HANAPEPE — The full moon, or one night later at least, paled in contrast to the celebration and warmth exuded by Xiani Matagiese. The Menehune homecoming queen toured Hanapepe Stadium aboard her convertible and greeted fans on both sides of
HANAPEPE — The full moon, or one night later at least, paled in contrast to the celebration and warmth exuded by Xiani Matagiese.
The Menehune homecoming queen toured Hanapepe Stadium aboard her convertible and greeted fans on both sides of the football field that was peppered with varsity players warming up for their crucial showdown.
As she passed through the greetings showered on her by Kaua‘i High School fans, the Waimea High School senior good-naturedly switched from her queenly “lightbulb turning” greeting to a more localized shaka with a twist greeting to the approval of the capacity crowd at the Friday night game.
By the time she reached the Waimea side of the field, her reception was deafening as Menehune fans welcomed their queen.
Tatum Gonsalves served as Miss Victory, Dayna Cacal wore the banner of Miss School Spirit, LeeAnn Sagucio had the crown of Miss Menehune and Sunni Acosta was announced as Miss Football to round out the Waimea 2007 Homecoming Honor Court before the appreciative crowd that overflowed the bleachers at the pivotal football game.
Crystal Whitehill represented the Class of 2008 with Maile Albarado representing the Class of 2009. Melissa Kagawa wore the crown for the Class of 2010 and Fiare Moe got the nod as the representative for the Class of 2011.
While the homecoming escorts were suited up in Menehune football armor, the escorts were honored during the school’s assembly earlier in the day.
They included Kelly Batis, Ikaika Rapacon, Kienan Allianic-Rapozo, Hilton Delima-Kamai, Saui Matagiese, Layne Lutao, Kalani Apilado, Kevin Minard, Grant Paiste, Davin Nohara, Allen Pancho, Isaa Horner, Tony Silva, Kyle Ruiz, Ansen Achuara, Ross Rentrop, Ryan Cabral, Kylen Chinen, Alika Pereza, AC Fernandez, Jason Oyamot, Alex Palacio, Oni Schimdt and Jayrald Watanabe.
The halftime presentation capped a week-long celebration in Menehuneland that started with the annual parade/bonfire last Sunday, and as FM97 on-air personality David Bice described to TGI sports editor Lanaly Cabalo, “Anything that wasn’t nailed down was decorated blue and white.”
Waimea will be traveling to the New Kapa‘a Ball Park where Kapa‘a will be celebrating his homecoming.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
