Punahou races past Kamehameha to win 16th state title

Punahou Buffanblu players celebrate after winning the state title in the Kyo-ya Hotels/HHSAA Girls Water Polo State Championship at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Kalaniopu‘u Swimming Pool. CJ Caraang | SL

After a two-year hiatus, the Buffanblu are once again the queens of the pool.

Punahou dominated the title game of the Kyo-ya Hotels/HHSAA Girls Water Polo State Championships, racing past two-time defending state champ Kamehameha, 12-3, to claim its 16th state title overall.

"Our team has put in so much work this year, and I know we all wanted it really bad," said Synnove Robinson of the win. "The last two years didn't go how we wanted but we grew from that and I think it made us work harder. I love that I got to get it with this team because I feel like we're all very close. Its easy to try hard when you're with teammates who you respect and you're friends with.

Robinson and Kailoa Kerber each scored three times, and the Buffanblu's defensive play held the Warriors nary a shot on goal in the second half. Robinson was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

The Buffanblu scored early and often in the opening two periods, with goals by Synnove Robinson, Jayden Ching and Ava Aguilera quickly establishing a 3-0 margin in the opening moments. Kamehameha managed to get a goal in the back half of the period by Kaiaea Turner, but that score was countered by goals from Zoe Pang and Kailoa Kerber to make it a 5-1 game.

Punahou continued to put pressure on Kamehameha, adding another four goals in the second period, while allowing just two, making it a 9-3 contest at the break. In the first half alone, six different attackers found the back of the net.

"Having a lot of good shooters on our team makes it so much harder for the other team to defend," said Robinson. "Just knowing that you can pass the ball to your teammate and they can get it done. For the other team its hard for them to defend five of six good shooters. Someone's always going to be open"

Armed with a six goal cushion, the Buffanblu seemed to opt to focus on keeping the intensity up on defense rather than continuing to press in the offensive half, and it showed, as the Warriors found getting into any kind of offensive flow next to impossible.

"It's an important part of the game for us, as long as we press hard and play good D, everything else will come naturally, " explained Robinson. "Being able to shut them down for a possession, it kind of shuts down their momentum and gives more energy to us."

All 16 of Punahou's state titles in girls water polo have come under the guidance of head coach Ken Smith, who even at 78 years old was cast into the pool in the teams' post-win celebration.

HHSAA Girls Water Polo All-Tournament Team
(as selected by the media and HHSAA)

Most Outstanding Player: Synnove Robinson, Punahou

Ava Aguilera, Punahou
Ava Carlson, Kamehameha-Kapalama
Kailoa Kerber, Punahou
Reia Kimi, Punahou (GK)
Taua Kimsel , Kamehameha-Kapalama (GK)
Leihiwa McElheny, Mid-Pacific
Laikuakamahina Wong, Kamehameha-Kapalama