(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?”
Just to set the record straight, STL has 17 HS-Football titles since the inception of the Oahu Bowl in 1973 which was considered the “State Title” back then. Kahuku has 8 so why all of trash talk from the North Shore? Simple math folks…
@ispeakstupid and @wish he had 2 rings! You 2 funny guys , actually I’m enjoying all of this, I’ll let you guys use my ebt card after I pancake no moa 2rings! Kakelas tmrw 5pm, I’ll bring my pads! But all in all we all brada’s and this is all shiznik talk. But kahuku will be repping Hawaii and even if it was another team playing Gorman I would root for the hawaii kids. You 2 guys enjoy the season. Aloha!
@alpha time to strap those same coconuts from back in 2000 under your armpits and float ur ass back to cali. Grown here not flown here. Lol
@2rings, your car, house, phone, food, USD($$$) english language also flown here… want me take that back with me?
@2rings u gotta try harder then that…. I’ve that seen that B.S saying on a bumper sticker… “Grown Here Not Flown Here”…. but the irony was it was on a Japanese car that was shipped here… strike one…. try again.
@alpha do what u gotta do bredren. I dont give a flying …. take it how u wanted. U wanted to know my nationality. Birthright brotha like i said grab those same old coconuts and float back to cali samoa whereever u come from either way. Irrelevant
@givemeyourpanty, No doubt your hero Cal is a great coach and has done many great things. I never disputed that or talked bad about him, I just was pointing out his frustrated actions after the championship game and said he’s welcome to come coach at Kahuku after this season and it looks like that comment got your panties in a bunch.
Yes, my brother and cousin lived in town so they went to St. Louis and Cal happened to be the coach then. I’m very grateful that he coached them well.
…And to your question for me, “what I got”?
I got a great family, great community, great career, happy life and a fat bank account. Maybe you can pond your 21 year old rings and get a life. Until then keep talking crap about people and a community you don’t know while hiding behind your fake name. What a way to represent your alma mater. God bless you and I hope you find peace both in your online fantasy world as well as the real world.
Yah, ok..nuff talk. I’m done with you little boy.
Ps: what’s your real name?
#RR4L
@2rings, I said I didn’t need to know your ethnicity, you show your true colors through ignorant comments that you leave….. stereotyping a culture just because my people still live off the land and speak it’s own language, wher the U.S dollar is hard to come by until we arrived here… I can’t float back, used the coconuts to make palusami for dinner and haupia for dessert. Irrelevant you say? How? You talk about grown here? What in your everyday life do you have that is grown here.
Fukn tanoai sorry none of us is as dum as you to put your real name on here. Now everyone can take personal shots at your personal life. Celebrity 101 my bradda! Like i said i done talking to u too bring “the rock” in the forum so i can bag him too! Lol what a jokeu got him to do a hype speech for kahuku but “the rock” was from pearl city. Get real! RRFL instagram hoe by night.
@tanoai nah im good id rather bag u all season long without u knowing me but i know u. Wheres the fun in u knowing me. Im good i know u because u were dum enough to put your name out. Stay off the forum before i keep torching you bro.
Aloha to u too IDK and aloha to the kahuku prep world. Have a good night its gonna be a long season. Lol
givemerddbs, how was sandy beach? You caught some waves my little skinny local braddah? Then you went walk to the bus stop no shirt no slippahs and jam your ukulele? You hard core ah kanaks!
U tell me @87 how was pounders? Rubbish? U was trying for sell cocnuts to tourist? lol bra i can go for days @87 what u was doing wood carving one tiki all day lol
He didnt admit that his brother was one of the 19yr old seniors that graduated. He gotta run that by the whole Kahuku clan that leans on the “overage excuse” when it comes to STL recognition. Didn’t mention that 2nd place was what he lived on his football career. Also didn’t mention a that the fat bank account & his “Rock Fantasy” success struck a nerve from online debates about high school football. But what I really wanna know. Is that garage gym across the beach park a steroid free workout facility?? Big question…… Anything to get ahead.
“Fat bank accounts & loving community” still would have me dressed up like its Halloween at a football game. C’mon man, 40yrs old act your age. Smh
@87
The only guy worried about guys playing Ukulele & making his day is the “Samoan Stuntman”. LMAO! C’MON MAN!!
ILH should have the best Football teams money can buy. Half the teams tuition is not coming from hard working parents. I love when OIA wins states. You can take all the good kids you want. Someone else will just step it up. Peace! !!!
RR4L
GO GET A JOB!
Bishop Gorman – 42
Kahuku- 12
Couple of rotten apples really bringing this forum down
@Boom.Kanani
Wait… Wait… Let me.clarify what you just wrote because the RR4L reading comprehension is at a kindergarten level.
“ILH should have the best teams money can buy. Half the team’s tuition isn’t coming from hardworking parents?”
Wtf does this mean?? That parents of kids attending private schools are not working hard to pay tuition? I think you got the RR4L mixed with a little EBT mentality because that’s the only thing coming cheap & free for you guys. Now like your “Hooked On Phonics” video used to tell you. Take a deep breath, reread your sentence & make sure you at least sound like you know wtf you talking about.
At least the RR4L faithful got one confirmation
BG 42 RR4L 12 (“we can’t kick field goals”)
@boom.Kanani
“ILH should have the best football teams money can buy. Half the teams tuition is not coming from hard working parents”
WTF does.that mean?? I know the whole RR4L reading & comprehension curriculum is at a kindergarten level. But geeez, at least make pretend like you know what you talking about. Smh
Hey Coach have some faith.. You guys never buy presale tickets for nothing. LMAO! @iSpeakReality You know ah bro. These guys couldn’t kick field goals for decades. Farrington boy went all the way to Kahuku just for be one state champ kicker. LMAO! Okimoto must feel like trash…LOL!
@got17… that kicker was originally from Kahuku. Putting lol & lmao at your own jokes is a cheap attempt at trying to be funny.
This forum pretty much sums up what this state is about. . .”Status”. Alma mater, hometown city, financial status. That’s all you have to do around here is ask someone what school they grad from and boom…. people already assume where you from and how much money you make. If someone was to read these comments who knows nothing about Hawaii would probably have a hard time figuring out who had the higher education based on the bashing going on here.once people start to engage on bettering someone by exposing certain things they pretty much lowers their standards themselves and show their true colors, no matter what educational background you come from.
Dang can’t we all just get along?
http://www.youramonkey.com/?m=ID8oqra6fBvGe7mY6
So he went from Kahuku to Farrington back to Kahuku? Talk chasing a title & he’s a kicker. Did Okimoto “recruit” him?lol! Goes to show where the mentality is when it comes to OIA transfers. It only to play sports.. Very sad!
@Got17… it’s how it goes sometimes….. look at Slade-Matautia and his moving around, can anyone explain that? And @HPW…. any update on him? Busted shoulder Saturdays game in the 1st qtr. Also on J. Saole’s status after his surgery? Or does it even matter as long as T. Tagovailoa is healthy…. thx.
Read the post correctly. It states exactly what you don’t want to hear. Private schools aren’t offering average athletes “free” education. They only offer that to top tier athletes. Nothing wrong with that. It just seems……. that with all those tuition waivers getting passed out, ILH should be winning state titles every year, but their NOT. Everyone can bash KAHUKU all they want. We have always been the “ENEMY OF THE STATE”. We are used to it. Everyone at one point or another will lose. It just shows how strong you are when you rise again to the top.
Get over this “Enemy Of The State”BS.. #yawning
@Alpha
ILH transfer is understandable whether it be ILH to OIA (most likely they are kicked out) or OIA to ILH. But OIA to OIA? Meaningless & putting only the opportunity to win a state title rather than an opportunity to go to college or high learning.
You cannot tell me that you agree with OIA to OIA transfer . That’s the “Mililani Special”. It brought than 2 championships but that team was built around 3 guys that if there was 1 missing that team was trash. Classic example was last season.
@Got17… well transfers in general I was referring to. As for mililani I believe the only transfer was Vavae (out of the 3), Mckenzie and Kalakaua were from the area (correct me if I’m wrong)….
@Alpha
Yes you are correct but this is the first time I over 20yrs that I’ve seen this much Polys living in Mililani.
But normally when they mentioned that an ILH kid transferred to OIA. 80% of the time its because they got expelled. The other 20% is just personal reasons. I personally don’t believe in OIA to OIA transfers for the benefit to prioritize a sport.
Once you go to a silver spoon school you only should play silver spoon schools!!!
Public schools should play public schools PERIOD!!!!!
These private schools can go play mainland private schools. That’s how should be!!!!
To me, it’s just another way to keep our people down by the so called football powers where they can offer an athlete “candy” to be on their team…
What’s fair is fair!!!
If all us was to boycott our young athletes from attending silver spoon schools,(attending just for a sport) that would be fair… You play where you from PERIOD!!!
Go play I get more money than you someplace else!!!
I wanna see TRUE HAWAII FOOTBALL!!!
TRUE COMMUNITY PRIDE FOOTBALL!!!!!!
Time to change up the whole HHSAA!!!
@got17…. LOL…. it does look to damn obviously when you compare Mililani’s roster from the last 5yrs to the previous 20…. but yea, oia to oia transfers really hurt the oia. That’s why it’s been so week.
@alpha
Starts with the community. If the community isn’t strong there is no loyalty.
@Checkyoself
Your whole statement makes aboslutley no sense. Funding, Support, Academics, Facilities & future opportunities is a no brainer to accept from a public school. Would Manti have the opportunities he had if he didn’t go to Punahou? I highly doubt that Kahuku would have gave him opportunity to be where he is. And his family making that decision is coming from a strong community where they live. Boycotting private schools? Never will happen as long as the schools are providing, sending kids to college & producing respectable adults in the community.
How you going to feel or think that the private schools is bringing you down by offering athletes an education or opportunity to play ball? How is that “bringing you down”? You should be proud for every kid coming out of your community taking advantage of an opportunity. Those kids that are offered are the ones representing your community, families, youth sports & also laying the foundation for the next generation to get a chance. Fair? Its never “fair” . Money, reputation & opportunity talks, bulls*t walks.
Your mindset is tunnel vision. Everything for the community & not for the kid. You want the team to represent the community so the community can take part in a high school team’s success. Smh, that’s why everybody thinks like that. I’m a private school grad that have friends coaching & friends that have kids playing.for other schools than my own. I still go out & support. You got to remember the kid’s biggest downfall is the parents. Majority of these parents want their kids to be the next “NFL star or Professional Athlete” & half these parent never experienced sports or what it feels like to be a successful athlete. Let the kids play! As a parents put your child in the best opportunities to succeed.
@got17
SPOKEN WITH YOUR SILVER SPOON!!!
BULLIES WITH MONEY!!!
TALENT WILL OVERCOME OVER YOUR PRIVATE SCHOOL!!!! TAKE THAT TO DA BANK!!!!
@checkyoself
And you sound like you one has been still crying about stuff you crying about in high school. That’s why every player or person that comes after you get the same excuses. Get over it. You crying about stuff that’s been happening for decades already.
@Checkyoself
Same lame crybaby excuses:
Recruit
Overaged Players
The state caters to the ILH
what else you crying about because the point is that private schools doesn’t produce college athletes. Now if you only crying for the benefit of “high school football” & its “success” than you are just like every other half cocked cry baby out there.
@got17
Like I said before…
SPOKEN WITH YOUR SILVER SPOON!!!
No one crying Richie Rich… Only stating the obvious.
When silver spoon schools recruit they take away from our communities… (Since you want to use examples) Like how a Walmart takes away from small mom and pop stores.
Like you said, nothing is fair. I agree…
You go to a private school… You go play private schools. Your six figure coach can play a six figure coach!!! Private schools have to buy talent!!!
Since you like being sarcastic, How much candy you got!!!!! Hahahahahahaha
All these St.Louis alumn yapping like they’re known for being educated. That’s why your program been in a drought lately, Polynesian parents been sending their kids to a real academic institution, Punahou. Once Kale Ane put the word out, in came the talent, and down went the brotherhood.
St.Louis is the laughing stock of the ILH. Strictly a football school. Nothing more. They just ride off the academic success of Punahou, Iolani, HBA, etc.
@givemeurbds! At first you had me going! But now I’m a fan of yours, you Crack me up and my Uso Tanoai! you are dum…lmao! You’re so arrogant u used your real name ! Love everything you do for our community but looks like you gonna get banged by the local brada who had 2 rings. Lol its gonna be along season! I LIKE IT ! Chee polo in yo mouf! Ps. I still like lick education first, lmao
Whoa!!! Looks like I got the ILH Silver Spoon teams Alumni a little upset… Ummmm… Your bullying me!!!
Hahahahaha
Take a step back and take a deep breath.
That’s the mindset… If you can’t beat um join um…
Now that’s soooo weak…… You can say opportunities do exist for your scholar highschool athlete but you really think you get praised by your community?!?
Hmmm… You always gotta go home… Where you from… And behind your back you’ll always hear…
SELLOUT!!!
OUT FOR YOURS AND IM OUT FOR MINEZ= SILVER SPOON SCHOOLS
CHECKYOSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF!!!
IM OUT!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA
@checkyoself
Where’s the “Samoan Stuntman”? Is this guy @checkyoself how you see your community? You blaming kids in your community as being sell outs because they took advantage of an opportunity to go to a private school? So you calling Toma & Manti sell outs? They take advantage of opportunity, put your town on the map & call them sell outs?
You know what they call guys like you? Selfish, looking out in what your interest is before the kids. That’s why all these kids & idiots adults is stuck in the mud.
@ruggedslopes
Of course they would’ve went to college because they are obviously talented! Helllloooo!!!!
IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK, SOUNDS LIKE A DUCK,
MUST BE A DUCK!!!!
CALL IT LIKE IT IS!!!!
@Homegrown
Drought? Did you fail to miss the recruiting update? Fail to see the only Heisman Trophy winner? Or you just want to see what you really what to see?? How are we “riding” success” of other schools?
YOU FAIL TO REMEMBER.
CAL LEE & THE ST. LOUIS CRUSADERS BUILT HAWAII HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.
#1 ranked teams don’t fly out of their way to play Kahuku or Punahou. Fail to remember that too?
Academics? You worried about St. Louis? You gotta worry about these so called “blue chip” OIA athletes that cannot even pass below average public school curriculum. And at best go to a trash JC like Dixie..
@checkyoself
But you still consider them sell outs?
They would of went to the Kahuku JC pipeline of Dixie College. Like the rest of them.
@ruggedslopes
Hey… Your so talented… You can see the future and like to beat around the bush… Look whose bad mouthing who now… ILH did this did that pffffffffffff
Our top tier athletic talent did that!!!
Stop talking with your silver spoon in your mouth.
Your beginning to sound just a little bit arrogant…
OK everyone, this has all gone way too far. I’ve deleted some posts.
I really don’t want to have to start banning people. Knock off the silly stuff or we’ll start banning IP addresses. Simple as that. Keep it clean and fun. We really don’t want to play babysitter around here, but some of these comments are ridiculous.
Hahaha. ….. Im loving these posts. … RED RAIDER FOR LIFE people. Have a great season. Tanoai going fasi one palagi soon.
Bravo! Hana Hou cuz!