In an era when large rosters and immense depth of talent tend to rule the prep basketball universe, there’s Konawaena.
Coach Bobbie Awa’s Wildcats have proven, once again, that talent is great to have, but depth? The Wildcats may be the only program, boys or girls, that has demonstrated that it doesn’t take 15 or 12 or even 10 players to win a Division I girls basketball state title. Up to last Friday night’s clutch 44-34 win over a tremendously deep and young Maryknoll team, Awa and her hoopsters have captured seven state championships over the last 13 seasons.
The Wildcats meet almost no general consensus when it comes to the elements that make up the typical dynasty in Hawaii.
>> Consistency at the top
Awa has been at the helm of the girls hoops program since the mid-1990s, before any of the current Wildcats were born yet. Other programs that have reached the pinnacle in recent years like Kamehameha and Punahou have experienced turnover at the head coaching position. Even Hilo, which has been a force in the BIIF and statewide, lost its head coach, Ben Pana, who is now coaching the boys program there. The most consistent program at the state level besides Konawaena: Lahainaluna, which has a head coach (Todd Rickard) who has been in charge for nearly two decades. Like Awa, he has his imprint on the feeder program in the Lady Lunas’ district.
>> Administrative support
In an era when more and more parents locally and across the nation feel entitled to express their personal needs ahead of the team’s success, Awa has full confidence and backing from her administrators, as well as the community. Take one key piece of the puzzle away, and the challenges become supremely immense. Teamwork on and off the court has been vital.
>> Konawaena is not a large public school
Since Kealakehe opened in 1998, Konawaena immediately became one of Hawaii Island’s mid-sized high schools. Since the girls basketball tournament went to a classification format in 2003, Konawaena has stayed in D-I with the big girls.
>> Konawaena is not an elite ILH school
Time to time, I’ve heard rumors of players from other islands, not just within the BIIF, considering a move to the Kealakekua-based campus. It happened last year when the Bates twins (Lindsay and Taylor) and Aloha Salem relocated from Lahainaluna. But the rest of the time, it turned out to be nothing but chatter. Leave home to play with a group of dedicated, humble basketball student-athletes? It’s understandably tempting, but parents in the girls hoops universe generally gravitate more to Hawaii’s universally-known institutions like Kamehameha and Punahou, ‘Iolani and, in the new generation, Maryknoll.
>> Konawaena is not from the state’s largest (by far) public-school league
Though the BIIF has a fairly large contingent of public and private schools, the league has just two berths in the D-I state tourney. The OIA dwarfs the state’s other public-school leagues and has six state berths.
>> Konawaena draws from a small population in the South Kona District
Historically and currently, other sports like soccer, softball and volleyball draw larger numbers than Konawaena’s girls basketball program. That cuts severely into the talent pool available to Awa, but it also becomes addition through subtraction. The Wildcats are left with only the most dedicated players.
It’s a mix of blessings (talent) and devotion (work ethic) that have made the ‘Cats uniquely successful. Chanelle Molina has been a magical player (27 points in last year’s state final win over Lahainaluna, 24 points in this year’s title win over Maryknoll). Prior to her, Lia Galdeira was arguably the greatest female high school athlete of this generation, forming a potent 1-2 combination with point guard Dawnyelle Awa. But one or two players alone can’t do it all.
This year’s team suited up nine players, some of whom were on the JV team that actually didn’t exist at the start of preseason due to low numbers. Eventually, the team ran too low number-wise and closed shop. That’s a big reason why, in a slow-paced battle against Chico Furtado’s Maryknoll squad, Awa opted to play only her five starters: Ihi Victor, Mikayla Tablit, Cherilyn Molina, Celena Jane Molina and state-tourney most outstanding player Chanelle Molina.
Each year and certainly each specific state championship is different, as Awa, a former Hawaii Pacific College player, has said. Take one player away from those early Wildcat teams that were fed directly by Bobbie and Donald Awa’s Kona Stingrays club team, and the chemistry may have been altered. Maybe there would be no championship trophy in 2004 or ’07 or ’09. Add one more player and maybe the Mana Hopkins team in ’10 has enough to reach the final instead of falling in the quarterfinals with just seven players.
The past four title teams (’11, ’12, ’15, ’16) were loaded with individual talent on the court, not a lot on the bench. When the Wildcats last felt the sting of an upset loss, it came on Feb. 8, 2014 in a 54-51 quarterfinal loss to Mililani. Chanelle Molina, then a sophomore, had 27 points, four assists and five steals. Victor, also a sophomore, had 11 points. Beyond that, the team was young and relatively inexperienced compared to a Mililani team that featured transfer Sarah Liva (13 points, 13 rebounds) and sharpshooter Mikaela Limper (17 points).
Mililani went on to lose to eventual champion Punahou 53-48 in the semifinal round. Konawaena responded in ’15 by ousting Punahou in the quarterfinals 51-37 and Roosevelt 54-33 in the semis. The Wildcats then stopped Lahainaluna 51-41 for their first title with all three Molina sisters — point guard Cherilyn now in her freshman year — together on the varsity roster.
Simplicity is too easy an explanation, but it’s understandable. Awa’s teams always play man-to-man defense, though there have been some slight tweaks here and there. When the Wildcats arrived at the state tourney last week, their defensive prowess and flexibility were so good, they utilized a lot of jump switching. That played a role in their wins over Punahou (yes, they seem to face the Buffanblu almost regularly in the quarterfinals), Kaiser and Maryknoll.
Defensive versatility has been huge for Awa’s team. Victor is strong enough to stymie bigger post scorers, but nimble enough to cover the perimeter, and certainly fast enough to be a weapon in transition. Celena Jane Molina, who will return next season, is arguably the best defender in the state with her length, quick feet and ability to cover any position 1 through 5.
Awa’s teams continue to see man defenses in preseason, when the Wildcats won the ‘Iolani Classic against mainland competition and went 2-1 at the Title IX tournament in D.C., and in the state tourney. She and her staff have built Konawaena to execute against man defense with steady stream of backdoor cuts, but no key may be more important than the patience of all five players on the floor. Even the mighty Galdeira, now playing professionally in Europe, never dominated a game with shot attempts. She always preferred to stay in system, working patiently and precisely for the right shot at the right time.
There hasn’t been a program in the past decade-plus that engineers offensively with as much understanding of angles and spacing, boys or girls.
And now, the 2015-16 season is over. Victor and the oldest Molina, Chanelle, will graduate. But it was an unusual ride. Both seniors missed significant time due to injuries during the BIIF season, and the remaining Wildcats learned and evolved, and kept winning. It was a prelude to what the 2016-17 season will bring. There will be question marks, as always, about depth and size.
But the younger Molinas, crafty and uber-quick Cherilyn and rangy, tough Celena Jane, helped lead Konawaena through that injury-riddled patch in January. Awa still has the passion for the game and her knowledge is masterful. She was born to teach, and her players were born to be coachable. She will take the reins as coach of Team Aloha in the spring, and then she will take her Stingrays team to the mainland in the summer. The seasons change, but Konawaena girls basketball cycles through the same pattern and efficiency, young keiki filling their days with repetition of fundamentals.
It’s been no overnight miracle, but the results have been nothing short of miraculous.
Is Brian good Greg? He told me he’s the dom and you are the fem. Is that how it works?
Rams33, please get your info correct, “** She wasn’t kicked out of school and could certainly be going back to school if she chose to do so.”
Everyone knows she wasn’t going to class. It was even reported, go and google it. Nice try.
And $75,000, can you even live off that little bit?
And Ram33 stop making up stuff! I saw you at Safeway the other day with your EBT Card! You don’t know what a professional journal is. You definitely do not own a table where you can put it on. And I just saw you on the store camera at Walmart typing since you neither own a computer of your own or can afford the internet subscription. You are full of tall tales. But it’s humorous. So thank you!
Education First,
Earlier you said you had a job and didn’t have time to respond to comments. Now you have all the time in the world to attack people.
Just my two pennies
frost..we’re here. Meet us by the front wooden doors with the glass windows by menu stand. Did walk through and could find you in restaurant.
frist, we’re out front
Haha!! Education First why do you have to repeat & write over everything we say? Why are you running out of words? Haha!!! Looks like Education First is running scared. I guess you got jokes on you, but more like a little boy running scared. You definitely are very humorous & entertaining. If your so rich & say you make more than 75,000 a year why don’t you hire yourself a body guard instead of hiding behind your computer.
lol so random… I still have no clue why you brought up the question of which professional journals I read (for the record I get 3 a month but only really thumb through 1 of them). But I think this full blown trolling suits you better than pretending to have knowledge of education or Bball. Obviously no sense trying to be serious when you have dozens of aliases here.
But I’ve finally figured out who you are! From your maturity level it’s obvious you’re somewhere under 18. And from the butt-hurt about Awa and the Molinas, it’s become clear to me that you were some scrub with basketball dreams who played against the boys Stingrays club and figured you’d guard one of the girls playing on the team. So one of them proceeded to take your lunch and ruin your confidence forever. Now you’re a wannabe player unable to make a team and your fetish for uniforms leads me to the final conclusion… Ed First- Water Boy/ Equip Mgr at Saint Louis ( or perhaps Iolani).
And I’d ask you to provide proof that Galdeira was kicked out of school but the last source you provided proved the opposite of your point.
NO SHOW. Yep bruddahs, no surprise but frist (i.e. Message board nerd) was NOT at Wolfgangs at 12:30p. Cruised the place a few times and IM him that we were out front. Suggest u don’t waste time on this bitter cowardly wannabe. Wasn’t a total waste, hadn’t surfed Queens in years and will head down there since we’re in the area. What a joke this Bozo was. IM OUT!
Even asked hostess to check for a guy wearing a yellow aloha shirt and khakis after we couldn’t find him after THREE walk throughs of restaurant. NADDA! LMFAO!!!!!
I was there and you were not. You are such a FRAUD! Don’t make like you showed up. I was with the manager Bill and you can call 922-3600 and ask. The only place you showed up to is Hula’s which I heard you are a regular at. You are such a BS. Showed up, haha, what a joke you coward!
Random observer February 18, 2016 at 12:33 pm
Education First,
Earlier you said you had a job and didn’t have time to respond to comments. Now you have all the time in the world to attack people.
Just my two pennies
Wow, I seen you have been saving your money! You are now richer than both Joe and Ram!
@Joe, and which hostess is that? I know all 3 of them. So please describe the hostess you talked to you wimp!
Greg February 18, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Haha!! Education First why do you have to repeat & write over everything we say? Why are you running out of words? Haha!!! Looks like Education First is running scared. I guess you got jokes on you, but more like a little boy running scared. You definitely are very humorous & entertaining. If your so rich & say you make more than 75,000 a year why don’t you hire yourself a body guard instead of hiding behind your computer.
Gregory, it’s called referencing. I know you were not taught that when you went to Kona and did not graduate. Can you imagine how much worse their scores would be if your test scores actually counted?
Why do I need to hire a bodyguard? Body guards are typically reserved for people that make tens of millions a year. I have to tell the truth, I don’t make that much. I make more in the neighborhood of 2.5 a year. I would write 2.5 million, but I don’t know if you can count that high.
Joe February 18, 2016 at 12:36 pm
frost..we’re here. Meet us by the front wooden doors with the glass windows by menu stand. Did walk through and could find you in restaurant.
Joe February 18, 2016 at 12:38 pm
frist, we’re out front
HAHAH, this guy is such a wimp. First he doesn’t show up. Then he says he came with someone! HAHA. He had to come with backup!
Education First , haha you call it referencing but I believe your so smart that you can’t remember what you just read. Yes please brag about how much you make & keep teasing everyone cause your sounding more dumb than ever. Your words of hatred just makes me smile more because I know we are getting in your head & it’s driving you insane right now. Boohoo!! I really feel for you Education First . Your such a talker, but in reality your a little jealous wimp with nobody around for comfort. Perhaps I can comfort you by saying We do love you Education First , so did that comfort you or are you boiling more with jealousy & hatred. I would also like to thank you for making this article so much more popular. Hopefully they’ll write another one similar to this or even better when they announce who the All-State player of the year is. Can’t wait to for that article because than I know your jealousy & hatred will finally make you jump off a cliff. Education First aka Konawaena Lover, lol
@Ram33, maturity level can’t be more than 12.
I have your mom to comfort me! Don’t be so rude to her! She made a lot of sacrifices for you! Show some respect, lol.
And while other schools keep winning important titles, you can hitch your pony to Girls Basketball! LOL!
And @The Rim, C’mon, give me at least 13, I have earned that! And I love how I keep wasting your guys time! lol….you guys crack me up!
Also Greg, tell your daughter to do a better job of flipping my burger! It was under cooked last time. Can’t she even do that correctly? Well I guess not, being that you are the dad!
I seen ‘Education First’… Won’t disclose her name but she ‘s the Butchie working once a year setting up and breaking down equipment @Punahou carnival. Mrs. E.K. Fernandez, that’s her new name.
Education First that’s good to know that my mom’s comforting you in this difficult time. Mr. Rich man you like burgers so much I’m glad we made it for you. It’s awesome how other schools are winning titles wether it be basketball or football. Their community are definitely proud of their winnings & won’t let a wimp like you take that away from them. Still, I feel really sorry you have to stoop so low as to degrade players for your satisfaction. God be with you & please take care of your health before you start getting a heart attack from all your hatred & jealousy towards others. As for cracking you up glad we all can help you with that since your life is so miserable.
FYI: A lot of people read your comments on this article also & like a little scared boy you never showed up at the meeting spot, just all mouth, lol.. Everyone read this & tell me Mr.Education First obsession with players. Really tells you a lot about his character & immature nature.
http://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/boys-basketball/akina-files-suit-against-kahuku-and-parents/#comments
Greg what is your fascination with little girls? It is because you took your cousin to the prom? Didn’t the judge warn you. I googled your name and I notice that you are a registered sex offender. It’s okay. I understand. Calling 1-900 numbers and trying to pretend to be a HS boy on social media didn’t work for you. But c’mon, this is getting a little gross and tired.
MOMS, lock the door, Greg is on the loose!
And thank you Greg for pulling out some of my finest work! I feel like a movie star and you are the paparazzi. I guess with your background of enticing young girls, that was a little uncalled for. So I apologize for the paparazzi comment. I still feel famous though, thanks!!!
Action Jackson February 18, 2016 at 4:05 pm
I seen ‘Education First’… Won’t disclose her name but she ‘s the Butchie working once a year setting up and breaking down equipment @Punahou carnival. Mrs. E.K. Fernandez, that’s her new name.
C’mon, I work every day at your mom’s house pleasing her because your dad couldn’t other than the one time they had you as a mistake. She tells me I am the best. She is my community service!
BTW, RIP Vanity, who was a co-star on Action Jackson the movie, not the MORON.
And the only claim to fame that GREG can make it Kona winning Girls Basketball, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Here is the list of most important sports in High School:
1) Football
2) Boys Basketball
3) Baseball
4) Track and Field
5) Boys/Girls Soccer
6) Wrestling
7) Judo
8) Water Polo
9) Tennis
10) Volleyball
11) Air Riflery
12) Paddling
13) Teatherball
14) Chinese Checkers
15) Jacks
16) Hopscotch
17) Cribbage
18) POGS
19) Jan Ken Po
20) Girls Basketball
21) Greg checking out young kids
Education whoa love it got you more mad than ever, I knew this would boil your blood. Thank you for describing yourself in a long novel here. Keep calling everyone names & falling off the subject from one to the other. I can’t wait to read what you write next. Cheehoo!!!
Education First your the one with the obsession for girls basketball so here is another claim I can make:
http://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/girls-basketball/konawaena-is-at-no-24-in-maxpreps/
Hope you enjoyed reading this & please stop crying I know this is hard for you to take
Greg you are making me blush! Thank you! You are my new fan boy! Just stay away from the kids like the judge said ok?
And mad? No way! I love it! I always wanted to be famous and you are making me famous! I owe you lunch or something! I am honored that you are spending so much time following me. If I ever make a fan page or a social media page I will make sure that you are my president!
I will make Education First Shirts and your will have a heart on it! I (HEART) Education First.
What color would you like to shirts to be? I think we are on to something. You are the new president of my fan club! Greg & Education First to the end!
CHEE-HOO!!!!
Greg, I just talked to my printer at Lanakila Custom Products. We will use moxie3innovations since you like to support girls’ sports to develop the concept. Then they will email the designs to you for approval. After you approve the art, the ai and eps files will be sent to Lanakila for printing.
This is what moxie needs from you as my new president:
1) colorway
2) wordmark
3) logo ideas
Let me know your email and I will send you a contract to sign for your salary. Since you are used to getting welfare checks from the government and cashing it at the checks cashing places, and using an EBT card, do you have a personal or business bank account that my company can do a direct deposit with? I am assuming you don’t. So we will need my accountant to go with you to the bank to set one up.
And do you have a last name? I am assuming you have a State ID (I know you can’t afford a car so you would not have a Driver’s License). You will need that to open the account.
Since you think $75,000 is so much money (it’s actually a steal), can we negotiate that $75,000 is your yearly salary to be the president of my fanboy club? If you do well I will renegotiate after 1 year and give you shares in the company if I ever go public.
Let me know. I am excited to get this going with you Greg.
Education First sounds more like you are my #1 fan. Haha, love how I’m making so mad that your forced to say & write like you love it just to make yourself feel good. Haha but your still going off the subject. You really are running out of things to say. Stoke that I’m making you Famous & your welcome. I’m glad at least I can do something for a hatred & jealous person like you to make you feel better. Can’t wait to get the shirt your gonna make for me. I’m so happy your making progress here. Keep following me because I will not disappear on you my psycho stalker. Let’s keep this going Education First so that I can give you something to focus on besides your hatred & jealousy.
Greg I am your number 1 fan! Did it take you that long to realize! And like I said, I am not mad, I love this. The only thing I feel bad for is the kids that you prey on. It is a little sick. While I love to golf and sail, you like to check out little kids. I guess we all have our vices.
Hate and ander? You must have me mistaken for 88 (where are you?). I am full of love and warmth like you have for the kids you follow.
Of course I am going to follow you! You are the best and I want to be like you. I want to:
1) follow young kids (nah I am actually joking, you have trademarked this skill)
2) be poor
3) be a fanboy
Those are some high aspirations. I am not sure if I can get there. but I will keep trying and wasting your time.
#winning
Actually I can go on for days. If you compare the pieces, look athe who can come up with the original pieces of work. You have to either resort to:
1) recuclyed material
2) other people’s thoughts
But then again, you aren’t the sharpest tool in the shed so it’s understood.
BTW,, how come you never replied to my earlier comment about UNC and Duke Basketball Blogs? When posters write or compare different players, no one comes on the board and accuses Coach K or Coach Williams of writing these things.
But on this blog, a poster compares Kuehu and Galdeira and you immediately accuse the Cal Storm coach or Coach Taylor.
Are you that foolish? I love how you cannot answer the inferences I make. but you choose to disguise or camouflage. Don’t worry, I will be here to help you. I will take it slower since i know my writing is too high level for you. And with your Kona intelligence it must be very hard to comprehend.
Just look at your writing. I never knew one person could use elementary vocabulary. In all the posts your have written, the highest level vocabulary word you used has been hatred, hahaha.
Now that’s funny. It’s mean that I point it out, but it’s still funny. I know I am not supposed to pick on the weak, but with you my friend, it’s so easy.
Let me guess, you are going to come back with your infamous, “I am making you mad for the 1000th time (YAWN).”
Um, can you come up with something more original? Man, at least use a synonym for mad to make it interesting or higher level reading for our audience.
How about furious, indignant, irate, or sullen? Many at least mix it up. You have a computer and google. Geez, how about entertaining our audience and stop being such a one note writer!
I am starting to think you are in middle school or elementary school student. Your writing lacks high level thought, the use of conventions, and is poorly organized. You jump around and never use transition words to change your thought.
Now I feel just bad! I am picking on a 3rd grade kid! C’mon moderator, let’s get these children off this blog!!! Parents, please watch your computers and make sure these children like Greg are not using the computer without parental supervision!
And elementary school teachers in Kona, you have failed Greg and now I am upset! You are right Greg, I am steaming mad (Greg’s favorite word)! How can the system let you fall through the cracks! Just look at Greg’s writing above for proof!
No one has taught him to properly compose a piece of writing! My anger is now tuning to sadness. What will Greg do with his life if he cannot’ even compose proper sentences and use conventional styles of writing?
Blah Blah Blah!!! repeating everything you just wrote, haha!! Here is Mr. or Mrs. Education First goes again, a lot of nonsense. Keep venting buddy your still looking good, haha!!
Education First glad admitted that your anger is turning into sadness, boohoo!! We really feel for you
Compare the two pieces. I am a scholar and you are a moron. Keep writing, you are just proving it to the world. I mean can you come up with something better? You are boring the cyberworld and especially the Hawaii Sports World. But no worries you can always rely on your “special homemade video collection.” You just better hope the Feds don’t find it first, then your name won’t be Greg, it will be Gregina, someone’s mamacita. Oops, I forgot, you already are, haha.
Do you guys notice that Gregory is unable to reply to my comments? He has to retort so the use of simple sentences and low level vocabulary.
HAHA, he is so dumb! He thinks that the Cal Storm coach and Coach Taylor are writing on here. Haha, he is such a dumbshit, and he’s so dumb he tries to act smart not knowing the more he writes, the dumber he looks.
I LOVE IT!! Please keep it coming.
They don’t have to compare the two pieces, obviously your the dumb one. Keep backing up Cal Storm & Coach Taylor because the more you keep saying their names the more the world knows that they are connected to you & the more it sounds like they are next to you. I’m not gonna call you anymore names or resort to your low immature level. I believe you’ve already done that yourself. Congratulations I’m glad you love it & enjoying your hobby here. Tell me what else I can do for you.
GET OVER IT- EDUCATION FIRST YOU NEED A LIFE AND GREG LET HIM GO HE IS A FOOLISH FREAKY FOOL
Btw Miss Education Fernandez, girls hoops would be ranked 4th behind football, basketball, and baseball. Please get me a free EK Fernandez shirt, I know you got the connections. I’ll be the waterboy @St. Louis this fall, theres a vacancy for Kickoff tee retriever, you have to do a tumble once you grab the tee and run to the sidelines. Can you handle that? I knew you could!
Education F- After games we’ll go take our EBT’s to your normal hangout spot 7-11 for dinner. We can get slurpees and nachos w/ all da free cheese n squirt chili your heart desires. Me you and Gaylord Correa the veteran waterboy/ kickoff tee retriever for the Crusaders. I knew you were the man! Hey, don’t forget your EBT. Hehe
Leave me alone already! I just love basketball, you guys are cruel and mean spirited. I’m depressed and sometimes lash out and make stuff up when I’m not under care. If I offended anyone I’m sorry. Mahalo.