Kalani High has announced the hiring of Scott Melemai as the new coach of the school's varsity football team.

Melemai has been with the football program since 2000 serving as a defensive coordinator and a head coach on the junior varsity level for four years.

"He is a Kalani graduate ('99) and has remained with the program since graduation," Kalani athletic director Greg Van Cantfort said in a press release. "He is passionate about football and has a very good understanding of the culture of the campus. He understands the challenges of football at Kalani, but hopes to continue building on the recent successes of the program."

Melemai earned his undergraduate degree in sociology and his Post Baccalaureate in Secondary Education at the University of Hawaii, and has been teaching social studies at Kalani since 2005, according to the press release.

"Scott can help our students become better athletes and understands the efforts it will take to get to the next level," said Van Canforlrt. "Being a teacher and a coach, he has a deep appreciation for the balances that are required for the student athletes."

The press release said that Melemai will be meeting with parents and players in the next few weeks and that he is looking for athletes who are good citizens, educationally-oriented and good team players.

In describing his teaching and coaching philosophy, Melemai said: "Being successful is the end product of working hard and doing the right things on a daily basis. It is not going to be easy."