ScoringLive photo illustration

Purchase image 1 of 1

Koyo Kekauoha

Kailua football  •   #17    

Koyo Kekauoha has the need for speed. 

The Kailua senior quenched his thirst Friday night, when he led the Surfriders to a thrilling 41-34 win over rival Castle at Alex Kane Stadium. Kekauoha, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound running back, carried 24 times for 233 yards and five touchdowns. 

"If the speed limit is 55, 60 (miles per hour), he's going 85, 95, 105. That's how fast he's going," Kailua coach Hauoli Wong said. 

Kekauoha scored on runs of 10 and 28 yards in the second quarter to cut the Knights' 19-0 lead. He made returns trips to the end zone from 7, 23 and 8 yards out in the fourth quarter; Kekauoha's last TD run broke a 34-all tie. 

"It was just the style that he ran. He runs through holes full speed and as a coach you're telling the running back to hit the hole, but this guy, there's a crease and all you see is a flash coming out of the hole, that's it, that's Koyo. He's just fearless, he's a hard worker and he's a great team player. His secondary position is linebacker and if we asked him to play linebacker, he'll go do it," Wong said. 

Wong added that it isn't just speed that Kekauoha possesses, but also power. According to his coach, Kekauoha squats sets of 10 repetitions with 405 pounds and can bench press 27 reps of 225 pounds. 

"That's pretty impressive for a running back," Wong chuckled. "And that's not sugar-coating, that's legit. He's an animal."

Kekauoha's strength and work ethic come from the same source, Wong explained.

"It's in his lineage, in his bloodline. That's where it comes from. His dad is a powerhouse himself and it just comes from that hard work ethic that's in his blood," Wong said. 

Kekauoha's father, Kaleo, was an all-star guard and linebacker on the 1988 Kailua team that reached the OIA title game. 

"They lost to Waianae on the last play of the game," recalled Wong, who looked up to Kaleo Kekauoha himself growing up. 

"He didn't come off the field. I was a kid watching him and now he's our JV defensive line coach, but he's somebody that we always looked up to watching him growing up. Koyo has that same tenacity and same intensity that he had," Wong described. 

The younger Kekauoha was dealt some adversity just before the start of the season, when he was forced to miss Kailua's first two games of the year due to injury. 

"He actually sprained his ankle in the Mililani scrimmage. Someone rolled up on his ankle on the first or second play of the scrimmage, but we were down some (other) guys and we weren't going to bring (Koyo) back before the start of the (regular) season, to make sure that he was fully healthy," Wong said. 

The time off clearly served Kekauoha well, as he averaged a gaudy 9.7 yards per rush Friday night. Wong said that after the game, Kekauoha was quick to acknowledge his teammates blocking for him up front: left tackle Esaiah Wong, left guard Kaimi Kalama, center Ezekiel Makalii, right guard Christopher Tauanuu, right tackle River Lopes, tight end Rudy Bernardino and fullback Matty Malepeai.

"They did a hell of a job for him and if you ask him, he'll say the same thing. They just gave him the opportunity and the holes and the rest is history what he did," Wong said. 

The Surfriders rumbled for 304 rushing yards against the Knights. Sophomore Ikaika Quidashay added 14 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown. Quidashay and Kekauoha form a formidable 1-2 punch for Wong's squad. 

"They pick up the slack for each other and they're great with one another. They're very unselfish — whoever is not in supports the other — and they're both hard-nosed running backs who are not afraid to step up and block and they both have the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and you're not going to tackle those two guys with one arm," Wong cautioned. 

Wong has seen a greater sense of urgency from Kekauoha in the lead-up to this season. 

"I feel that he's gotten even hungrier and he's focused, he's locked in and h'es a leader on and off the field for us — in school, in the weight room, in the community — he's always doing the right thing and, of course, his dad is a big part of that, why he is who he is and why he trains how he trains," Wong said. 

Kekauoha hopes to continue playing football in college, potentially at the Division II or NAIA levels, according to Wong. 

"He can definitely play at that next level with his strength and power and he has good enough size for those divisions," Wong said. 

Kekauoha and the Surfriders (1-1-1 overall, 1-0 OIA Division I) will take on No. 9 Aiea (3-1, 1-0) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Radford's John E. Velasco Stadium. 

FOOTBALL

Kanai Acosta-Mendoza, Nanakuli — Made three tackles for loss, including two sacks, in a win over Kalani 

Jacob Ah Mook Sang, Konawaena — Caught eight passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Hilo 

Manulele Ah You, Kahuku — Scored on a 97-yard kickoff return for touchdown in a win over Punahou 

Keoki Alani, Konawaena — Threw for 467 yards and six touchdowns on 29-of-39 passing without an interception in a win over Hilo 

Liatama Amisone, Kapolei — Threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns on 12-of-18 passing with one interception and ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in a win over Waianae 

Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio, Konawaena — Caught seven passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Hilo 

Tyson Apau, Waialua — Ran for 131 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries in a loss to Kaiser 

Christian Asinsin, Nanakuli — Ran for 117 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in a win over Kalani 

Ian-Jay Cabanilla, Lahainaluna — Ran for 185 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and scored on a 95-yard kickoff return for touchdown in a win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Riley Camarillo, Kapolei — Caught a touchdown pass on defense and intercepted a pass on defense in a win over Waianae 

Jayden Chanel, Aiea — Caught six passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in a win over Woodinville

Trey Dacoscos, Pearl City — Threw for 356 yards and six touchdowns on 22-of-25 passing without an interception in a win over Kalaheo 

Piercen Evans, Maui — Ran for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in a win over Kekaulike 

Brennen Fernandez, Waimea — Scored on a 42-yard fumble return for touchdown in a win over Kauai 

Vaaimalae Fonoti, Kahuku — Ran for two touchdowns in a win over Punahou 

Astin Hange, Punahou — Caught nine passes for 173 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kahuku 

Titan Lacaden, Saint Louis — Caught two touchdown passes in a loss to Bishop Gorman

Kaimana Lale-Saole, Aiea — Ran for 178 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries in a win over Woodinville

Tainoa Lave, Campbell — Scored on a 50-yard punt return for touchdown in a win over Leilehua 

Iosefa Letuli, Kaimuki — Threw for 221 yards and three touchdowns on 8-of-12 passing with one interception and ran in a touchdown in a win over McKinley 

Josiah Luaifoa, Kaimuki — Scored on a 24-yard fumble return for touchdown in a win over McKinley 

Allen Mahoe III, Nanakuli — Ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries and caught two touchdown passes in a win over Kalani 

Kynan McCartney, Kalani — Threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-40 passing without an interception in a loss to Nanakuli 

Ty McCutcheon, Punahou — Threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-24 passing without an interception in a loss to Kahuku 

Jensyn McGee, Mililani — Scored on a 95-yard kickoff return for touchdown in a win over Moanalua 

Zechariah Molitau, Farrington — Caught seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in a win over McMinnville 

Makana Naleieha, Kaiser — Caught 13 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Waialua 

Mikala Nishimoto, Kalani — Caught 11 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Nanakuli 

Preston Note, McKinley — Caught nine passes for 106 yards in a loss to Kaimuki 

Isaiah Padello, Mililani — Caught four passes for 104 yards in a win over Moanalua 

Jesse Palmer, Kaiser — Made six tackles and scored on a 51-yard kickoff return for touchdown in a win over Waialua 

Nathan Pele-Tukumoeatu, Nanakuli — Ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries in a win over Kalani 

Michael Perry, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Threw for 147 yards and five touchdowns on 11-of-14 passing without an interception and ran for a touchdown in a win over Kau

Jamal Plunkett, Waianae — Ran for 265 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in a loss to Kapolei 

Tysic Puni, Campbell — Made three tackles for loss in a win over Leilehua 

Donovan Reis, Kaiser — Caught six passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Waialua 

Ezekiel Rodrigues, Mililani — Scored on a 35-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Moanalua 

Jaron Sagapolutele, Campbell — Threw for 267 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-28 passing without an interception and ran for a touchdown in a win over Leilehua 

Hansen Salausa-Kaawa, Nanakuli — Threw for 145 yards and three touchdowns on 15-of-28 passing with one interception in a win over Kalani 

Chansen Smith, Farrington — Threw for 124 yards and a touchdown on 9-of-15 passing and ran in a 9-yard touchdown for the go-ahead score in a win over McMinnville 

Rhaziah Tacub-Taniguchi, Waimea — Scored on a 40-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Kauai 

Coby Tanioka, Castle — Ran for three touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass in a loss to Kailua 

Emana Tarape, Mililani — Threw for 266 yards and touchdown on 15-of-24 passing without an interception in a win over Moanalua 

Kaulana Tihada, Lahainaluna — Ran for 123 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries in a win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Trey Uemoto, Konawaena — Made 6 1/2 tackles, including 4 1/2 for loss and one sack in a win over Hilo 

Geronimo Ulgaran, Aiea — Caught 14 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a touchdown in a win over Woodinville

Ofa Vehikite, Kaimuki — Ran for 209 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries and caught a 68-yard touchdown pass in a win over McKinley 

Timothy Wallace, Mililani — Recorded two interceptions and returned one  22 yards for a touchdown in a win over Moanalua 

Kuola Watson, Lahainaluna — Recorded three interceptions in a win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Easton Yoshino, Kaiser — Threw for 405 yards and six touchdowns on 27-of-40 passing with one interception in a win over Waialua 

James Zara, Waialua — Caught five passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kaiser 

Cha'lei Reid

Kahuku volleyball  •   #3  OH  Sophomore

For the most part, Cha'lei Reid has an unassuming way about her. 

Just not when she plays volleyball. 

The Kahuku sophomore recorded 28 kills in two matches to open the Oahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division regular season last week. In Monday's sweep of Kaiser, Reid tallied 17 kills along with two service aces and a couple of block assists. The 6-foot-1 outside hitter put down a career-high 21 kills in a four-set win over Moanalua the following night. 

"I think these past two games she's been very level-headed. The pressure doesn't seem to get to her. If she does make a mistake, it's a quick bounce back, so it's nice to see her develop mentally this season," Red Raiders coach Tuli Tevaga said. 

Reid, a six-rotation player for Tevaga, also had six digs, one ace and a block assist against Na Menehune Tuesday. 

As a freshman last year, Reid spent the regular season on the White Division team before she was pulled up to the varsity squad for the postseason. She made an immediate impact on Kahuku's run to a league championship and fourth-place finish at the state tournament. Reid's role since then, however, has increased, Tevaga explained. 

"Last season when we needed her in the playoffs we needed a different look, so when it was her turn to go in, she did what we needed her to do and that was to contribute offensively," she said. 

Reid has worked over the offseason to improve her passing, which has allowed her to remain on the court and consequently, gives the Red Raiders another option out of the back row. 

"Obviously she is a very avid attacker. She's one of our go-to players if we need a sideout, but the improvement to become an all-around, six-rotation player, her passing has improved so that's something that she's been able to contribute to our team because we don't have to sub her out and we can have a back row attacker as well as her defense," Tevaga said. 

Reid's primary position is on the outside, but Tevaga noted that the super sophomore is a viable option from the opposite side as well. 

"If we ever need her on the right side, we'd stick her on the right side," Tevaga affirmed. "She's a big presence at the net. We've been fortunate enough to this point to not have to put her on the right (because) our right sides have been doing a good job of setting up the block for the opposing outsides, so we've been able to keep her on the outside."

Despite her limited time on the varsity squad last year, Reid earned All-OIA East Honorable Mention. Kahuku saw three all-league performers graduate, including East Player of the Year Emmalei Mapu, which leaves much on the shoulders of Reid and senior middle Male Taumoepeau, a Second Team All-OIA East pick in 2021. 

"One thing we're trying to encourage the girls to develop is their IQ, their mental capacity to compete, the ability to bounce back from mistakes and we think that we're heading in that direction with the mission in mind to repeat in the OIA and compete at states and if Cha'lei continues the trajectory that she is on, she will be a big contributor in that goal for us," said Tevaga, the reigning East Coach of the Year. 

Reid certainly got things off on the right foot for Red Raiders with her two productive outings against the Cougars and Menes last week. 

"She not only helped us to make a statement as a team, but also for her as an individual that she is something to be reckoned with," Tevaga stated. "It looks like it's going to be a promising season for us and Cha'lei is gonna be a big contributor to that."

Just don't expect much of the rah-rah type of stuff from Reid. 

"I would probably describe her as the quiet storm. She doesn't say much. She's really quiet, but her playing speaks for itself," Tevaga said. "Even though she doesn't say much or talk much, it's really nice to see her, as the season has developed, that despite her quiet demeanor, she is coming out of her shell and as she continues to grow, not only as a volleyball player, but as a person."

Reid is already sought-after by many colleges, according to her coach. 

"She's being heavily recruited right now, so when it is that time for her to leave, I think she will be more than ready and definitely be an asset to any program that she decides to join," Tevaga said. 

Reid and the Red Raiders (2-0) will visit Kaimuki Monday. 

 
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Higa Agbayani, Kaiser — Had 21 assists, two aces and one kill in a three-set loss to Kahuku and had 28 assists and one ace in a three-set win over Castle 

Natronai Anana, Baldwin — Had 13 digs and an ace in a three-set win over Lahainaluna 

Brynn Basilio-Chun, Waialua — Had 24 assists, two kills and a block assist in a three-set win over Aiea 

Lilinoe Paschoal, Baldwin — Had 23 assists, three digs, three aces and a block assist in a three-set win over Lahainaluna 

Valo Sopoaga, Kaiser — Had 10 kills and a block assist in a three-set loss to Kahuku and had 13 kills and four aces in a three-set win over Castle 

Mele Taumoepeau, Kahuku — Had 10 kills, three block assists and one ace in a three-set win over Kaiser 

Alexandra Ver, Aiea — Had 10 digs and an ace in a three-set loss to Waialua