A squad of 21 Hawaiian Warriors traveled to Kaua‘i on Oct. 12 to play a semi-pro exhibition football game for the benefit of the Kauai Pop Warner Association. Kauai Cowboys coach and player Al Ah Loo invited the Hawaiian Warriors,
A squad of 21 Hawaiian Warriors traveled to Kaua‘i on Oct. 12 to play a semi-pro exhibition football game for the benefit of the Kauai Pop Warner Association.
Kauai Cowboys coach and player Al Ah Loo invited the Hawaiian Warriors, coached by Father John of O‘ahu.
The team’s players all had last names like Moefu, Tuinei, Tafiti, Keneke, Gasper — all former college and high school standouts.
The scoring started with Kauai, on a first-down play with 11: 05 in the first quarter, after a pass from quarterback Andrew Kamanao to slot back Dan Ahuna. The pass play went for 80 yards and a score, and the extra point was good for a Cowboys lead, 8 – 0.
On the ensuing kick-off, Warriors’ Joshua Cesavice took it on the 20-yard line and ran an 80-yard return. The point after was good, the Hawaiian Warriors went for one point and the score was Cowboys 8, Hawaiian Warriors 7.
From this point on the scoring was all Kauai Cowboys with little threat from the Warriors. One reason could be that the Hawaiians bench did not have too much depth with just 21 players, most going both ways, while the Kauai Cowboys had a 35-player roster.
Leaders were Dan Ahuna with three touchdowns, Kia Hale, and QB Andrew Kamanao. From Kauai, Timmy Changwo, Brother Keone Ah Loo and Lono Ah Loo, who was the anchor on the offensive line with “Big Ben K” of Kapa‘a and Brother Marshall Ah Loo.
On defense for the Cowboys included Mark Burger, Russ Kane, Alfred Magno and Alden Emayo. Also on defense were Shane Fujinaga, Justin Teves and Shane Barretto, Luther Yam and other Pop Warner coaches.
Exhibition games may become a yearly thing if teams can travel here to play the Kauai Cowboys. The Hawaiian Warriors has a bigger roster but transportation and lodging costs keep the “travel squad” limited.
A big mahalo from the Kauai Pop Warner Football ‘ohana to Robert “Bob” German of Aloha Island Properties, who helped put up the O‘ahu team at Banyan Harbor. A crowd of about 500-600 fans braved the light showers at Hanapepe Stadium. Mahalo to the officiating crew who worked the last game.
