Football season will be put off for at least one week.
Friday night’s scheduled Kauai Interscholastic Federation football season opener between Kauai and Waimea high schools was postponed Tuesday because of the threat of Hurricane Lane.
“You know, the last time it happened was Iniki,” said Kauai High School athletic director Keli’i Morgado, who confirmed Friday night’s game was canceled Tuesday. “I wasn’t here. I was in college, but we lost the remainder of the season is what people have told me. It’s not ideal. The coaches and the players are gearing up for it, but a hurricane of this magnitude proceeds everything else. Everyone’s safety and health comes first. All the families have to take care of each other.
“Once it passes, we’ll see what we have. We could have damage to the gyms, the outdoor facilities. We have no clue what happens. It could blow by and nothing happens, and we start up on Monday. There’s no way to predict what the result is.”
A letter to parents by Hawaii Department of Education Superintendent Christina Kishimoto that was posted on Hawaii DOE’s Facebook page said:
“Effective Wednesday, August 22, all-after-school activities and programs including inter-scholastic athletic events are canceled for the rest of this week and will resume on Monday, August 27. All school-related inter-island travel this week will be canceled as well.”
The letter also said updates on school closures will be posted on the department’s website at www.hawaiipublicschools.org as well as on its Facebook and Twitter @HIDOE808 social media accounts.
“We urge families to have an emergency plan in place and to prepare ahead of the storm’s anticipated impact,” the letter states. “The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) recommends individuals and families prepare an ‘emergency kit’ with a minimum of 14 days worth of food, water and other supplies.”
Morgado said all sports activities, including practices, meetings, film study and training sessions, will be put on hold as well.
With a bye week scheduled in the middle of the KIF season, it’s possible games prior to that bye week could just be rescheduled a week later.
“But there’s a lot of people involved in that decision. The three homecomings would be pushed back a week — the bands, homecoming court, student activities coordinator, the teams, a lot is impacted by that,” Morgado said. “It could impact volleyball (season), too. I don’t know.
“We’d have to discuss it, but that is the first thing on our mind. Can we just push it back one week because have that bye week, which we never had. We usually play in the bye week, or in the fall break I should say. That kind of gives us an option there, which is nice. … It all depends on what this storm does, or hopefully does not do.”
During Tuesday’s practice, which was the team’s last of the week, Kauai High varsity football head coach Jason Apilado said the most important message learned from Hurricane Iniki is this is the time to make family the priority as much as we want to play the game.
Waimea High School varsity football head coach Jason Caldeira couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
