Ka Makani avenged a 1-0 regular-season loss to the Warriors on Noah Balaam's (center) lone score of the game. Spencer Honda | SL

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Ka Makani avenged a 1-0 regular-season loss to the Warriors on Noah Balaam's (center) lone score of the game. Spencer Honda | SL

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WAIPAHU — In Hawaii Prep's return to Division II, its lone blemish of the season in divisional play was a 1-0 loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii earlier in January.

Friday afternoon, Ka Makani avenged that loss by flipping that same score in their favor on Noah Balaam's 45th-minute goal to set up a return trip to Saturday's The Queen's Medical Center/HHSAA Division II State Championship game after a two-year absence of competing at the Division I level.

After 40 scoreless minutes to take the game to halftime at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex Stadium, the Warriors looked to have a prime opportunity less than five minutes into the second half with a corner kick incoming. Ka Makani successfully defended and quickly countered down the field with Balaam netting his sixth score of the season.

HPA will take on defending state champion Kapaa Saturday evening with first kick slated for 5 p.m.

The last time Hawaii Prep competed in Division II was 2017 when it ousted Saint Louis, 2-1, in OT for its second consecutive koa trophy.

Kamehameha-Hawaii will try for its first state third place finish against Seabury Hall.