LIHU‘E — Separated by a big stretch of ocean, the pride and fever of Waimea High School’s “historic” 45-6 victory for the First Hawaiian Bank Hawai‘i High School Division II state football championship was felt at home on Saturday evening.
“45-6!,” one of the hundreds of spectators to the first lighting of the Kukui Grove Center Holiday Lights said, mingling through the sea of people lining the Jamba Juice/Starbucks entrance. “It’s over! Dey wen’ bus’ ‘um!”
Playing King Kekaulike of the Maui Interscholastic League at the J. Kauinana Stadium in Mililani, O‘ahu, the Menehune scored in all four quarters, according to statistics provided by the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association via Statbroadcast.com.
The scoring was fueled by two touchdowns apiece by Kameron Apilado and Aukai Emayo, a touchdown by Kaili Arakaki, a fumble recovery for touchdown by Mykah Brun, and a field goal from Haweo Akeo, who also graced the six touchdowns with successful point-after boots.
“This is family right here,” Waimea coach Kyle Linoz told Nick Abramo of Bedrock Sports, noting the sea of blue shirts that filled the Mililani High School stadium (and the unseen numbers that followed the game at home).
“That’s why the boys play so hard. They want to do it not just for themselves, but for each other, and their parents and their community. We just love football and we wanted to get back in touch with our past, and it showed tonight with our ground game.”
Waimea outdid King Kekaulike 443 yards on the ground to Na Ali‘i’s 158 yards. Waimea was led by Apilado, who picked up 228 yards and two TDs. Emayo added 84 yards and two TDs with Arakaki putting in 54 yards and the TD that came in the second quarter with just 15 ticks to the half.
“This is like the days of Coach Pat Pereira,” said Douglas Nobriga, who fielded a sweet vehicle among the row of Kaua‘i Classic Cars that enhanced the Holiday Lights. “This is classic Waimea football — up the middle, up the middle until it won’t work. You try something different, and then it’s back to up the middle.”
On the defensive side of the ball, Brun recovered a fumble and ran 31 yards to paydirt, that came following Akeo’s 22-yard field goal that capped Waimea’s first possession of the night.
Kaizen Castillo and Josaiah “Jojo” Banasihan topped the defenders, with Castillo getting nine stops (three solo and six assisted) and Banasihan finishing with eight stops (three solo and five assisted).
The Waimea DII victory is the first time the Menehune marked a win at the state level championships since the program was launched by the HHSAA. The victory by the team that finished runner-up in the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation is the second consecutive HHSAA Division II victory following Kapa‘a’s win in 2021.
“It was wild,” Linoz said. “There were so many people. There wasn’t a seat available on our side. I’m so happy for the boys who worked so hard. This is for them and the island.”
Mel Rapozo, newly-elected Kaua‘i County Council chair, said, “This is an inspiration to all those younger football players, from Pop Warner football to underclassmen. It’s amazing the amount of Outer Island representation we had — Konawaena, Honoka‘a, King Kekaulike, Kapa‘a and Waimea.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
