Finding a place to stay on the Big Island has been a major headache for the Kahuku girls soccer team.
But relief is here in the form of Kealakehe High athletic director Alan Vogt, who extended an invitation on Thursday to the Red Raiders to stay in the Waveriders’ wrestling room Friday night.
Kahuku is flying to Kailua-Kona tomorrow for its 5 p.m. first-round state tournament match against ‘Iolani at Konawaena High School.
The winner plays Baldwin in the quarterfinals at the Konawaena field on Saturday at 1 p.m., while the loser plays in an 11 a.m. consolation match.
Vogt said Kahuku athletic director Gillian Yamagata confirmed the Red Raiders would stay at Kealakehe on Friday night. Due to a lack of hotels available during President’s Day and Valentine’s Day weekend, Kahuku needed to scramble for lodging.
The Red Raiders plan to fly home later Saturday.
“Our football and basketball coach, Sam Kekuokalani, is a Kahuku alum and he told me Kahuku was looking for a place to stay and if we would be able to make arrangments for them to stay with us. I said, ‘Yes.’
“We’re all state employees and part of the DOE and we want to accommodate other schools in need.”
Kealakehe is 13 miles away from Konawaena.
The state tournament continues on Feb. 20 and 21, with the semifinals and championship game at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium on Oahu.
It’s funny but really sad like what’s next huh,..whereas there’s ineligibility, official blind bias calls and now it’s doing the players without sleep. Another win advantage for the opposition yet what can we expect next from the game book;…maybe a green food card?
Too late,…like much too late; yeh believe it like Kahuku players didn’t have it and like they didn’t want it and yet they only wanted a comforting place to sleep with normal bedding and
lodging accommodation like no sleep for them until they arrive home.