Kana Loa Kaluna had a choice.
He could have followed older brother Kaulana, who had a superb football career at Kaimuki under then-coach David Tautofi. Kana Loa’s dream, though, was elsewhere.
After a cancelled junior year and the chance to play more as a senior, the Kahuku running back made his biggest impact on Thursday night. Kaluna rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries as Kahuku dethroned Saint Louis, 49-14, for the Open Division state title.
Making his own opportunity happen required a leap of faith. He followed his coach, Matt Faga, to the North Shore. Faga died last summer due to complications of COVID-19.
“I was raised in the Palolo area, but I traveled each and every day to Kahuku because I was dedicated. I kept my promise to coach Matt that I would be there for four years and ever since my freshman year,” Kaluna said. “Since then, I’ve been here my whole life.”
At Kaimuki, brother Kaulana had a stellar senior year in 2019, playing both ways. He caught 51 passes for 795 yards and nine touchdowns from Jayden Maiava. Kaimuki went 10-3 overall and won the OIA Division II championship before losing to Kapaa in the state tournament.
Kana Loa Kaluna had 85 carries for 316 yards as a sophomore in ’19, scoring one TD. He also caught seven passes for 67 yards and another TD.
This season, Kahuku opened up the passing game and there were fewer touches for running backs, but Kaluna still finished with 348 yards on 62 attempts with nine TDs. He added five receptions for 32 yards.
In a crowded backfield, Kaluna managed to get his chance on championship night.
“I left it all on the field and trusted all the 10 players next to me and we got the outcome we wanted,” he said. “Coming into the second quarter, I asked coach, I said, ‘Coach, it’s my last game.’ He knew I wanted the ball. He knew I wanted the rock a lot. It was my last game of my high school career. I had leave it all on the field. I couldn’t take no breaks. I didn’t want to live with any regrets like coach Sterling (Carvalho) has preached this week. I was happy to have helped my team in a big way.”
Liona Lefau with a 17-yard catch and then Kana Loa Kaluna is in on the 6-yard TD. 7-0 Kahuku, 8:15, Q1. pic.twitter.com/byUApIXYFR
— Billy Hull (@billyhull) December 24, 2021
Kana Loa Kaluna finishes off the drive with a 4-yard TD. All Red Raiders so far, 14-0, 3:09, Q1. pic.twitter.com/5VRCrgBjW2
— Billy Hull (@billyhull) December 24, 2021
Kana Loa Kaluna breaks a nice gain for Kahuku with the punishing finish. pic.twitter.com/CTgBNuVfmH
— Billy Hull (@billyhull) December 24, 2021
Kana Loa Kaluna decides to show off his hops. It's a penalty, however. pic.twitter.com/GLgOa4S4rr
— Billy Hull (@billyhull) December 24, 2021
END 3: Kahuku 42, Saint Louis 14. Red Raiders are now gashing the Crusaders with the run game. pic.twitter.com/no6zR61963
— Billy Hull (@billyhull) December 24, 2021
Kana Loa Kaluna over 100 yards rushing on this impressive run. pic.twitter.com/hjRP4wTloN
— Billy Hull (@billyhull) December 24, 2021
Kana Loa Kaluna with the 17-yard TD run and we are looking at Kahuku's biggest margin of victory over Saint Louis ever. 49-14 with 9:45 to go. pic.twitter.com/zMDkfoa5Ky
— Billy Hull (@billyhull) December 24, 2021
Challenging circumstances — no field to practice on due to renovations and no home games — were no problem for the 2021 state champions.
“We worked hard whether the conditions were on our side or not. At Kahuku, we’re just here to work. Thank you to the community, the coaches, to everybody supporting us, supporting me personally to get where I am today,” Kaluna said.
It was a night he will always remember. He knows his trench men up front well.
“My left tackle is Judah Kaio (6-2, 280). My left guard is Roebeck Rupp (6-4, 350) and Semisi (Sinapopo, 6-1, 255). From our center, it’s Brayden Mailo (6-1, 330). My right guard is Sione Heimuli (6-4, 370) and my right tackle is Manny (Marquardsen (6-2, 240),” Kaluna said.
Kaulana and Kana Loa will have different colors when it comes to their graduation caps, but their bond remains.
“Just looking up to my brother, I just wanted to accomplish what he has,” Kana Loa Kaluna said. “Being able to be a state champion means everything to me. I’ve always dreamed about this since I was a little kid.”
To the writer of Post #1, are you a graduate of the Kahuku Intermediate and High School? For the sake of the honor and academic reputation of the school, it would be better if you were not! If you were a student at the Kahuku Intermediate and High School, it is evident that you were among the 43% of the students there who failed to perform at the level of proficiency in reading. It is also evident that the Kahuku community cares much more about football than the academic performance and success of their students and alumni.
It is evident that you failed at life….
Is that you Education First?…
“ he is like a real LIKE puppet “ WTF…… Ed1st you still trying to sound smart even though you dumb as f@&k😂😂… Welcome back clown..
People. I just don’t get what is wrong with 88. Please do not associate 88 with our fabulous community who supports student athletes and fair play.
On behalf of our community I humbly apologize for 88’s actions. He may like Kahuku but he is in no way a part of our community. Our families do not act like this.
Thank you and have a very Merry Christmas.
Taking nothing away from Kahuku, but I think the spirits of the coaches that passed away at Kahuku had something to do with Kahuku’s win, Saint Louis sure handed receivers dropped passes that usually are caught, Saint Louis also lost to Radford in the 1981 Prep Bowl as Radford’s coach John Velasco passed away , Saint Louis was going in for a score and fumbled at the 1 yard line and a Radford player picked it up at the 1 yard line and went 99 yards the other way for a touch down, Radford went on the win the game. Not Whining just saying, Hahahaha, congratulations though Kahuku.
What a Christmas! Kahuku 49 State Louis 14..
Kahukus own homegrown RB Clyde Talaupapa is a junior and would have lit up the stat sheet easily too that night. Seems like Coach did the valiant thing by letting the senior play more. Clyde will be a beast next year for Kahuku.
BTW Talaupapas older brother was an all-state RB at Punahou in 2016 and is now a starter at Virginia.
@really, In the state championship game you usually have STL or Puns up against Kahuku. In the 80s and early 90s STL was winning titles with out having to recruit from Kahuku, they stuck with recruiting from Waianae to Hawaii Kai. But the advantage STL had was that they held their kids back one year so they were older then the rest of the competition which was really unfair and why they won so much titles.
Once the rule changed in the state title game where STL couldn’t play their 19yr olds and the playing field was somewhat even, Kahuku started to win in the 2000s. What did STL and Puns do? they started recruiting from Kahuku so now in the title games you have Kahuku kids on STL or PUNS roster beating Kahuku for state titles. Thats what agitates the Kahuku community and the outcry.
Here is food for thought. Nick Saban tried to coach in the NFL and was terrible, why? because the playing field was even, every NFL team has elite athletes. Nick Saban comes back to Alabama and is able to recruit NFL caliber athletes at every position on the field. Alabama wins because they have the best athletes. Similar to what Cal Lees legacy is, he only wins because he has the best athletes. This year Kahuku had the best athletes, what happen to those coaching abilitys you all talk about from STL?
Tua turned 19 his Senior year before graduation just after he won the state title game in 2016 against Kahuku. His Junior year 2015 when he was 17-18yr he lost to Kahuku. He should have been graduated at 18yrs old but he came back. Thats a HUUUUUGE advantage and its been happening for decades at STL.
Public school kids have the appropriate age to grade levels. Private schools like STL and Punahou will recruit an 8th grader from the public school system, usually a top athlete from pop-warner and they hold him back in 9th grade. So while all his friends from elementary are graduating in a particular year he is only a Junior. George Ornales from Kahuku was one of those kids held back a year when he transferred to STL his 8th grade year back in 1992.
Post #12 is correct, SL had very few boys who repeated a grade in any year, and they repeated for academic reasons, not for football. Post #13 is either honestly mistaken in believing that SL had many boys repeating a grade, or there is another reason for Post#13’s inaccurate statements. I know for a fact that Post#13 is wrong about George Ornellas’s grade level in 1992, he was a Sophomore-10th grade in the 1992 season, and graduated in 1995. George lived in Hauula if I recall correctly, and his father played on the first Crusader team that Cal Lee was the head coach of in 1972. So Post#13 is off by 2 years in stating that George’s eighth grade year was in 1992, it was in 1990. From my own recollection about SL having boys repeat a grade, Post#12 corroborates what I recall about boys not being allowed to play after the ILH season in the HHSAA tournament, it never was more than two. As for George, if you, Poster#13 check back copies-in 1992 of the Star-Bulletin or Advertiser, you will see that George was in his first season with the SL Varsity. Back then, no one below the 10th grade was allowed on the Varsity level in the ILH, and George played 3 seasons of Varsity football. I clearly recall George returning the second half kickoff for the first touchdown of the 1992 Prep Bowl against Waianae. So there are multiple contradictions, from my own recall, along with Post12’s corroborating statement, to Post#13’s statements about SL boys repeating a grade that weigh in against Post#13’s accuracy.
One player makes a HUUUUGE difference in the outcome of a game, especially if they are playing a skilled position. For example if Tua graduated in 2015 I bet Kahuku repeats in 2016, but no Tua comes back to lead STL over Kahuku.
That extra year of High school did wonders for Tua, he went on to win the Elite 11 QB competition that summer, won the Gatorade player of the year his SR yr and if Im not mistaken got the offer from Alabama his SR yr too. Going to Alabama enabled him to “throw short/run long” passes to NFL caliber receivers that helped made him look good, resulting in a candidate for Heisman and high draft pick into the NFL. This all translated to $$MILLIONS$$ of dollars for Tua. Great for him and his Fam!
This is the ideal situation or “template” for the serious football kids and their parents, its also the template that STL can use to recruit these athletes. You think Tua would have done all this had he stayed at Campbell High with a scrub OLINE and defense? let alone graduated from STL at 18 instead of 19?
The fact you are down playing the advantages of holding back kids and the existence of these “football factory” catholic high schools tells me you dont understand the money side of sports in the HS, College and Pro levels, High school titles are not the end goal but it is a necessary element to building the prestige of the athletes..and the school benefits too. The money trickles down to these lower levels via college scholarship offers.
When Kahuku crys about STL stealing their athletes its because the whole team and community benefits from the services of those stud athletes. A rising tide lifts all boats. Help your own friends and community, dont sell out to the private schools.
Uso we lost because of better coaching and better preparation by the Crusaders. This 19yr old thing is one of the biggest buluseki excuses ever. As long as you don’t turn 19 during the season you can play. And this pass Thursday they played and the Crusaders got MERCY RULED!!!!!!!!
Nick Saban cant win in the NFL yet he is a legend in college?
Cal and Ron Lee cant win in college but legends in high school? Sounds like coaching is not as important as recruiting and having the best athletes.
The coaching only works when you have better players then the other team.
You think Mililanis missing ingredient was coaching so when York comes in they win the OIA and State titles? No! York brought the athletes from Kalihi, Aiea, Kapolei etc..
@88 seems like you blinded by the story Cal and all the STL alumni trying to feed you, that coaching matters therefore send your kids to private schools.
No not blinded just calling it like it is. We could of 3peated if not for some terrible decisions by our Coaches..
2015 Kahuku lost that killer defense (Anae,Gilman,Kaniho,Atuaia etc.), Imagine if those players were held back and played again in 2016, Kahuku would have repeated despite Tua (who was held back) and those faulty coaching decisions you talk about.
Athletes make the coaches job easier. You got to look at the bigger picture. A coaches ability to recruit is greater then his knowledge of the x’s and 0’s. Case and point Siuaki Livai.
The real coaching that develops the kids IQ and physical dominance is done in pop-warner and the off seasons. Why do you think Cal likes to wait till intermediate and then cherry pick the cream of the crop kids out of the various pop-warner programs state wide? He is getting them already developed and mentally capable of executing the plays. Easy to coach and win like that.
STL coaches from Laie are eyeing the Laie park pop-warner program every year trying to get the best kids transfered to STL with the sales pitch of ‘better coaching”, cmon its all a scam and selfish gratification of the STL alumni, they cannot handle losing to public schools. Dont tell yourself that story.
Uso check your roster again. One of those kids was playing in 2016. And majority of the stars on that 2016 team were in the 6th grade with those kids you said we loss in 2015. Like I said earlier, you can play as long as you don’t turn 19 during the season. Take your time and do some research before you come on here and spit nonsense… Anyways , MERCY RULE baby! Faka cheehooo!
When mjthegoat99 incorrectly states that George Ornellas’s 8th grade year was in 1992, it can’t help but seriously undermine mj’s credibility and accuracy in anything mj says. George Ornellas’s (please take note of the correct spelling of George’s family name) 8th grade year was in 1990-19991. In the 1992 season, George was a 10th grade first year member of the Saint Louis varsity football team, go check the sports pages of the Star-Bulletin or the Advertiser for 1992 for confirmation of that. I clearly recall George returning the second half kickoff for the first touchdown of the 1992 Prep Bowl against Waianae. Furthermore, family ties to Kalaepohaku was the “recruiter” for George-his father played for Cal Lee in 1972, Cal’s first season as a head coach there, and George has other family members who preceded him at Saint Louis. George graduated from Saint Louis in 1995, check the Star-Bulletin or Advertiser for their coverage of the 1994 Prep Bowl to confirm that the ‘94 season and Prep Bowl were the final season and game he played as a member of the Saint Louis varsity. If mj were correct, George would have been a Senior in the ‘95 or ‘96 season (mj incorrectly said that George’s 8th grade year was in ’92, but school years overlap calendar years so it is not clear whether mj meant ‘91-‘92 or ‘92-‘93) and graduated in 1996 or 1997, but none of that is true. mj’s claims about recruiting are therefore very suspect, at best, and probably wrong. mj probably believes unsubstantiated claims or rumors and very willingly accepts them as truth without any effort to attempt to falsify them. It is silly to think that high school coaches spend time and effort to recruit players like collegiate coaches do, especially considering the relatively low compensation that high school coaches receive. Most, if not all, have full time jobs outside of school and football. Saban is quite capable of being a winner in the NFL, his time as Dolphins head coach was too brief to conclude that he could not win as a head coach in the NFL. Even Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh was thought to be a failure as a head coach after 2 full seasons as 49ers head coach, suffering losing seasons, 2-14 and 6-10, in both.
Pakekila explain to me the quantum particle!
When mjthegoat99 incorrectly states that George Ornellas’s 8th grade year was in 1992, it can’t help but seriously undermine mj’s credibility and accuracy in anything mj says. George Ornellas’s (please take note of the correct spelling of George’s family name) 8th grade year was in 1990-19991. In the 1992 season, George was a 10th grade first year member of the Saint Louis varsity football team, go check the sports pages of the Star-Bulletin or the Advertiser for 1992 for confirmation of that. I clearly recall George returning the second half kickoff for the first touchdown of the 1992 Prep Bowl against Waianae. Furthermore, family ties to Kalaepohaku was the “recruiter” for George-his father played for Cal Lee in 1972, Cal’s first season as a head coach there, and George has other family members who preceded him at Saint Louis. George graduated from Saint Louis in 1995, check the Star-Bulletin or Advertiser for their coverage of the 1994 Prep Bowl to confirm that the ‘94 season and Prep Bowl were the final season and game he played as a member of the Saint Louis varsity. If mj were correct, George would have been a Senior in the ‘95 or ‘96 season (mj incorrectly said that George’s 8th grade year was in ’92, but school years overlap calendar years so it is not clear whether mj meant ‘91-‘92 or ‘92-‘93) and graduated in 1996 or 1997, but none of that is true. mj’s claims about recruiting are therefore very suspect, at best, and probably wrong. mj probably believes unsubstantiated claims or rumors concerning ILH recruiting and very willingly accepts them as truth without any effort to attempt to falsify them, just as mj probably did not check to find out what years encompassed George’s 8th grade year.It is silly to think that high school coaches spend time and effort to recruit players like collegiate coaches do, especially considering the relatively low compensation that high school coaches receive. Most, if not all, have full time jobs outside of school and football, and have not the time to recruit like college coaches. Saban is quite capable of being a winner in the NFL, his time as Dolphins head coach was too brief to conclude that he could not win as a head coach in the NFL. Even Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh was thought to be a failure as a head coach after 2 full seasons as 49ers head coach, suffering losing seasons, 2-14 and 6-10, in both. So while mj is most certainly entitled to his own opinions, that right does not extend to the facts of any matter.
why can’t D1 and D2 teams compete with the open division? Why can’t NAIA, division 2, and Division 3 compete with division 1A? Why couldn’t Lee win when he went to Kalani before going back to St Louis?? why does Kahuku continue to win year after year with different coaches at the helm? I believe the answer is ATHLETE’S!!! Not coaching…..If there is any argument about this you must not know football or Sports in general
As for the nineteen-year-old theory it makes a world of difference all those years that we lost to Saint Louis in the prep Bowl and states let us bring back just a “FEW/COUPLE/HANDFUL” of our key players for the next year when they’re 19 years old, let’s see how that works out, they were barely beating us with the kids we had….. imagine we bring back some of our seniors every year to play another season…..we would never lose…… every year would look like this past one…..MERCY RULE
This years win was due to having the better bullets.
Plain and simple.
If a kid played in a game, that means he met the age requirements.
So whats the problem?
Btw, has anyone mentioned PED use at the high school level?
Just throwing it out there.
Shux appears to be making the same mistake as mj, believing an unsubstantiated claim or rumor without making any effort to disprove and falsify it. Especially if the claim would-at least to their uncritical way of thinking-explain an outcome they disapprove of and would discredit someone they don’t approve of or like. Whether the theory is originally conceived in the mind of the believer or is received in a second hand manner, if the believer-or potential believer-would first attempt to falsify the theory by trying to disprove it with multiple attempts, and then fails even with multiple attempts to disprove it, then the theory could at least be said to have survived multiple attempts to disprove it, and appears to be true, unless it can be indisputably and conclusively proved with incontrovertible evidence. But these believers in the theory that ILH schools-one in particular-will make a student repeat a grade level in an effort to produce a superior and dominant player for the purpose of enhancing their team’s chances of success and winning championships never offer any evidence that at least could be examined with any degree of analytical rigor. So unless and until any credible reasonable suspicion or evidence that could be examined is presented, any and all talk of an unfair competitive advantage by the ILH schools, especially in the past, is not to be seriously regarded.
From the outside looking in. I agree with both sides talent and coaching does makes a difference. In all fairness this year Kahuku won the ship because of coaching. Sometimes the community gets too much say in the high school sports teams. You guys finally let Coach Carvalho do what was needed to put Kahuku in a better place. Only if they let Carvalho do his thing when Soljay Maiava was there it would have been a good thing. Kahuku missed out on Mutiple exceptional QBs Soljay Maiava, Blaine Hipa, Tiger Adolpho. So in other words this could have been done awhile a go if they just let the coaches coach. IMO.