Offensive Player of the Year: Austin Ewing, Konawaena, QB, Sr.
His statistics weren't as high as they were in his previous two years, but make no mistake about it, Austin Ewing was still the top offensive threat in all of Division II.

The Konawaena senior quarterback led the Wildcats to their first-ever state title game and repeated as the ScoringLive All-Hawaii D2 Offensive Player of the Year. He also became the first male athlete in any sport to take home the award twice.

With an almost brand new surrounding cast around him, the three-time All-Hawaii First Team selection reinvented himself in a way that took the Wildcats to new heights.

While Ewing still had the same amount of athleticism that he showcased as a sophomore and junior, he matured from wanting to make every play the best play, to making the right play and striking when the opportunity presented itself.

"He still had that great scrambling ability, but there's something different when you become a senior. It becomes way more important than anything else," said Lahainaluna co-head coach Garret Tihada. "You could see that burning desire in him to win, whether it was him making plays or handing off the ball. That was the main thing: whatever it took to win."

Ewing's desire to do whatever the team needed also had him see time at other positions besides quarterback. This was best exemplified in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation D2 title game when he caught a touchdown pass and blocked a PAT in a 17-9 win over Kamehameha-Hawaii.

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound senior closed out his prep career with two shootouts in the state tourney. In the state semifinals against Waipahu, he accounted for six touchdowns while leading Konawaena to a 53-50 win in what was the highest scoring game in state tournament history at the time. Two weeks later Ewing and the Wildcats took part in another epic: a seven-overtime thriller against Lahainaluna that saw the Lunas win 75-69.

"With him, he can do so many things," said Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho. "With that you can just open up your playbook so much more. He just adds another dimension to the game."

Ewing finished the season throwing for 2,459 yards and 29 scores, which gave him 7,481 yards and 93 touchdowns passing for his entire career.

Defensive Player of the Year: Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Pearl City, DE, Sr.
No defensive player was more feared in all of Division II than Pearl City's Zion Tupuola-Fetui.

A physical specimen standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 240 pounds, Tupuola-Fetui was a focal point for all opposing offensive coordinators that faced the Chargers this year.

Tupuola-Fetui, who will play collegiately for the University of Washington, dominated the trenches with a raw blend of speed and power, totaling over 14 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He also had the jumping ability and height to break up five passes at the line of scrimmage.

"He got a little faster and stronger, and he was a lot more dominant this year," said Lahainaluna co-head coach Garret Tihada. "He was just really quick off the ball. He was decent last year, but this year that first step improved a lot."

But Tupuola-Fetui was more than just an effective pass rusher. To maximize his talent, the Pearl City defensive staff had the senior defensive end do multiple things to impact the game.

Sometimes he was sealing the perimeter to prevent an athletic quarterback from turning the corner upfield, and sometimes he was dropping back into coverage and surprising opposing offenses. This was best on display when he took back an interception 67 yards to the house in the Oahu Interscholastic Association D2 championship game against Waipahu.

"He's definitely a special player," said Waipahu coach Bryson Carvalho. "Every team that he went against, he did well against them. I was hoping it was just hype, but when you actually play against him, you go, 'this guy is legit, he's the real deal.'"

Tupuola-Fetui finished the year with 44 total tackles while forcing two fumbles, blocking two field goals and two punts.

Co-coach of the Year: Bobby Watson/Garret Tihada, Lahainaluna
The coaching duo of Bobby Watson and Garret Tihada earned Division II Coach of the Year honors after helping Lahainaluna repeat as state champions with a 75-69 seven-overtime win over Konawaena.

Along the way the Lunas also went undefeated during the Maui Interscholastic League regular season and had a state semifinal win over Iolani, who beat Lahainaluna in all of its state title game appearances prior to 2016.