One of the most striking examples of Punahou coach Kale Ane’s calm demeanor happened during the pivotal moments of the Buffanblu’s Division I football state final loss to Mililani in 2014.
There he was on the sideline, engrossed with the enormousness of what was happening on the field before the final balance sheet became known. As the game started to slip away, there were no thrown hats, no curse words, no ugly looks. He walked away, not necessarily smiling, but still extremely proud of how his team played.
There’s a certain rock steadiness that has evolved with Ane since his high school, college and NFL days, and his team’s performances over the years have followed lockstep with him. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser has Punahou ranked No. 3 in its preseason Top 10.
The Buffanblu, like Ane, are not an in-your-face kind of team, but they come to play with passion. This year, they want to take back what they feel is rightfully theirs. Since that 2014 state final loss, Punahou has yet to be back at states, having lost to Saint Louis in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu final two years in a row.
“We definitely took it hard and took it as motivation,” Punahou guard Alama Uluave said. “We know the feeling of losing and know we hate that and don’t want to feel it again.”
Uluave is part of a veteran line that also consists of Duke Clemens, Paulo Soa, Fitu Maka and Blake Fiegenspan.
But O-line is not the only place where Punahou returns a solid core. As a matter of fact, they have returnees in most categories. Senior Stephen Barber, who has a ton of experience behind the graduated Nick Kapule, is the starting quarterback.
“We could have one of the best lines we’ve ever had,” Ane said. “That’s saying a lot. Stephen Barber has a different approach than Nick, who was more willing to take the underneath routes. Stephen wants to bomb people, and he’s working on both as well as the midrange balls.”
Sitiveni Kaufusi, a junior, is a returner at running back, and Les Falatea and Andrei Iosivas are among the many go-to ball-catchers who Ane feels have the ability to step it up.
“We have four new receivers to replace the quality seniors we lost to graduation,” the coach said. “They’ll be out there trying to live up to the expectations of those other kids. They’re not there yet, but they’re getting closer every day.
“Defensively, we’ve got some really athletic defensive backs and linebackers,” Ane added. “They really cover ground and fly.”
On that side of the ball, backs Marist Liufau and Kaulana Makaula, linebackers Maninoa Tufono and Trent Shiraki, and linemen Hale Motuapuaka and Misi Fakatoumafi are among the leaders.
The Buffanblu are coming off scrimmages against No. 5 Waianae and No. 8 Farrington. They open with a nonleague game against Moanalua on Friday at Radford High, and their ILH season starts Sept. 9 against Kamehameha at Aloha Stadium.
“The ILH Division I is so competitive, all three teams,” Ane said. “You really have to focus on not making mistakes, playing your game, weathering the storm at times and keeping the faith and plugging away.”
PUNAHOU BUFFANBLU
2017 SCHEDULE
>> Aug. 4: *Moanalua, 7:30 p.m.
>> Aug. 25: **Torrey Pines (Calif.), 7 p.m.
>> Sept. 2: at Junipero Serra (Calif.), 1 p.m.
>> Sept. 9: **Kamehameha, 6 p.m.
>> Sept. 16: **Saint Louis, 6 p.m.
>> Sept. 22: **Kamehameha, 6 p.m.
>> Oct. 7: **Saint Louis, 6 p.m.
* at Aloha Stadium
** at Radford
>> Head coach: Kale Ane, 19th season, 132-59
>> Last year: 7-3 (5-1 ILH D-I); beat Kamehameha 57-24 in first round of the ILH D-I playoffs; lost to Saint Louis 28-14 in ILH D-I championship game; lost to Kapolei 33-21 in state tournament Open Division first round
>> Key offensive returnees: Stephen Barber, Sr., QB, 6-3, 225; Alama Uluave, Sr., OL, 6-4, 290; Les Falatea, Jr., WR, 6-0, 175; Duke Clemens, Jr., OL, 6-4, 265; Andrei Iosivas, Jr., WR, 6-3, 188.
>> Key defensive returnees: Hale Motuapuaka, Sr., DL, 6-1, 275; Kaulana Makaula, Jr., DB, 6-3, 180; Marist Liufau, Jr., DB, 6-2, 185; Maninoa Tufono, Jr., LB, 6-3, 230; Trent Shiraki, Jr., LB, 6-0, 180.
>> Buffanblu with Division I FBS college offers: Maninoa Tufono, Kaulana Makaula, Marist Liufau, Alama Uluave, Stephen Barber, Hale Motuapuaka, Duke Clemens, Sitiveni Kaufusi, Jr. RB, 6-2, 230; Alakai Gilman, So., DB, 5-11, 180.
