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Due to approaching Hurricanes Iselle and Julio, state high school administrators on Wednesday canceled more than half of the scheduled season-opening football games set for this weekend.
Many of the games involving OIA and ILH teams are still on, and most of the games involving neighbor-island teams have been canceled.
State superintendent of schools Kathryn Matayoshi will make an announcement Thursday at 11 a.m. on whether Oahu’s public schools will close on Friday, when Iselle is expected to hit as a tropical storm.
"If there is a closure, the whole slate (of games involving OIA teams) would be wiped out," OIA football coordinator Harold Tanaka said.
The two games of the annual Father Bray Classic hosted by ‘Iolani at Aloha Stadium are still scheduled for Saturday, pending further notice.
Among the games still on are four on Friday that, if played, have the possibility to shake up the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Preseason Top 10 — No. 1 Punahou at No. 9 Leilehua, No. 3 Saint Louis at No. 2 Mililani, No. 4 Kamehameha at No. 8 Waianae, and No. 7 Campbell at No. 5 Kahuku.
Talks among the athletic directors involved are ongoing for the possibility of two Saturday games to be rescheduled for Aug. 23 — Damien at Kauai, and Konawaena vs. St. Francis at Campbell High.
Waimea’s canceled visit to Oahu to play Anuenue at Kamehameha on Friday will not be rescheduled, Menehunes athletic director Jon Kobayashi said.
"We didn’t want to take the chance," Kobayashi said. "Even if it turned out to be a minor tropical storm, there could be lightning and then we’d be sitting in the cafeteria for three days."
PREP FOOTBALL CANCELLATIONS
As of Wednesday
Friday
>> Keaau vs. Lahainaluna, at War Memorial Stadium, Maui
>> Kaimuki at Honokaa
>> Holy Trinity (Canada) at King Kekaulike
>> Kamehameha at Waianae
Saturday
>> Damien vs. Kauai, at Vidinha Stadium, Kauai
>> Anuenue vs. Waimea, at Kamehameha’s Kunuiakea Stadium
>> Konawaena vs. St. Francis, at Campbell High field
>> No. 6 Farrington vs. Baldwin, at War Memorial Stadium, Maui
>> No. 10 Kapolei at Kealakehe
>> Moanalua vs. Waiakea, at Wong Stadium, Big Island
>> Kamehameha-Hawaii vs. Kalaheo, at Kailua High field
>> Kapaa at Nanakuli
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