The pigskin gets let loose starting tonight. Kaua‘i High School hosts the first game of the season when it opens Vidinha Stadium against Kea‘au High School with a single varsity contest starting at 7 p.m. Ross Shimabukuro, the Kaua‘i High
The pigskin gets let loose starting tonight.
Kaua‘i High School hosts the first game of the season when it opens Vidinha Stadium against Kea‘au High School with a single varsity contest starting at 7 p.m.
Ross Shimabukuro, the Kaua‘i High School athletic director, said originally Kea‘au was planning to bring both its junior varsity and varsity teams for games, but announced it will just be bringing over its varsity squad last week.
“That’s too bad,” Shimabukuro said. “The JV boys were really looking to get in some playing time, too.”
With that, the Red Raider JV will have to wait until Aug. 24 when they travel to the Big Island with their varsity counterparts for a game against Hilo High School.
Excitement and anticipation has been building in the community in light of changes that have taken place within various programs.
Shimabukuro has been named the athletic director for Kaua‘i High School, filling the vacancy left when Charlene Quinones retired.
Shimabukuro was in the midst of a coaching turnover that saw Derek Borrero, the former coach for the Kaua‘i JV program, assume the reins as head coach for the Red Raider program.
He gets his chance to show off the Raiders’ talents Friday night.
Over at Kapa‘a High School, Steven Kaui has the reins to the Warrior football program, taking over the position once held by Sia Salausa.
Bobby Kubota, a Kapa‘a alumni, was on hand for several of the practices this week and is looking forward to tomorrow night’s contest when Kapa‘a hosts Hawai‘i Prep Academy at the stadium in the New Kapa‘a Town Park.
That contest, a single game, will start at 7:30 p.m. and marks the first time in a long while that night football has occurred in Kapa‘a.
Parking for the Kapa‘a stadium complex will be in the area between the softball field and the football arena. This was already proven during the Kapa‘a High School graduation ceremonies earlier in the year.
Motorists are advised to watch for the parking attendants and listen to the advisories being made during the game by the stadium announcer.
Kyle Linoz, the head coach for Waimea High School, will also have a chance to watch the Menehune go through their paces as he takes his squad to face Waiakea High School on the Big Island tomorrow.
Following that game, Waimea will open Hanapepe Stadium next Saturday with a double-header against Kona.
That comes on the heels of a double-header Friday when Kapa‘a hosts Komabagakuin High School from Japan with a JV and varsity contest.
Game time for both games start at 5 p.m. for JV followed by the varsity contest kicking off at 7:30 p.m.
The regular KIF season starts Sept. 7 when Kaua‘i hosts Kapa‘a at Vidinha Stadium.
