The No. 1-ranked Kahuku Red Raiders had been practicing it for months waiting for the right time.
It came in the fourth quarter of the OIA championship game in the Open Division with the scored tied 14-14.
Facing a fourth-and-6 at the Mililani 26, the call of ‘Summer special’ was sent in.
>> PHOTO GALLERY: Kahuku vs. Mililani
Named after junior Liona Lefau‘s mother, Summer, Lefau wasn’t about to let the play call go to waste. Quarterback Waika Crawford took a deep drop and rolled to his right before throwing across the field to Lefau, who leaked out from his spot on the line and caught the ball near the Mililani 10, where he was hit for the first time.
One defender bounced off, a second couldn’t come up with the tackle, and a third was trying to make a play when Lefau fell over the goal line for a 26-yard touchdown that proved to be the difference in Kahuku’s 21-14 victory on Friday night at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.
The play gave the Red Raiders the lead for the first time all game. It proved to be the difference in Kahuku winning the OIA championship for the fifth time in six years and for the 28th time in school history.
“I knew I needed to get in there for my team and it was a tied game,” Lifau said. “I knew I could make it in there.”
“We’ve been practicing that play for weeks,” added Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho. “We actually dedicated that play to (Liona’s mom) and we were just waiting for the right time … and it was executed very well.”
Crazy effort by Liona Lefau on a 4th-and-6 pass from Waika Crawford to put Kahuku up 21-14 on Mililani in the OIA Open title game with 7:35 to play. pic.twitter.com/jGTT4k2rY7
— Brian McInnis (@Brian_McInnis) December 11, 2021
The game was over when junior linebacker Leonard Ah You forced a Mililani fumble with 1:11 to go after the Trojans had converted a fourth down. Mililani’s Kapono Ho‘okano-Sallas caught a pass and made two defenders miss to pick up the first down. As he ran for more yards, Ah You came from behind and swiped down on the ball, forcing it loose.
Brock Fonoimoana made the recovery to allow the Kahuku offense to finish off the game in victory formation.
“All we had to do was focus on getting off the field and the game was over,” Ah You said. “Big time players make big plays so I tried to go out there and make a play for my team and my community because this championship means so much to them.”
Kahuku (8-0) entered the game having won all seven of its game by at least 26 points.
Mililani got the start to the game it needed if it wanted to upset the team it lost to by 35 points during the regular season.
The Trojans intercepted two passes in a span of 30 seconds and led 14-0, but couldn’t score over the final 43 minutes of the game.
“I will probably be tossing and turning a long time knowing we was up 14-0,” Mililani coach Rod York said. “You can’t ask for anything more than that.”
York’s 100th win in his 11th season at Mililani would have been one of the sweetest, but instead, he’ll have to go for it against ILH champion Saint Louis in the semifinals of the Open Division state championships next Saturday at Farrington.
Kahuku will play Saturday’s Campbell/Waianae winner in the other semifinal.
“I’m just so proud of our boys how they’ve persevered throughout this whole season and even last year with no season,” Carvalho said. “For them to be down 14-0, they never stopped believing. They never got down on any one person, any one sides of the ball, everybody stayed positive together and I think that was the biggest thing.”
Crawford bounced back from throwing a pick-six on his first attempt to finish 10-for-16 for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
He played every drive after starter Jason Mariteragi was intercepted on his second pass of Kahuku’s first drive in the game.
“Because of this rain we needed our quarterback to run a little bit more and I didn’t want Jason to get hurt,” Carvalho said. “(Crawford) was able to give us that little bit extra with his legs throughout the game.”
Lefau led the Red Raiders with eight tackles and had one of two interceptions thrown by Mililani.
Year after year keep transferring kids in……..still cannot win…it’ll be a good one though, the 2 most “build your own team” programs in the state going at it, how exciting, always pulling for OIA, go Mililani Transfers…..i mean Trojans
York has 99 wins…..1 state championship with kids not even from their district unless Mililani has a new housing nobody knows about with talented polys, too bad temper tantrums no count as wins
Billy Hull, did not Kahuku High School discard the use of the term Red Raiders in reference to its athletic teams? Certainly as a writer, you are free to refer to them as you please, as long as those for whom you write approve, or at least don’t object; but the publication you work for reported last year that the school would no longer use the term, out of deference to those offended by its use as a mascot and athletic teams name. If you are the editor, and/or the proprietor of Hawaii Prep World, then you may write what ever you choose. Perhaps you might make it clear to the readers that the school no longer uses the name you used to refer to that school’s football team.
Pakelika
Get A Life
Billy Hull, did not Kahuku High School discard the use of the term red raider as a mascot and in reference to it’s athletic teams, in deference to those who are offended by its use for those purposes? While you are free to call the football team of that school whatever you want, if it is ok with those for whom you write, or you are in a position to write as you choose, maybe you could make it clear to your readers that the school no longer uses the term you used in reference to any of it’s athletic teams.
Shux
Not sure what the difference is compared to ILH schools with kids from all over the island, most not paying a penny for school. Any difference from Kahuku bringing in mainland basketball players for the hoop season?
Kahuku bringing in mainland kids for bball? Wow, with room and board? Wow. With world class gym and program? Wheres bronny?
Eddie K
Guess u never heard of Tolu Smith and Dan Fotu LOL. Lay off the energy drinks, got you bouncing off the walls.
Pakelika, our name is still officially, Red Raiders…and it will not change! Our logo tho,is now a circle k…but we still reppin all our Poly warriors & indians cos we lamanites too.
Kahuku definitely got exposed last night
Opinion, oh yeah I heard of those guys. But tell me how Kahuku can afford to house these mainland atheletes?? Or are you saying they live with Ohana? Or maybe they got into Div.1 college with Tolu starting at a SEC school because of Akana? Opinions are like a, everyone has one. Let’s stick to football folks.
Eddie K
Point is everybody quick to talk about Mililani having most of their kids coming from out of district. Every school does it, not just Mililani. And I am talking about football. How many players got to the D1 level because of York?
RR4L
Opinion
The red raiders don’t recruit any sports. You will find some kind of connection through blood, relatives and extended family. Generation after generations deep. Alumni who send their kids, nephews, niece’s and mo’opuna back home to have the RR4L experience. There is no ther like it. Hence the reason our program and community sets the standard of unity win lose or not. Nobody leaves even when we lose, this example of love and support is second to none. Even if you are a newcomer to our community once your are adopted in you become RR4L. Kids in the flag, termite, popwarner leagues are imprinted red raiders from elementary age up. Fantasizing becoming the heroes they watch waitng their turn for that right of passage in our community. God bless the Kahuku Red Raiders….
Good point opinion. York has developed many players. Maybe shux whined about it. I’m sure many Kalihi, PC, Waipahu,Ewa,Waianae kids would go to Mililani, Kapolei or Campbell. Football factories like Kalihi is getting sucked dry. The demise of Farrington and Waiannae is proof. It’s just that Mililani may have maybe 80% starters are out of district. Do the neighborhood boys from Mililani(60% asian) have a fair shot? Or do they transfer to Pearl City,Moanalua or Waipahu?
What if there’s a upset at farrington next week Saturday… lol jus saying what if…
Eddie K
That’s a good question. But if Mililani provides a strong program and environment where these kids can go to and get exposure along with good coaching, then that becomes an attractive choice for parents and kids. Would like to know the amount of kids that are paying full tuition to the power private schools, and aren’t getting a chance to play because other kids that aren’t paying are the ones starting. Similar scenarios
@Zaren can you elaborate on how Kahuku got exposed last night? They had to play from a 14-0 deficit and still won the game. Take away the two interceptions, Mililani would have had a goose egg.
He probably meant that they got exposed as the best team in the OIA. Rod York didn’t know that till we spotted him 14 points and he still couldn’t do it. Keep tossing and turning coach. BUT I am rooting for Mililani next week.
Ellouise Kamauoha Reed, Kahuku High School has dropped the use of the term you claim is yours-along with others who want to believe as you do. It absolutely is not the “official” name to be used to reference the athletic teams of that school, according to DOE officials and present policy; it is not my personal opinion, nor is it determined by your personal opinion or preference. While you are free to call them by the discarded term, it is disingenuous and intellectually dishonest to insist that the former name is still official, that is easily falsified! Like it or not, you are not an official spokesperson for the DOE, which is responsible for the policies currently in effect at Kahuku High School, and for its activities and operations. The remainder of your post is purely subjective personal opinion and irrelevant to the main point discussed here. Imua lanakila e na Kulekia o Kana Lui!
Coach York is da man.. He competes, pushes his program and brings out the best in his payers. Just cause he does it in a way that you might not approve of doesn’t mean he is a bad coach. The guy took Mililani to a level where they are competitive every year. Before him all Mililani was known for was their Marching band and softball.
Opinion
no difference at all, we do have other kids come in for basketball…… something I can admit, when everybody else going admit??? too bad we’re not talkin about basketball here , we talkin about football…. oh and by the way whenever we do bring other kids in for basketball, we win
@ Pakelika – To answer your question:
https://www.khon2.com/sports/kahuku-to-remain-as-red-raiders-but-will-change-logo-and-replace-any-offensive-chants-or-traditions-moving-forward/
The Kahuku Football Team is with out a name for it’s athletic teams. Here’s a suggestion, The Salt Breezes That Fling The Doors Wide Open For The Sons & Daughters True While The Flag of The Foreign Military Occupier Flies Above.
SHUX
You 100% right. Everybody does it, wether they admit it or not. EVERYBODY! As far as winning every time, winning it in 2017 doesn’t mean every time.
Pakelika get a life. Kahuku will forever be the Red Raiders, that is not an offensive term and it is written on the new field turf at the school.
oh, Kahuku football team need to learn a lesson to stay focused and humble, their massively big and intimidating appearance at the girls OIA championship between Kahuku/Moanalua was a ghetto/no-class move. It was uncalled for and created bad energy/bachi for themselves, that is why they came out flat and almost lost against Mililani last night.
Mililani’s offense “sucks” with bad coaching and over use of same players. Lots of talent on the BENCH not being used. Kahuku will beat them everytime…no matter how much they are behind. Mililani’s defense kept the game close
mjthegoat99
Sad to say OC16 glamorized and encouraged the behavior even more by putting them on camera over and over. Rules for all the other games was no spectators allowed to stand on the floor. But kahuku football players was allowed to not only stand on the floor but wave huge flags while Moanalua was serving and looking directly at them.
People enough already with the bloody transfer exception if the kids parent want to send there kids to Mililani or any other public or private school and they ant breaking any rules power too them who are we too tell them what’s best for there kids get over it because it sounds more like sour grapes you go with want you got win or lose you represent your school your community and your family
Division 1: Friday Dec. 17 @Farrington, #1 Lahainaluna vs. #4 Konawaena 3pm, to be followed by #2 Iolani vs. Aiea. Saturday Dec. 18 #1 Kahuku vs. #4 Campbell 3pm, to be followed by #2 Saint Louis vs. #3 Mililani.
mjthegoat99 No one, including you, is in any position to guarantee that Kahuku will never drop the offensive and insensitive term red raider, or even to say that it will never happen, or they will always or forever be known by that racially charged term. Another item that will come under criticism and pressure to change and be dropped are the words in the school’s alma mater hymn the “flag of freedom proudly waves above.” This is a reference to the flag of the foreign military occupier flying above Hae Hawaii over a public school in the occupied territory of the Hawaiian Kingdom, see https://funkyimg.com/i/342Ra.jpg The fact that the flag of the occupying state is called the “flag of freedom” and that it “proudly waves” while it flies over the flag of the occupied state at a state school in the territory of the occupied state is clear evidence that the war crimes of Denationalization and Americanization are and have been occurring. See HawaiianKingdom.org
Honest Prediction: St Louis 35, Miliani 0. Mililani has no offense. Kahuku passing is equivalent to St Louis Intermediate Team . The score may be that by half time. Honest!
An Honest rebuttal: So what if it rains again? Is that all-world passing attack that’s been on ice for a month still gonna drop the 35 points by half time? Understand, STL is at a huge disadvantage. Healthy, yes, but losing that great momentum they built up is unfortunate. Imo STL is the better team, but don’t expect a cake-walk.
And those claiming Kahuku fans as extremely loyal and better than the rest of us, those days are over. This new generation of parents and keiki don’t have that same consistent energy. If your team ever gets blown out, best believe they leaving the game early. I’ve seen it.
To be fair, hold the States at Leileihua HS. The weather up mauka is rainy cold and the field is top shape,lol. Never seen so much bald spot on astro turf. Was Farrington not available this week?
Lol, peeps talking about basketball and girls volleyball? Focus.
Since HPW didnt story it, Aiea won Division 1 OIA. Looks like the true Halawa boys played at home and not for central club team. Congrats Na Alii.
Please explains to me how Red Raider is offensive.
Pakelika funny how you think the DOE’s official position is Kahuku aren’t the red raiders when the school website lists us as the red raiders lol
Lets be Honest. Kahuku High got its Red Raider name from old Iolani Red Raiders football uniform in the 1940’s donated by the legionary Iolani’s Football Coach Fr. Kenneth Bray. Prior to that, Kahuku was know as the Ramblers which I believe was blue/white colors. And prior to 1930 and Fr. Bray, Iolani had another mascot. The old Iolani Campus was on Nuuanu and Craigside Street, just up the street from Chinatown. The tuition was expensive and most of Fr. Bray ball player were small Asian athletics. He wanted to inspire them to play against the likes of Punahou, Kamehameha and St Louis, which he did amazingly well with all those ILH championships, and he chose characters from a very popular comic strip in the 1930’s Terry and the Pirates where there was constant battling against the Dragon Lady and her Chinese Bandits, aka Red Raiders. They wore red and black clothing. Sound familiar? At about the same time , some 90 years ago, Texas Tech University also called themselves the Red Raiders as they still do today. Coincidence or was the Texas Tech officials reading the same comic? The original name Red Raiders had nothing to do with Indians. The name Red Raider is not disrespectful to anybody, except to those who want to make it disrespectful. Honest!
ANYBODY that finds the name Red Raider disrespectful needs to look in the mirror because you’re the problem, not the vast majority of people that could care less about pronouns. I think someone once said judge one by the content of their character, not the color of their skin.
It was Dr. Martin Luther KIng who said his dream was that someday his kids would be “judge one by the content of their character, not the color of their skin” some 55 years ago”. Very impressive “Recruited not Rooted!” Honest!
Simple reminder this is a football page if your looking to change same one prospective on your insensitive ie RR bringing offensive bro you came to the wrong form 1 you don’t know the history of it origin as it relates to kahuku and 2 not every thing has to do with native Americans and there culture Pacifica take as much pride in who we are just saying
Excuse me. But notice many polynesians are not white or black. Utah Utes? How about the All Blacks? Wait a team that wears all RED uniform head to toe, and comes on like hungry RAIDERS could be called Red Raiders? Of course. And a fan alumni could be called RRFL? Certainly.
To: Honesty, From: Captain Kirk, Subject: Your Questionable Mention of Kenneth Bray and Denial of the Offensive Nature of “Red Raider”. Greetings, comrade! I have noted with considerable interest your remarks in the post above, preceding this, and in particular your statement that Reverend Kenneth Bray donated football uniforms (though you used the singular form uniform, it is highly probable you intended to use the plural form uniforms) to the Kahuku football team. I question the authenticity and accuracy of your account of how Kahuku got those uniforms because I have read a different account, and I am not sure of the authenticity and accuracy of that account either. Would you reveal the source of your information? As for your defense of the name red raider, you are dismissive of the derogatory, offensive and insensitive nature of the name. The word raider can have a criminal connotation, similar to the word pirate, and red has been used as a reference to skin color and race; put the two words together and you have what some would consider to be a derogatory and offensive name. Though you find nothing objectionable about the name, you do not speak on behalf of all mankind, some of whom are offended and could tell you of how they or those whom they know have experienced bigotry, prejudicial discrimination, hatred and violence and criminal acts while having that name applied to them, as a means to dehumanize them. Do you really believe that your argument in defense of the name red raider trumps-in any objective sense-the objections of those it offends? Have you no empathy and understanding?
pakelika lol just stop it. first you talking all crazy saying red raiders has been banned from kahuku. now you’re saying it’s offensive even though it has nothing to do with native americans. if red raider is offensive because raider can be criminal, then almost EVERY SINGLE MASCOT in the state is offensive and should be changed. Let’s look at some examples!
Waipahu Marauders. Offensive. Pirates. Criminals. omg.
St. Louis Crusaders: religious. evokes the crusades. offensive to muslims. offensive.
Mililani Trojans: how dare you appropriate trojan culture. offensive.
Leilehua Mules: Mules named after the army. the same army that does colonialism of hawaiian. Offensive.
Iolani Raiders: Offensive for the reasons you said red raiders is. offensive.
Aiea Na Ali’i: offensive. appropriation of hawaiian culture and the sacredness of the ali’i class.
Kaiser Cougars: could deal with hot moms over the age of 35. offensive.
You see? might as well change all the names, pakelika. including YOURS. Pake? a racial slur? offensive. change it. Have you no empathy or understanding??? RRFL!
pakelika everyone knows the story of how kahuku got the name red raiders because of iolani and the uniforms. lol its on the kahuku high school website, you ding dong. now you prove red raider is a racist mascot with racist intent aside from just “red raiders must deal with indians because I said so”
@pakelika Get a freakin life and a job too. You obviously have too much time on your hands down in your parents basement.
BigBoyz It was very informative to see that a website associated with Kahuku High is linked to a site, Great Schools!.org, which allows parents, guardians, students, faculty, staff and others to comment and rate the school. The comments found there vary, from being very pleased with the school to the school is terrible, with classrooms in bad condition, broken restrooms, administrative staff lacking professionalism and being unhelpful, teachers lacking in education, a school more focused on football and athletics than on providing an education. The percentage of students performing at a proficient level appropriate to grade level is 27% in math and 57% in reading. While this is better than many schools in California, it is nothing to be proud of. Several commenters would not recommend enrolling at Kahuku, given the existing circumstances and conditions. It would not be surprising if Kahuku doesn’t compete very well with public charter schools that have no unionized teachers or administrators, or that families seriously interested in their child’s education would opt to enroll them in a public charter, private school or to home school them. Yet some come on to this forum and boast of being rooted not recruited, and assume a moral high ground in “playing for the community,” while condescendingly looking down on those whom they accuse of being “stolen” and “playing for money.” Given the criticisms and conditions-if true-existing at Kahuku High, there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of in choosing a better educational alternative; in fact, that is true no matter the state of education at Kahuku High.
BigBoyz It was very informative to see that a website associated with Kahuku High is linked to a site, Great Schools!.org, which allows parents, guardians, students, faculty, staff and others to comment and rate the school. The comments found there vary, from being very pleased with the school to the school is terrible, with classrooms in bad condition, broken restrooms, administrative staff lacking professionalism and unhelpful, teachers lacking in education,
From some of the comments here on this forum, attempting to defend the indefensible, engaging in ad hominem attacks, and exhibiting inferior language and writing skill, I strongly suspect that these individuals are either drop-outs, or even worse, graduates of, Kahuku High, where the level of proficiency in reading among the students is only 57% If this is true, they are the evidence!
Yikes!! Its like Education1st is back, but on steroids.
Pakelika –
“The percentage of students performing at a proficient level appropriate to grade level is 27% in math and 57% in reading”.
Thats rough.
BTW, they getting a new turf field……..
they say if you give a child who is throwing a tantrum too much attention, they will keep carrying on…when you respond to this Pakelika person who is throwing this stuff out, it only encourages the tantrum..forget about it..no respond..just saying…may the best team win..
An Honest Message to Pakelika. This is December 2021, not January 1893. Bitter feelings of resentment regarding the over-throwing of the Hawaiian Monarchy that transpired more than a century ago will not improve your situation today. You are alienating yourself and diverting people’s attention from real story that Kahuku is very proud of their Red Raider and will be so forever. And note that the many Polynesians attending Kahuku High School are not Hawaiians. We all live in 2021. Please join us. Honest!