HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – On Friday, the Kahuku football team will travel and play Konawaena in Kona for the first time in program history.
As the two teams embark on their new seasons, the heartbreak of how last year ended is still quite vivid with losses in state title games.
The number-one seed Wildcats fell in overtime to a late Kapaa field goal in the Division I final, while the Red Raiders were stunned by longtime rival Saint Louis for the open championship.
To kick off this season, Kahuku was shut out at home for the first time since 1996.
“It was a crazy feeling. I definitely don’t want it to happen again,” said Kahuku linebacker Malaki Soliai-Tui.
Momentum picked up last week with a gritty win against Kamehameha, where running back Toa Sam hit the end zone twice.
He remembers his older brothers and cousins dazzling the Red Sea before him.
“It feels special we always watch the highlights of the guys before us and they’re always balling out so it feels good to carry it on,” said Sam.
Last year, Kahuku played Konawaena in a preseason match, but it was at Kahuku High.
Now Big Red will have to fly to Hawaii Island for the first time in nearly two decades.
Nihoa Pule was part of the last Kahuku squad to visit a BIIF team. In 2008, they went to Kealakehe.
“A lot of these kids don’t get off the island so it’s good to experience some of the other islands out here,” said Pule.
Konawaena head coach Brad Uemoto added, “Teams like Kahuku, they’re traveling to Mater Dei and they’re returning those trips so their travel times are usually spent in mainland trips.”
Uemoto relishes the chance to book tough opponents.
Last year, they traveled to play Punahou and Kahuku.
They were outscored 48-0, but Uemoto views it as a learning opportunity.
“We’re trying to see who we were, you know what our identity would be,” said Uemoto.
The Wildcats hope to keep the Kahuku defense on its heels with a high-flying attack that last year averaged 42 points a game, as junior quarterback Keenan Alani enters his third season with this offense.
“I just worked on footwork and reading more, reading defenses,” said Alani.
Konawaena wide receiver Max Taetuna Fautanu added, “If we play our game I think we’ll be fine. Focus on winning the play, not the whole game.”
After a quick trip to Kona, the Red Raiders will travel back to Oahu to host national powerhouse Bishop Gorman, while the Wildcats begin league play next week against Kamehameha-Hawaii.
Hawaii News Now will televise Friday’s game between Kahuku and Konawaena.
Coverage starts at 7 p.m. only on K5 and streaming online here.
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