is based solely upon reading the facts… I’m basing my comments with the best interest of the athletes in mind. In this case, it doesn’t look like anything to do with recruiting. On the other hand, the topic that really interests me is why is this rule in place for the student athletes but not for coaches who jump from team to team? Example… I seen Nate Iloa on tv at Moanalua, then at Kahuku and now heard he’s gonna be at Punahou??? Like I said, not bucking anyone but I am interested to see what comments I get about coaches jumping ship.. is the teams recruiting coaches or are the coaches goin where the talent is superior??
We seen this topic time and time again! Just let the kids be kids and play sports. Look at the OIA they lifted the transfer ruling and now the kids can be kids and go play athletics where ever they wish. Well
With this merger being done, what’s good for one is good for all? Why discriminate against the kids in the ILH? Their families work hard to provide them
With a private school education, thus they should be able to play where they wish too as well. Come on let’s face it high school is only one time in our lives as kids! And in this case the kid was forced to leave damien cause of the head coachs actions and being he was an admin made it worse. So childish…BLAINE GAISON do what’s right and give the kids what they deserve! The right to PLAY!!
Very unfortunate. From reading the situation, from his point of view I don’t blame him from transferring.
But it leads to me to ask “Why St. Louis?”
In line 24 in the lawsuit it says “Plaintiff parents had no choice but to enroll their son in St. Louis School”
I’m assuming it’s for Catholic religious purposes and football.
But if the rule was always “in placed” why did you think it was going to change?
Said he lives in Kaneohe. Why not go to Castle, Kailua or even 30 minutes up north at Kahuku and not have to sit out an year.
But best of luck to the young man
Seriously guys St. Louis does not need to recruit from Damien. Poor kid suffers from all those illnesses like anxiety and depression but yet plays football and does all the regular things fine! Like really??? Is this a publicity stunt?? Why not go Directly to Damien staff Athletic Director, etc and demand some answers!!! Why go to Saint Louis knowing the rules and make a civil suit??? A lot of kids sit out and obey the rule!!!! Stop acting like it’s only this kid!! Learn to follow the rule!!! He needs to go to his home public school in his area!!!
That’s what happens when Keoua Sr. can’t suck up his pride and want to make an issue out of nothing really so his son can finish his last year playing for Saint Louis. RULES ARE RULES! You can’t expect your child to learn from his coaching staff if you won’t obey them. It has nothing to do with either school and their decisions. It is the ruling from ILH and rules have been in place for years. For the Kauhi’s to file a civil lawsuit is a complete joke. Extra drills is not punishment, get it right! It was not belittling at all. Don’t speak on the subject if you weren’t there to see it for yourself.
This lawsuit is ridiculous in it’s scope and naming of defendants. If everything contained in the lawsuit is true, then I understand the player and his family’s frustration. However, it is not the ILH, and Coach Gaison, that they need to sue. It is Damien Memorial HS and the football program there.
While it’s unfortunate that this player may not be able to play football during his senior year, the rule that they are trying to nullify has been standing for many years and is definitely not vague nor ambiguous. It’s plain and simple. If you transfer into the ILH or within the ILH, you are not eligible to play in a sport that you participated in during the year prior. Anyone that knows Coach Gaison, also knows that his decisions are not arbritrary, nor are they capricious, nor discriminatory.
The anxiety, stress, and depression that the player has suffered, according to the lawsuit, is not as a result of not being able to play football this year. It’s because of the bullying that he and his teammates have been allegedly submitted to from the coaching staff at Damien. And if it’s also true that the school did nothing in the past 3 years but let go of a single assistant coach when he swore at the kids in the intial complaint, then they are also at fault.
The player and his family should sue Damien, not the ILH. That may not get his senior eligibility back, but at least the rightful defendants would be made to answer for their wrongdoings.
Everyone saying just go castle is an idiot. The kid has a future in sports, so why wouldn’t he go to a school that has a premier football program. STL > Castle in everything from academics to athletics.
It’s HS sports let the damn kids play. ITS NOT THAT SERIOUS. Nobody cares about Kahuku going and recruiting from Tonga and Samoa. Or Punahou doing the same and using their Poly Scholarship. People only complain when it’s STL.
If you’re mad STL is good, be proactive, and find a way keep your kids in the district. Get better coaches and take care of them. Also find a way to fix that failing public school education system so you can keep kids and parents will want to send their kids to public schools. If it wasn’t for private school I would have been a dropout.
You guys who say “let the kids play”, and “I feel for the kids” are crazy. No you cannot let this kid play regardless. He can play for his home PUBLIC SCHOOL if he choses. Is it a coincidence that he chose St.Louis? I’m sure there was some recruiting done on both sides. Nonetheless, the rule cannot be broken under any circumstance or all hell is going to break loose. Everybody knows that. All the studs at St.Francis/Damien/Pac-5 and others will be transferring into St.Louis their Sr year just for football. Because “definite interest” can’t be measured, there is really no argument to most of us. Go back to public school, save some money, get a good education and compete hard in football and wrestling. You should have transferred at least 2 years ago if you really wanted to be a crusader!@#$%^&*
Kahuku was 2 minutes away from winning the Open championship if not for the pass that sealed it for St. Louis. Punahou, Kahuku, and yes St. Louis have won championships. But a rule is a rule, and its not a new rule. Its been around for years. Parents and the athlete should have known about it. Lets see if St Louis still offers him an education if he cant play sports.
no sympathy for this dude, he broke team rules, got punished for it and now wants to transfer to another school without penalty and blaming the transfer rules from him playing. who is your attorney, he is nuts. you will lose the suit. you cannot blames others for your mistake.
i Pulled my kid out of Damien for this exact reason… team rules was not set in place and the blessings was given before this trip.. because numbers fell short at pass league, things turned bitter due to a lot of kids on this trip was starters. Aiea7 lol. You have no idea what you are talking about and obviously you must be a supporter of the Damien coaching staff because your comments are just a foolish as the remarks the coaches was giving… BTW, there is a video that my cousin had seen about the coaches acting disorderly and violently to parents so when the dust settles, and the evidence gets presented I hope you not betting on the case being a loss lol. Coaches need to take responsibility of their actions and be held accountable.
He wants to follow his QB from Damien to STL to win a state title 😂
If kids have to sit out one year; coaches, teachers and principals should sit out one year when they transfer too. 😂😂 Let the kids play…
the player made a decision, now he has to live with the repurcussions! Im pretty sure its the parents who are assuming the responsibility to go civil action? Save the St.Louis recruiting line! when your program success spands decades.kids beg mommy n daddy to go there! Reality! Parents want the best for thier kid , the best team, the best oppurtunity, and will do anything to obtain it!
Couple years ago here was a kid by the name of Jacob Smotherman… QB at Iolani, left to transfer to St.Francis his senior year due to similar circumstances. His request was initially denied and then got granted elegibility… flew under the radar why??? Is it ok if this kid transferred to St. Francis? Is everybody crying because he transferring to St. Louis? But small minds is only thinking about sports. Lol. Look at the lawsuit… then put urselves into the parents shoes and think of what if this was your kid. I looked up Mr. Kauhi and found out that he is an alumni of Damien which is probably why he brought his son there. After researching even deeper, I seen that Mr. Kauhi’s Dad is an alumni of St. Louis which leads me to believe that if his son wasn’t being treated fairly over 2-3 years then he decided to put him in a school that he can graduate from that has meaning to him and his family. Just my opinion and a little research of facts. But Blaine Gaison, how can you let a kid transfer under special circumstances in the past and then lock the doors now?? Especially with the evidence presented! It’s obvious the ILH turned a blind eye and was more concerned about opening the flood gates then protecting a child.
The drills is the least of the worries Mr. eat some humble pie. Players abide by rules, but don’t forget that coaches do too. Mr.Kauihi is being targeted in your response but there’s many of us willing to stand up. Flood gates are opened and no one is going to be quiet and bullied any more.
Good. Let the courts sort it out. No ambiguity, no loopholes. Let’s have a black-and-white rule that we all can live with.
Jacob Smotherman.. QB from Iolani transferred to St.Francis his senior year under special circumstances similar to this.. harassment and bullying. He was granted an opportunity to play. Past precedents on bullying and harassment has been set. Now I’m interested to see what Blaine Gaison and the ILH has to say. Facts.. look it up. Is this rule in place for just St.Louis or all schools? Like I said, not a fan of St.Louis.. just a concerned mentor and trainer of young athletes that’s searching for clarity as well.
First of all if this kid is on the St Louis field practicing with them, the Crusaders should be reprimanded. They should be telling this kid he can’t play for them because that’s the rules. It seems like the Crusaders are giving this kid some hope of being on the team. It seems like the Crusaders are challenging the ILH too. These rules were established to keep the playing field level. I know of a school where this kid with his anxiety issues can attend and play this year in the ILH. He can attend Assets School and not sit out this year. He can play for Pac-5 because Assets is a special needs school.
Let’s see Aina retires after all these years and now this comes out of left field, coincidence? I think not….I’ve heard lots of stories so I can’t wait to see what comes out of this. When this is all said and done don’t be surprised of the outcome…..
First, I feel for the player. He is a very good back. I hope things work out for him. From the perspective of the coaching staff, I think they probably informed the players involved that they were not to travel with another program. Some of the ILH sports programs will not allow players to play with club or travel teams outside the school. I am not sure what the punishment was in front of the team, but I know players who have to run or complete other forms of punishment, so I’d like to know what the punishment was.
Finally, I think many ILH and OIA teams recruit. I have seen it first hand. The key is for the player to do it within the rules. The QB that will be starting at St Louis this year was at Damien and was an exceptional talent. He left for St Louis in 10th grade, sat our a year, and will now become another St Louis QB star. He did it within the rules, so nobody can say anything. The rules are in place.
3rdbaseCoach is so accurate re SLS. well said!!!!!
Wow, a scandalous article about a local high school involving coaches and players and it’s not Kamehameha.
David and Goliath. Go David! I usually pick the underdogs! Unless we’re the big dogs!🤙🏼
This was the only way to salvage Keoua’s senior season? Going and sorting this out with Eddie and Lefa wasn’t an option? Especially after the way you behaved after the Hilo game?
Playing time? we talking about playing time folks. For goodness sakes, 86 yards away from being a 1000 yard rusher!
The grass isnt always greener bro and to be completely honest I think he was in the right division to flourish. Open is no joke. As a matter of fact, you might be hurting his chances.
Let the chips fall where they may, but know this, a light will shine upon things that may need to be fixed at Damien but it will also show the history of your behavior as a parent during the course of your sons time at Damien.
#FallenMonarch
#96CardRevoked
Birdman-
Wow, just totally out my man Nate on HPW. Mean da dope.
This sounds like a UFC post! I bet most of you go to church! But how many actually listen? Well listen to yourselves now! Shame! It is what it is just let it be. You’re not changing anything by making the fire hotter than it already is! Go in peace my children! Amen!
Boohooo to you Kitty94, rules are rules. If you took your kid out, nobody cares about your sob stories. Parents should accept any type of Disciplinary by your coaches to mold them into respectful men. How do you expect your child to be successful and move up to play college ball when you can’t accept your kid being bumped from starting for missing a practice because your parents decided to be irresponsible and drink all night? This is not pop warner where you need to baby the kids. Suck it up and be responsible parents next time! Should videos of his parents be sent for evidence of them partying all night causing Keoua to miss practice?
@CoachC First of all, Jordan Iosefa and Nate Herbig were NOT “one year seniors”. Jordan was a student there in middle school and left for Waipahu when tuition was raised. He came back in his junior year when HIS PARENTS decided it was time for him to go back to Saint Louis, and sitting out for that year in compliance to the rules. He only played his senior year because he complied. That same year Nate Herbig transferred from Kauai AS A JUNIOR and played AS A JUNIOR. I believe that makes him a TWO YEAR player, not one. He was eligible to play immediately upon transfer. I would know. I was a student there at the time.
I’m sure his parents not only want to give him the necessary exposure for those colleges that he’s received offers from, but also to continue the Catholic education he’s been receiving at Damien at Saint Louis to get away from the alleged verbal abuse from his former Damien coaches. Sure, Saint Francis could’ve also been an option, but with the reputation Saint Louis football has above Saint Francis along with my point about their son’s Catholic education, the recruiting line can’t be used here. Especially when his parents made the decision for him to go there, along with their son’s personal preference. It’s a quality school with a quality education that just so happens to have a historically successful football program. Yes the tuition ($16,000+) is higher than Damien’s ($12,000+) but it’s still lower than Punahou’s ($22,000+).
It’s hilarious how STL alumni say STL is an awesome educational opportunity for kids but you never hear of a 4.0 GPA kid with NO football talent being recruited from another football team. Cal Lee needs to retire so the real STL & all alumni cry again why can’t we beat Punahou &. Kahuku😢
I’m sure everyone who played any sport got their ass chewed out before.
“17. Coach tells him to figure this shit out yourself you should know this by now.”
To the parent of the child, are you going to tell his college coach that he’s bullying your son too?
You don’t think Nick Saban and all these top coaches would say the same thing to their player if they were 3/4 through a season and it was taught from Day 1. If you wanted to leave because of what was said these college coaches would sign that release form with no problem and you have to SIT OUT A YEAR.
16. Coach said you would never be good at football.
If the coach said that then WTF would the HC,OC,and RB coach start him from day 1 and have him rush for almost 1k yards last season?
Not to mention he was a ILH D2 first team RB.
That’s some bs excuse the parent is tryna make lol.
18. OC and RB coach continued to harass him
Funny because as a spectator I seen multiple times when his coaches approached him during the game he yelled at them which caused him to sit out for a bit to DISCIPLINE him for his actions.
You call that harassing ?
I’m sure everyone saw in the National Championship game when that player yelled and tried to attack him coach.Guess what he didn’t play the rest of the game lol and guess what he ain’t with Bama anymore.
I think some parents these days should stop babying their kids.All these coaches in HS are just trying to build character and prepare these kids for life.What are these kids learning when things don’t go their way? What happens when their boss yells at them? Are they going to tell mommy and daddy?
I think this whole thing is a bunch of BS.The parent is really hurting the kid the most in this situation. If he has to sit out poor kid has to sit out in football and wrestling at STL.
Shame on this lawsuit!
The real truth behind the “disciplining” was that Keoua’s parents were drinking at the school till 5 in the morning which caused Keoua to miss practice! Now for the coaches to NOT have disciplined him would no be teaching values and molding respect.
The claim that the coaching staff disciplined Keoua (and allegedly other teammates) for having participated in the Hawaii Athletics in Action Foundation is ludicrous! Indeed the attempts to resolve the situation with the school was looked into and deemed lacking validity!
Enough with that! Lets focus on the parents and here is where I share my observation…..
First, if you knew Keoua’s father, you would know that he’s the one who has given this kid the most stress with trying to live out his own failed dreams through his son. To boot, he’s a bully and a cry baby! Bottom line is, it’s his character that is ruining Keoua’s dreams (it this really is Keoua’s dreams).
Second, think about it? Keoua’s Father is a Damien Alumni, thus perhaps the reason sending your kid there right, alumni loyalty. I know for a fact that Keoua’s parents were the biggest “Crusader Haters” last year and now all of a sudden the biggest “Crusader Lovers”? True loyalty right? St. Louis parents, be aware and careful who you befriend.
I really feel sorry for the boy! Word on the street is that even if he gets to “play for the team” he will still not “play in the games.” This will inevitably be what happens either way and who’s the one who suffers? Damned over zealous parents!
Warning to the St Louis coaches….Don’t discipline this kid or you will be slapped with a law suit against you!
Transferring is not the answer. Fix the problem. The problem is with the coaching staff at Damien. This athlete and his family should’ve kept this in house. I believe if you break team rules, you pay (gassers, bear crawls, etc.) You also know that any school in the ILH that YOU “choose” to attend and participate in athletics and what their transfer rules are before you attend Day 1. However, racism, has no place anywhere in this world, especially with the mentoring/coaching/teaching of our children. It’s just plain stupidity. Transferring out will not solve the problem for future kids. You are just as much the problem for not addressing the issue right then and there in your own home.
ILH- sorry for putting a name as an example. If that’s your boy then my bad. But I think that this is a subject that should be touched upon don’t you? Everyone penalizing athletes with this foolish sit out a year rule and saying teams are being stacked but what about when coaches leave to go to other programs year after year? There are many coaches who do this… do they get penalized? Are they leaving to stack coaching staffs or goin where the talent is superior so they really don’t have to coach? Also by the way you talking about the kid, you either have a lot of first hand knowledge of him or a former coach of him. Stating that he should stay where he was it would’ve been better because then”open” division is “no joke” is almost like saying sarcastically that he’s not good enough to compete with the best. I can see why this kid suffered mentally.. ILH, choose your words wiser… lol… also the divisions has been separated to make the playing field level so it’s not about stacking teams.. get the open division, D1(which is actually D2) and then now you get D3 ( pop warner)… isn’t that making the playing field level? My opinion is that Mililani stacked there team and they will win it all this year.. just my opinion. This is my last comment as I don’t mean to offend anyone. Im just looking for clarity concerning all this situations. Thank You and best of luck to everyone involved and let’s just keep the kids in mind and put them first. Much love.
Yikes. So much stuff coming out. Owee kind of stuff.
Btw, for those who know, the bully act is a new thing.