Governors’ $20M field of dreams comes to life

It is hard to remember the last time Farrington High played a home varsity football game — if ever — on its campus, which will make this August all the more memorable.

“Friday Night Lights is finally coming to Kalihi,” principal Al Carganilla proclaims proudly.

Dedication of the Governors’ long-awaited, newly renovated $20 million home is scheduled for Feb. 23, a pinch-me moment certifying that, yes, they will play their first game on their field of dreams in early August after decades of being on the move.

“I’m not sure when they ever played a varsity home game (on campus). I know it wasn’t when I was still going to school there,” said Carganilla, a 1986 graduate. Randy Cadiente, quarterback of the 1968 Govs, said. “I don’t think there ever was one. We had scrimmages and junior varsity, but no (varsity) games.”

Ground was broken in 2015 on the project, part of a multi-phase renovation of several parts of the campus, some of them dating to the mid-1930s.

After a one-season delay to accommodate the arrival and construction of expanded bleachers, thanks to a follow-up state appropriation, Farrington, with its trademark maroon-and-white “G” at midfield, will boast one of the top high school stadium facilities in the state.

“It is something for the whole (area) to be proud of,” said coach Randall Okimoto, a former Govs running back. “It is a true home field that our student body can get to by walking.”

Farrington, for its long, proud football tradition, has never really had a place for varsity football to call home. Players endured a rock-strewn, dip-laden field for practice on campus for decades while playing their “home” games at Honolulu Stadium, Roosevelt, Aloha Stadium and even Kamehameha.

Officially the Govs’ home will be known as Edward “Skippa” Diaz Stadium at Kusunoki Field, recalling the Farrington coach and player who died in 2014 and the previously named Kusunoki Field, honoring the late Henry Kusunoki.

For a time, construction of the new field forced a relocation of practice to the amphitheater in the middle of campus or a trek down to Kalakaua District Park. But last year the Govs got to practice on the state-of-the-art turf site and, “Oh, what a difference,” Okimoto said. “What I’ve noticed is that we’ve had more kids come out and on a consistent basis.”

The seating capacity will be 4,000 — 3,500 on the home Ewa sideline and 500 on the visitors’ Diamond Head sideline. In addition, it will have lights, locker rooms, bathrooms, concession stands and a digital scoreboard.

Original plans had no provision for lights. “We said, ‘Don’t even waste your money if we aren’t gonna be able to have home games,’” Okimoto said. Plans also called for a very basic scoreboard, but the family of Harold and Alice Nakamoto donated approximately $25,000 for a digital upgrade.

Their son, Harris Nakamoto, said the family grew up, lived and worked in Kalihi Valley and Kalihi and his mother’s barber shop (Alice’s) was across the street from the school, “almost right behind where the scoreboard is located,” Nakamoto said.

“He (Harris) went to ‘Iolani, but Kalihi roots run deep,” Okimoto said.

The view from the home grandstands will be remarkable, Carganilla said. “You’ll be able to see the (downtown) skyline at night and, the fireworks (from Ala Moana).”

But for the long-suffering Govs, the true beauty will be in the facility itself. “It looks great from the freeway when I drive by,” Cadiente said. “It is something to be proud of. It has been long overdue.”

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.