(Update 8 p.m. — Adds comments by Cal Lee.)
Response to the news that the change to the state football tournament format — to take effect immediately — was slow this afternoon.
A Star-Advertiser breaking news story shared the announcement by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association that the state tournament format would be altered as soon as this season. Open Division would be comprised of four OIA teams and two ILH squads. There would still be Division I and II tourneys with eight teams in each.
One coach who was available for comment on a busy Monday afternoon was Kapolei’s Darren Hernandez, whose team didn’t start practice until late afternoon. He has been a head coach or assistant coach for more than two decades, and was both perplexed and enthused by the news.
“This is crazy, but crazy good. I support this all the way and you can quote me on that,” he said. “My biggest concern is how short the seasons are. They’re ridiculously short. When I started coaching, the championship game was in the first week of December. I’m hoping the HHSAA will take this into account and make the season longer.”
“I love basketball and other sports, but football is king. Football is the cash cow. You’d think the leagues would want more games. How many basketball players (from Hawaii) made it to the NBA? How many sports can draw 30,000 fans to one game,” Hernandez added.
Saint Louis coach Cal Lee was intrigued by the news.
“I’m surprised and happy that we have a state tournament where we have the top teams playing for the state championship. Four OIA, two ILH, every game is going to be a sellout. The state tournament will have a great game in every game,” said Lee, whose Crusaders are among the title contenders again this season. “Well, we been trying to get two ILH teams in for a long time. Finally. It’s only fair for the kids. The top teams, don’t you want your best teams to be in there? This way, it’s fair.”
“It helps everybody. I don’t care about all the other stuff. I think about the kids,” he said. “That’s why we’re here to coach and I think this is great we can help them play at this level. And I believe the OIA coaches feel the same way, too.”
A multitude of blowout games is a key factor why the ILH went to exclusive league schedules in recent years. In the OIA, however, many Division I games in the first two weeks have been runaways.
“The OIA, as a coach, I don’t know who they are, but they’ve got to understand, football you’ve got to have a vision,” Lee said. “Can’t have it the same way. Football is going down, down, down. Have you seen some of the scores? Why would you have a kid getting beat up, mercy rule, no competition?”
The state tourneys for smaller programs are ideal, Lee said.
“I think if the kids win any division,” he said, “don’t they feel good about themselves, that they won something?”
@jeezy33… so your only comeback is based off one link and not the following three I provided for all to read?……. forbes….dated May 2015…. “There are 30 players from American Samoa in the NFL and more than 200 play Division I NCAA Football. A Samoan male is 56 times more likely to play in the NFL than an American non-Samoan.”
If your gonna come at me, come at me with facts. All you do is post ignorant comments on this website with no backing to prove any of your statements. I’m nobody, but to read the stuff you put on here is below any education system out there. So having pride in my heritage and culture and putting it out there for everyone to read is pride. So go find somthing your proud of and feel free to share with us….. I can go on, I’m not wasting my time because people like you might need the education more then me. And im happy to sit here and school you till your ears bleed.
Wow, I should’ve made me some popcorn before reading these comments.
@Alpha,
Idk if it’s just me…. but i tend to see more African Americans playing in college D1 or NFL than i do see Samoans. I could be wrong… i don’t have the statistics to prove… so i give you that one that there are more Samoans playing than African Americans.
Still waiting for anyone who wears red to tell me what north shore kids play for saint louis…no worries i can go sleep, come back, and still yet crickets lol
@aok
That’s another excuse… I think that falls under the “Recruiting Card”
Wow. The hatred is strong in this post. (maybe it’s just passion )Either way it’s a lot of negative comments about the kids and people who live on the same rock as you do. Chill out with the negativity.
The new format is great for the ILH teams. Especially for the 2nd-4th place ILH teams who’d normally be hanging up their pads during the state tournament. Looks like the HHSAA just saved the ILH a lot of money while providing the result they ultimately wanted. It’s gonna be interesting. If Cal doesn’t win it this year, he’s always welcome to join the Kahuku staff so he can be part of a championship team again. But only if he doesn’t walk off the field without accepting the 2nd place trophy as they announce the State Champions like he did last year.
Let’s play ball!
@This2funny…… from espn.com…… ESPN.com: GEN – American football, Samoan style
http://www.espn.com/gen/s/2002/0527/1387562.html …….
Educate yourself, learn some math and come back….
@aok….. all I know is Wes Tufaga who is the db/safety Coach and the son is a starter…but other then that none I guess. I don’t wear red but maybe st louis might want to go get a few north shore kids, to actually help beat Kahuku…. the last time I know st louis beat Kahuku was in 1999 in states. In fact, can someone provide the last time St. Louis beat Kahuku in a football game? I might be wrong but 1999 was the last time for a state title.
Since we talking about cal lee losing to kahuku in the championship. Anyone know his head to head record?? U would stick around in the rain except a bridesmaids trophy.?? Tanoai u never have family that went saint louis?? Go get the rock for comment on here so i can bag him too!! Country club sole gtfoh!
Now we got “North Shore Celebrities” chiming in. The Pride of North Shore is really being heard now. I guess what I posted earlier is really coming to light. Adults living through the youth & actual people living through celebrities. Some people still wear their game jersey & lettermen’s jacket to the tailgates. But there’s a slight view that comeback as the mascot. Eh, anyway for “hemo da shirt” & the Instagram “likes”. Check em out dis guy loves himself!!! #EnemyOfTheStateCheerleader
@Givemeurebbs! Thank you. I knew my comment would get a response like that from some keyboard tough guy hiding behind a fake name. We’re talking about this past and current season , not 25-30 years ago. The rain wasn’t the factor for walking off the field but a lack of respect and flat out frustration was.
Yes, my brother and cousin went to St.Louis and are proud alumni. Shoot, when we moved back home my son got accepted and almost went there. Unlike your childish bashing of my community and alma mater, I never said anything negative about the players, students or anyone from St. Louis. I just stated the facts about actions that took place after the game.
My son is a junior at Kahuku and Iike a good father who’s also a proud alumni, I get involved to support his school and sports. I was asked to dress up as the mascots for Homecoming and a couple other games. Anyone else see anything wrong with that? Not sure why you’re hating on me. Maybe because I live a successful and happy life and actually have a community that I belong to?
You and @ispeaktoomuch should go back and re-read your posts. You two tough guys sure do talk a lot of crap about people while hiding behind fake names.
Keep your fingers off your keyboards until you grow a pair. #RR4L
Im good cuz! U was the fukn scrub who talked shit about a coach that gave your family a chance. GTFOH! GET REAL talkin shit abouy gim not excepting the trophy u fakas walked off the field when st louis beat u back in 95′ 27-26. U was always a bridesmaid w the rock at kahuku so stfu! Keep living a dream you couldnt acheive. I got 2 rings plug what u got???
The Pride Of North Shore is being heard!! LMAO!
Time to take a cycle of HGH & get on the iron. Flex in that mirror guy! Put your son’s pads on & take the Instagram pic of the day!
Pride is one thing but living through a bunch of kids is shameful.
Are you bragging about High School rings? Look at this real life Al Bundy bragging about having 2 High School rings…. Your kidding right? Thanks for the laugh my Bradah… I got 2 rings, you funny jokah you..
by the way these Kahuku haters talking they sound like skinny little local beach bums talking ish, they prolly got beaten up by samoans and tongans in high school, lol, go back to the beach and play ur ukuleles… bradah! RR4L
Lol! You two are cute. Guarantee the type of guys who yell and stick finger inside the car, but once we both hit the red light you roll up the windows and lock the doors. Love you both!
(Thank you for following me on Instagram by the way)
Tanoai vs Givemeurbbds would be bigger then McGregor-Diaz 🙂
Relax men it’s just a blog no get personal. Don’t attack kids or parents but coaches are fair game!
@88 @87
Hahaha! Beach? That’s all you guys. Beach, BBQ & don’t know when for go home. And as dumb as you guys think who we are you guys gotta be Samoan or Tongan. LMAO!
Bigger not necessarily faster but guarantee not smarter.. LMAO! #RubbishFakas #KeepTrying
Its not “following” on Instagram.. Its the ability of not understanding how a grown man can take so much pics of himself. Smh, very strange how people love themselves.
#SayNoToSelfies #SteroidsNoGood
I do respect the Kahuku team and community and know quite a few… very humble families. But ones on these posts… idk… not like the families I know. Kinda actually giving the team and community an unfavorable image/reputation.
My recommendation is to stay humble and on Sept 17 (vs B.Gorman) show the world what your team is made of. Show them that you dominate the haoles and not the other way around. Not going up there to LOSE or for any EXPERIENCE!!! It’s a one way ticket to up there….. to WIN!
Got some interesting people on this thread. Must be therapeutic for them, hiding behind a name and bashing people/communities.
Why can’t we just support who we want to support and still be civil? What’s up with the extreme comments.
Alpha August 23, 2016 at 6:16 pm
And for all you haters saying they recruiting 25 yr Olds from tonga/samoa is a big slap in the face….. samoan/tongans are just built to play this game. everybody just needs to face the truth already. Hawaii H.S football would be nothing without the Samoans/Tongans oia & ilh ….. if I’m wrong….. Prove It!!!!
Too bad they are not built to read or count.
@EducatiinFirst…. says who? You?…… where’s the proof?
I like it boyz! In all in the spirit of football! Don’t take it too serious, but I’m lmao and can’t wait for the state playoffs and by the way it wasn’t in 95 that we walked away It was in” 89″, chee polo! RRFL!! WE COMING IN YO MOUF!
The reality is that life isn’t fair! Let’s not undervalue our communities or the players by making excuses of why this team is better than that team. There are advantages and benefits for kids to stay in their communities OR go and play for an ILH school. The choice to go to an ILH school is strictly up to the kid and his family. It’s not good, bad, right or wrong…it just IS. The new format puts 2 ILH teams in the Open Division with the top 4 OIA teams. This is the Division that everyone should work toward…being the best. ILH will always recruit, because they have the means and the attraction (facilities, education, etc), and some OIA schools, like Kahuku and Farrington, will always have more raw talent than any other geographic area on O’ahu. At least that’s what I’ve observed, since the 70’s. This format makes for some great HS football match ups in the post season. Hopefully, they’ll shift toward having these teams go at it during the regular season.
Fukn terds. I usto have my best games against the pride of north shore. Aint no rolling up windows. Ill roll right to your house cuz!! What on the highway? With that gay banner? This started from u fags talking shit about a coach that deserves way more respect than all u bridesmaids. U get your nerve tanoai talking about a coach that helped your family out. Shame on you! 88 and 89 fukn bridesmaids shut your mouth! U fakas better be ready for blow the conch at sunset at PCC. Pay u fakas with cocnuts! Lol Choke on some dirt water!
I never said shit about no kids or community. All i said was show respect to a coach that paved the way for the hawaii highschool football. All i did was back him up ..u fakas when open up the can of worms. Mascot should of been the mascot in highschool too. Fukn useless! Aint nobody hiding
Sorry badonion i meant IDK
Dude you still got me rolling from your ” I got 2 rings” post but this new one takes the cake. The OG Crusader don’t need you to defend him. His record on the feild speaks for itself. Stop pretending you played for him already. You funny jokah…..
Look at all these monkey’s hating on Kahuku
http://www.youramonkey.com/monkey.php?m=IDngSsOSkuSYJpzw1
GOTCHA!!! 😉
iSpeakReality and bbds…Isn’t Cal Lee a Kalani alum?? I guess you need a public school grad to turn St.Louis into winners.
I’m gonna agree that Call Lee did pave the way for Hawaii H.S football. The man figured it out, he figured out the formula to winning football games and championships…… take the football team you already have now, and sprinkle in some of the best “sole’s” #rubbishfakas Samoans or whatever you want to call us from the north, south, east and west of the island and offer them free private school education for their football talents. And once the program starts winning, the rest will follow. And @givemeurbbds, for someone who represents the prestigious private schools here you sure do have a short fuse and a potty mouth. You sound like an inmate hence you screen name.
Homegrown: Isn’t Vae Tata a Crusader? Guess Kahuku needed a Crusader to make them winners too? Kinda makes you wonder where Tata might end up at once Lee retires? Red and Blue runs thick in the islands…
@the angry monkey gbbds! All props and mad respect for the Godfather of Hawaii high school! We love him! If you look back and see how St. Louis beat us,it was by our own homegrown boys! And good for them, but brada you’re in a bad place right, come by my office and maybe we can get some ice cream to cool off! Lmao in yo mouf! Chee polo! RRFL BITCH!
@Homegrown
I didn’t say Cal Lee was a St. Louis grad. Who said he was an alumni? Or your just reaching? I can tell you who is an Alumni & also Cal’s former students of the game. Vae Tata & Jon Hao, the RR4L staff. So when you say its built in Kahuku, look at the foundation first.
Sole I got the 2 rings! Lmao too much! You probably was the waterboi! Wait you’re one of us, born a red raider, Sole it’s ok we still family,howz the defensive backs better this year? Good luck uso, tell the boy play hard and rep the fam bam! Too bad he’s playing with them, we could’ve used him this year.
@ispeakstupid! The foundation was already laid ,they love our boys and community, they said they never ever experienced anything like the red nation and want their sons to play for Kahuku!
@iSpeakReality
Like I said before, if Cal Lee was the greatest coach you claim he is, why didnt he bring a championship to Kalani when he coached there couple years ago????? No can recruit, No can even win DII…..:)
iSpeakFacts
I don’t know about “boys to play for kahuku” but the community is definitely strong WHEN THEY ARE WINNING. But when they losing, watch out. They boycott the coach like Reggie, Livai & the Haole.
I like 2 rings thanks ah u fakas! Chee IDK what are saying. It coming out kind of cloudy. Too much dirt water to the brain. First of all I aint no damn sole cuz. Thats for sure get that outta your mouth. Yeah until they lose well see how much love goes their way. Give me a break my bradda. Reality check coming soon with bishop gorman no worry u fakas i ll be there to let u guys know win or lose. I suspect kahuku to be stuck in the mud! Good Luck! Remember now got 2 ILH teams at home waiting to take it away. See u later kahukuprepworld. I got jokes for days. Sole jokes coming to forum near u.
@aku bird
You think couple years is gonna do it for Kalani? Kalani shouldn’t even have a football team. Its called a successful Coach giving back to his Alumni. When you the best & most recognized high school coach in the history of Hawaii you can coach anywhere. Its called a pitstop. Wtf you think June Jones is doing? You think Kapolei is gonna come close to a title? Hell no, this is just him getting into the public eye to setup his next move.
C’mon you pay attention to anything that goes on? Kalani winning? Really? GTFO!
@ akubird check your facts again cuz ron lee brother of cal won w kaiser 1978. Cal lee was DC. Boom Kanani stfu! @akubird
@idk
I put down $1k & willing for go more that givemeurbbds get off the ball quicker plus the pancake.
Prefer cash payments so arrange collateral with your ebt card or part time paycheck.
@Just Saying,not sure if it’s just rumors or just people shooting the s*** but I did hear people saying that if the Crusaders win it this year,it’s a strong possibility Cal retires and Tata comes back to the brotherhood,again,don’t know if it’s true or just beer talk
@ispeakreality hahahahaha ebt lol
Tata can leave cause Kahuku really doesn’t need him. Kahuku had 7 titles before he came along. Once he leaves, next man up (except for that Coach who came from Idaho) lol
@2Rings
Eh…. I gotta make em so they can pay.. LMAO!
These guys all crybaby RR with nothing but the same excuses until people come in here & actually tell them how they really look. Bottom line you guy look & sound all silly..
Hi…I’m a Bishop Gorman alumni and I was just wondering where the concession stands are. I need some popcorn!!
@2rings…. ease up on the sole jokes unless you wana get schooled by one…. in fact lemme hear what you got. I don’t even need to know what your ethnicity is, by the comments you leave it’s better you keep it private because you make a poor excuse for whatever you call yourself….. low budget 2chainz mufcka…..
Oh….. and @2rings…. come up with somthing original, been on the islands from Cali since 2000 and pretty much heard them all. So alil originality would be breath of fresh air for once…