2023 DIVISION I   »  Open Division  »  Division II


Waipahu sweeps All-Hawaii Division I accolades

ScoringLive photo illustration

Offensive Player of the Year: Eric Stephens, Waipahu, WR, Sr.

Defensive Player of the Year: Elijah Nahoopii-Makakona, Waipahu, DB, Sr.

Coach of the Year: Bryson Carvalho, Waipahu


FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Kanai Aguiar

Kapaa  •  Sr
OL  •  5'8  250

Nakoa Ige

Konawaena  •  Jr
OL  •  5'10  220

Kingston Jennings

Farrington  •  Sr
OL  •  6'2  341

Eric Moananu

Waipahu  •  Sr
OL  •  6'0  260

Manamoui Muti

Leilehua  •  Jr
OL  •  6'6  260

Elijah Mendoza

Waipahu  •  So
QB  •  6'0  165

Sitani Mikaele

Farrington  •  Sr
RB  •  5'10  238

Zed Anahu-Ambrosio

Konawaena  •  Jr
WR  •  5'10  185

Timothy Arnold

Leilehua  •  Sr
WR  •  6'0  185

Jayden Chanel

Waipahu  •  Sr
WR  •  6'3  205

Eric Stephens

Waipahu  •  Sr
WR  •  5'11  170

Sylas Alaimalo

Damien  •  Jr
UT  •  5'10  185

DEFENSE

Arjay Kelemete

Waipahu  •  Sr
DL  •  6'2  215

Anelu Lafaele

Farrington  •  Sr
DL  •  6'1  226

Caleb Lauifi

Waipahu  •  Sr
DL  •  6'1  250

Elias Malapit

Konawaena  •  Jr
DL  •  5'11  220

Isaiah Iosefa

Waipahu  •  Jr
LB  •  6'1  200

Teva Loft

Lahainaluna  •  Sr
LB  •  6'2  190

Keawe Navas Loa

Konawaena  •  Sr
LB  •  5'9  190

Elijah Nahoopii-Makakona

Waipahu  •  Sr
DB  •  5'10  160

Everest Rodriguez

Farrington  •  Jr
DB  •  5'7  145

Austin Takaki

Konawaena  •  Jr
DB  •  5'8  175

Taniela Taliauli

Iolani  •  Sr
DB  •  5'11  205

Armenio Blanco

Konawaena  •  Jr
UT  •  5'9  175

SPECIALISTS

Nakoa Ige

Konawaena  •  Jr
K  •  5'10  220

Matthew Mashiba

Kailua  •  Sr
P  •  5'11  175

Eric Stephens

Waipahu  •  Sr
RET  •  5'11  170

Tai Aipia-Barrett

Waipahu  •  Sr
AP  •  5'10  160

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SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

QB: Keoki Alani, Konawaena - Sr • 5'10  165
RB: Cole Northington, Leilehua - Sr • 5'9  190
WR: Kekama Kane, Iolani - So • 511  140
WR: Abraham Ogata, Konawaena - Jr • 6'0  180
WR: Dayton Savea, Damien - Jr • 5'9  160
WR: Austin Takaki, Konawaena - Jr • 5'8  175
OL: Kaikoa Kanakaole, Kapaa - Jr • 6'5  340
OL: Jacob Maneafaiga, Farrington - Sr • 6'5  344
OL: Morgan Montgomery, Lahainaluna - Sr • 6'1  275
OL: Kalaeloa Tancayo, Lahainaluna - Sr • 6'2  285
OL: Esaiah Wong, Kailua - • 6'5  280
UT: Kaulana Tihada, Lahainaluna - Sr • 5'9  195

DEFENSE

DL: Dane Bannister, Keaau - Sr • 6'1  210
DL: Bruno Likio, Kapaa - Sr • 6'0  250
DL: Tyven Self-Gomes-Kealakai, Damien - So • 5'11  210
LB: Steeler Burley, Kapaa - Sr • 5'11  175
LB: Ofa Falekaono, Maui - Sr • 5'10  215
LB: Matteus Ioane, Leilehua - Sr • 6'2  210
LB: Eli Keoho, Kapaa - Sr • 5'11  220
DB: Avery Baybayan, Lahainaluna - Sr • 5'10  175
DB: Nash Burkart, Kapaa - Jr • 6'1  165
DB: Javin Nakamoto, Leilehua - So • 5'7  125
DB: Kuola Watson, Lahainaluna - Sr • 5'8  165
UT: Zion Vea, Farrington - Jr • 5'10  232

SPECIALISTS

K: Matthew Mashiba, Kailua - Sr • 5'11  175
P: Jayden Chanel, Waipahu - Sr • 6'3  205
RET: Jacob Talamoa, Farrington - Jr • 5'7  150
AP: Kamalei Gonsalves, Kapaa - Jr • 5'11  150

HONORABLE MENTION

Quarterback: Diego Pettypool (Keaau), AJ Tuifua (Damien), CJ Villanueva (Iolani)

Running back: Christian Asinsin (Nanakuli), Akea Cariaga (Konawaena), Faafetai Failauga (Waipahu), Camren Flemister (Leilehua), Waikahekili Makepa (Kapaa), Hercules Nahale (Kealakehe), Charlie Salazar (Keaau)

Wide receiver: Braden Albrecht (Maui), Nalu Chinen-Zablan (Damien), Evan Daligdig (Kapaa), Aizek Kaanoi (Kailua), Keon Preusser (Iolani), Sean Randall (Keaau), Ian Sera (Damien), Chansen Smith (Farrington), Tazein Sykes (Hilo)

Offensive line: MJ Feala (Konawaena), Upu Howard (Waipahu), Brodie Iwasaki (Iolani), Kawika Kaili (Lahainaluna), Ikona Kainoa-Salvador (Konawaena), Caleb Kagawa (Iolani), Koloi Keli (Farrington), Cade Lurito (Damien), Napela Mokuahi (Kapaa), Ezra Nahoopii-Makakona (Waipahu), Noah Navalta (Kapaa), Sione Ngalu (Maui), Joshua Nihoa (Keaau), Preston Taumua (Waipahu), Taisen Tisalona (Waipahu), Harlen Kayne Ujano-Bayudan (Damien)

Defensive line: Syren Burley (Kapaa), Devon Green (Kapaa), Gabriel Liua (Leilehua), Masias Merseburgh (Kapaa), Garic Pahinui (Kailua), Ethan Ramos (Damien), Pita Takafua (Baldwin), Waipehe Winchester (Iolani)

Linebacker: Kellen Fortson (Radford), Wyatt Ho-Williams (Damien), Zion Junk (Iolani), Kaiwalya Kaneta (Hilo), Toa Mataafa-Grove (Baldwin), Lester Meyers (Nanakuli), Jordan Paredes (Farrington), AJ Rodrigues (Waiakea), Wyatt Wehrsig (Konawaena)

Defensive back: Justin Ah Sing (Waiakea), Carmine Fautanu-Taetuna (Konawaena), Aaron Kanae (Damien), Lauititi Liufau (Farrington), Nick Lotu (Waipahu), AJ Lusk (Kailua), Kualau Manuel (Iolani), Pono Sales (Damien), Reyn Shimabuku (Iolani), Keoki Stephens (Aiea)

Special teams: Bryson Boyea Quiton (Aiea), Aztin Pitt (Castle)

Offensive Player of the Year: Eric Stephens, Waipahu, WR, Sr.

It did not take Stephens long to make an impact for his new team after transferring from Moanalua in the offseason. In the very first game of the season, Stephens hauled in eight receptions for 146 yards in a loss to Campbell. In a win over Waianae, Stephens notched nine grabs for 127 yards and four touchdowns. He saved his best for the state tournament, however, when Stephens had 13 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown against Farrington and 12 receptions for 117 yards and another TD against Konawaena in the state title game. Stephens finished as the state's leading receiver with 1,347 yards on 81 receptions and 15 TDs. He also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in 2023.

Defensive Player of the Year: Elijah Nahoopii-Makakona, Waipahu, DB, Sr.

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound senior defensive back made a seamless transition from Aiea to Waipahu in 2023. He registered 33 ½ tackles with three interceptions and four pass break-ups. Nahoopii-Makakona had interception returns for touchdowns against Kailua and Farrington. He came up with a season-high seven tackles in a season-opening loss to Campbell and in the final game of the season, recorded a pick to help the Marauders dethrone Konawaena as Division I state champions. Waipahu held Konawaena to 254 passing yards, well below its season average of 337 yards per game.

Coach of the Year: Bryson Carvalho, Waipahu

The Marauders rebounded from an 0-3 start to the season by winning eight of their final nine games, which culminated with their second Division I state title and first since 2018. Waipahu utilized the services of three different starting quarterbacks over the course of the season and overcame the loss of starter Ben Strobel to a season-ending in the very first game of the year. Carvalho and company cashed in on the addition of a number of incoming transfers and ultimately avenged a loss to Konawaena in the 2022 championship game with a convincing 53-28 victory in the rematch last November.