By Billy Hull Most football teams call it a great week getting that one big win they work so hard for. Two program-changing wins in six days? Now that's something to brag about.
By Fred Guzman / Special to the Star-Advertiser So much for the adage that the best offense is a good defense. In the case of Lahainaluna on Saturday night, it was an opportunistic defense that set the stage for an opening-round victory in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II football tournament.
By Paul Honda Thankfully, for the Leilehua Mules, the one player with the right shoes happened to be Tim Momiyama.
By Fred Guzman / Special to the Star-Advertiser WAILUKU, Maui » A statewide television audience found out on Friday night what folks on Maui have known for the past two seasons. Namely, that Keelan Ewaliko can beat you with his strong right arm and his legs.
By Paul Honda He’s been described by old-time watchers at Julian Yates Field as anything from a younger version of Ray Lewis to a recent version of the late Jesse Mahelona.
By Cindy Luis As the crowd watched in semi-darkness on the Moanalua High tennis courts Wednesday night, a full moon broke through the clouds, allowing for two words on the blue mesh fence to be visible. Just barely.
By Paul Honda Pristine Hanalei.
No-frills Anahola.
For everyone who played football at Kapaa High School since 1990, there was always great natural beauty in their backyard, but no mantle on which to hoist their hopes and dreams. No Kauai Interscholastic Federation championship. No participation in the old Neighbor Island Football Championship. Not even a state-tournament berth.
By Paul Honda They’ve gone down this road before, but perhaps never with so much expectation.
The Farrington Governors saw a perfect season — and a rare No. 1 ranking — slip away with a loss to Kahuku.
By Paul Honda A dynasty like Kealakehe isn’t exactly familiar with the role of underdog.
This time, it’s more than that. With their top playmaker out for the season, the Waveriders might be the longest of long shots as the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championships kick off this week.
By Billy Hull DeForest Buckner is impossible to ignore.
At 6-foot-7, 245 pounds, Buckner's size alone makes him one of the more recognizable players on the field.
By Star-Advertiser staff Jonathan Paleka's 27-yard field goal with 9 seconds left lifted Kapaa over Waimea 17-14 for the Kauai Interscholastic Federation championship on Monday afternoon at Vidinha Stadium.
By Star-Advertiser staff Fairbairn picks UCLA • Wildcats to Wazzu • Rubasch retires • OC 16 volleyball to start
By Paul Honda They flew in from near and far, five days before the start of the state football championships. No, by Friday, it will be all business, and with Kahuku and ‘Iolani seeded first in Division I and II, respectively, all teams are taking aim.
By Paul Honda He twists and turns, springs up and dives to the floor. Micah Christenson is arguably the finest 18-and-under setter in the nation. His play on the junior national team for several years is proof of that.
By Paul Honda In the end, the neighbor islands didn't really want an extended stay in Honolulu. A proposal to allow all teams to play a minimum of three games in team sports at state championships was shot down by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association executive board Monday.
By Star-Advertiser staff Pearl City's Mariel Galdiano will be the youngest player at next month's U.S. Women's Open. LPGA Hall of Famer Betsy King, whose first win came on Maui, will be the oldest.
By Paul Honda On paper, there's not much to distinguish Kalei Contrades from Chevas Numata. They performed in the clutch as ace pitchers for their teams.
By Curtis Murayama They all started out as standout student-athletes. Some became professional athletes, others politicians, a few became Olympians. But most have found a way to give back, either as coaches or educators.
By Paul Honda Long before she wore the green and white of the Molokai Farmers, Abbiggaile Kalei Adolpho’s running shoes knew wear and tear.
By Paul Honda Buffanblu wrestling coach Matt Oney takes a fatherly approach to coaching, which is why he gave Chrissy Chow the ultimate compliment after she won her third state wrestling championship last winter.
By Paul Honda He’s a fan of the underdog, which is why Micah Christenson is ultra geeked up this week. His favorite NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks, are in the NBA Finals.
By Paul Honda The motor never stops revving in the Dydasco household. Caprice Dydasco simply picked up where her older brother, Dane, left off when he flew to Colorado Springs and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
By Paul Honda The banner year for Kamehameha’s great student-athletes continues with induction of the gentle giant, Koa Kaai.
By Paul Honda In the words of Castle softball coach Jon Berinobis, Leisha Liilii is the kind of athlete “who comes around once in 30 years.”
By Paul Honda As a sophomore, Maiki Viela was quick as a cat, unstoppable on the basketball court as long as she went to her right.
By Paul Honda She is a combination of fire, power and … smile power.
By Paul Honda Shea Shimabukuro has always been more than a scholar-athlete with a 3.88 grade-point average.
By Paul Honda Through the ups and downs of its athletic program, the coveted status among Saint Louis alumni has always been, “Gentlemen of Kalaepohaku.”
By Paul Honda It’s the fury. It didn’t help that hardly a soul had heard of Island School just a few years ago, but it probably didn’t hurt Pierce Murphy to know that strangers could only shrug their shoulders.
By Paul Honda At the center of it all, Zhane Santiago has an unlimited supply of hope.
By Paul Honda Often enough, the annual Hawaii Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association conference boils down to big fish and small fish.
By Paul Honda For Bobbie Awa, a labor of love wasn't about titles or glory.
By Paul Honda So much for all-star pitching duels. The Red squad, hitless for two innings, erupted for 21 hits en route to a 19-11 rout of the Green team in the Sugar Mill Senior Classic on Monday at sunny Hans L’Orange Park.
By Paul Honda One was a big-time slugger before her teens, swinging for fences. The other was never physically imposing, but the heat coming off her hand never cooled off.
The final Top 10 high school boys volleyball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state.
By Paul Honda If there were still any doubters left, Micah Christenson answered them in full this weekend. The two-sport standout anchored Kamehameha to the boys volleyball state championship on Saturday as the Warriors surprised top-seeded Punahou in a sweep.
By Brian McInnis Belief can be a powerful thing. Kamehameha drove home that point with a rousing defeat of top-seeded rival Punahou, 25-23, 25-20, 25-23 yesterday in the Division I title game of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Volleyball State Championships at Keaau High School.
By Paul Honda The Eagles, spurred by pinpoint offensive execution and coach Teoni Obrey's defensive game plan, swept Seabury Hall 25-22, 25-23, 26-24 in a tightly contested Division II final at the New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Volleyball State Championships.
By Ann Miller In her last golf tournament, Hee Sue Condry and her Punahou teammates overcame 35-mph winds and every other team to win their fifth straight state high school championship.
By Brian McInnis KEAAU » Kamehameha has just one final job to do, one more champion to knock off.
By Brian McInnis KEAAU » Kamehameha-Hawaii's stellar season came to a crashing halt into the wall that was Punahou's Benjamin Lam.
By Paul Honda There were no flurries by the feisty Castle Knights this time.
Seabury Hall saw to it, enforcing a permanent wall at the net from start to finish.
By Brian McInnis HILO >> Over the course of an hour, a rollicking crowd of nearly 1,000 at Waiakea High School had less and less to cheer about. At the end, all you could hear were the coqui frogs.
By Paul Honda They're big, they're hungry, and when they play without a hitch, the Seabury Hall Spartans are dangerous.
By Brian McInnis KEAAU » Pearl City went from stunned to stunners.
The Chargers met a fierce Waianae comeback attempt with one of their own in a 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10 marathon match on the first day of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Volleyball State Championships at Keaau High.
The final Top 10 high school baseball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state.
By Star-Advertiser staff Lorens Chan, in pursuit of his second state golf title in three years, opened with a 6-under-par 66 yesterday at Waikoloa Village.
By Paul Honda It was a championship game that came down to small ball, defense, finesse and … cousins. Isaac Shim, facing second cousin Bronson in the most clutch moment of their young careers, came through with a two-run single with two outs in the top of the seventh, and Pearl City pulled out a miraculous 2-1 win over Moanalua in the Division I final of the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Baseball Championships at Les Murakami Stadium.
By Jason Kaneshiro All Isaac Shim wanted was a chance. Little did he know the opportunity he craved would come against his own bloodline.
By Paul Honda Moanalua's Harpole, a former football player, is now a crucial part of Na Menehune volleyball team
By Paul Honda Souza retires as Kamehameha athletic director • Kaimuki hires new coach • Sister power
By Paul Honda Outstanding athletes on and off the field.
The Top 10 high school softball and boys volleyball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state.
By Brian McInnis There is always room to grow, still more to show — even for two-time defending state champions. Top-ranked Punahou put together a clean, unbeaten run through the gauntlet that is the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.
By Jason Kaneshiro In a tournament hampered by less-than-ideal conditions, Kauai found a perfect ending. With a steady rain falling for much of the afternoon at Les Murakami Stadium, the Red Raiders captured the Division II title in the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Baseball Championship with an 11-2 win over Pac-Five yesterday.
By Billy Hull Four days of off-and-on rainfall finally caught up to the DOMO turf at Les Murakami Stadium. The Division I championship game of the Wally Yonamine Foundation Baseball State Championships between Pearl City and Moanalua was rained out yesterday and will be made up tomorrow night at 6.
By Jason Kaneshiro For Mid-Pacific, one of the perks of winning a state championship was getting fed instead of getting dirty. Usually after the final game of the season, the Owls gather to tidy up the campus softball field.
By Dave Reardon If life's fair, Devin Jenkins of Kapolei will have a calm, placid venue next year at which to defend his state championships and blast for some records in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
By Paul Honda Sometimes, the most valuable skill for a dynastic program is as simple as knowing basic math. Up only 4.33 points going into the final event, Punahou knew what was necessary to fend off upset-minded Seabury Hall last night at the Island Movers/HHSAA Girls Track and Field State Championships in rollicking War Memorial Stadium.
By Star-Advertiser staff Perfect. It's the only way to describe the season for the Punahou girls water polo team. It's the only way to describe the careers of the four Buffanblu seniors.
By Brian McInnis Mid-Pacific senior David Terao capped an impressive high school judo career by taking his fourth individual state championship in four years with a stunningly fast ippon throw on Moanalua's Kelson Onigama yesterday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
By Star-Advertiser staff It started with an entire island pitching in so the Carlsmith Ball/HHSAA Tennis Championships could be played Thursday. It ended yesterday with someone old, someone new, something rare and something blue — again.
By Jason Kaneshiro Mid-Pacific appeared to put Castle away once.
Faced with having to do it again, the second time the Owls made sure.
By Paul Honda All in all, Kristine Felix did pretty well for someone who had a broken leg four months ago.
By Jason Kaneshiro Pac-Five scored via the long ball and in the short game.
In the end, it added up to a second consecutive Division II state softball championship for the Wolfpack.
By Brian McInnis The self doubt was gone and the moment was theirs for the taking.
Third-ranked Kamehameha jumped on the back of senior hitter Micah Christenson and rode his 28 kills all the way to Hilo in a 25-16, 19-25, 25-23, 25-15 defeat of No. 2 ‘Iolani last night.
By Star-Advertiser staff For the fourth consecutive year, it will be an all-Interscholastic League of Honolulu final in state girls water polo.
By Star-Advertiser staff Mililani freshman Alyssa Tobita upset both Iolani's seeded players yesterday to reach this morning's girls final of the Carlsmith Ball/HHSAA Tennis Championships, at Royal Lahaina Tennis Ranch on Maui.
By Billy Hull The only team to beat Kailua prior to the state tournament did it again.
Chevas Numata’s grand slam in the top of the seventh gave Pearl City the necessary insurance runs needed to beat the Surfriders for the second time in 14 days, advancing the Chargers to tonight’s title game of the Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Championships at Les Murakami Stadium.
By Billy Hull A sprained ankle couldn't keep Baldwin starter Brysen Dafun from pitching in the Bears' state tournament opener.
By Jason Kaneshiro Leisha Liilii might have some memorable moments at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium down the road.
But it’ll be tough to top her performance last night.
By Star-Advertiser staff Pac-Five advanced to the title game after defeating Waipahu 2-0 in the semifinals of the Division II state softball tournament at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium yesterday.
By Billy Hull For the first time in 27 years, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu won’t be represented in the semifinals of the state baseball tournament.
By Star-Advertiser staff Miranda Estrella scored four goals to lead top-seeded Punahou to a 17-7 victory over Roosevelt in the quarterfinals of the Stanford Carr Development/HHSAA Girls Water Polo State Championships at Kamehameha-Hawaii on the Big Island.
By Star-Advertiser staff The top seeds are cruising through the early part of the bracket at the Carlsmith Ball/HHSAA State Tennis Championships at Lahaina, Maui.
By Billy Hull With three hits to his credit, a walk turned out to be Bryson Dymond’s biggest at-bat.
By Jason Kaneshiro By the time the heavy stuff rolled in, Mid-Pacific’s two-inning torrent had the Owls well on their way to the state tournament semifinals.
By Star-Advertiser staff Sophomore utility Rachel Kamai scored 11 goals to power the Roosevelt Rough Riders over the Baldwin Bears 19-5 and into the quarterfinals of the Stanford Carr Development/HHSAA Girls Water Polo State Championships at Kamehameha-Hawaii on the Big Island.
By Jason Kaneshiro Having earned one of the last spots in the state softball tournament, Leilehua knows a little bit about playing in survival mode.
By Paul Honda For a moment here and a moment there, Lanakila Baptist looked every bit a possible giant killer. The rest of the time, Hawaii Baptist had no mercy.
By Paul Honda There is no guarantee of anything. When the 12 Division I teams suit up for the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Baseball Championships at Les Murakami Stadium, there will be no Punahou.
By Paul Honda It's only fitting for the Campbell Sabers. For years, they teetered on the edge, ready to pounce on a state championship. Finally, last season, Katie Manuma powered them to a first state title.
By Paul Honda Punahou brought plenty of thunder and lightning to Kapalama Heights last night.
By Paul Honda There's no obstacle too far, no hurdle too high. Zhane Santiago goes beyond distance, though, in more ways than one.
By Paul Honda Buffanblu near the top • Tracy-Vistainer tries for 3 golds
By Paul Honda Hawaii's outstanding athletes on and off the field.
By Paul Honda The Top 10 high school softball and boys volleyball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state.
By Star-Advertiser Staff and News Services The season was on the line for 'Iolani — especially once the Raiders dropped the first game.

State champions waiting to be crowned this week
Seven state championships. Five days. Three islands. State high school championships in seven sports are crammed into this week's calendar.
By Paul Honda Punahou won the boys and girls team titles at the Interscholastic League of Honolulu track and field championships yesterday, but the surprise was the six individual records set at the meet.
By Brian McInnis A shanked pass here, some miscommunication there.
That was about all that separated No. 3 ‘Iolani from top-ranked Punahou, but those windows of opportunity were all the Buffanblu needed to complete a tightly played sweep, 25-22, 26-24, 25-23 last night at the Raiders' gym.
By Brian McInnis Moanalua proved itself twice over in the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference.
Now Na Menehune are one win from adding Red to their resume.
By Jason Kaneshiro Mid-Pacific bucked recent history to repeat as Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion.
By Paul Honda Doug Hee doesn't mind a little imperfection. He just won't go for lack of preparation, especially when an injury changes plans.
By Paul Honda One is a wailer. The other a hammer. With the Oahu Interscholastic Association boys tennis title on the line, the wailer won. Yuta Omori of Kaiser rallied for an epic 4-6, 7-6, 10-6 win over Jireh Lin of Mililani in a match that won't be forgotten anytime soon.
By Paul Honda This time, there was no stopping Robin Kiyabu. The 6-foot-2 Punahou senior won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys singles title, defeating teammate Brandon Lee 6-2, 7-5 yesterday at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.
By Paul Honda It is 3 p.m. on a sweltering day in Manoa. On the diamond at Mid-Pacific Institute, two men are fretting over weed spots near the third-base line.
Athletes who excel on and off the field.
By Star-Advertiser staff Mid-Pacific hires boys basketball coach • Kamehameha lineman eyes Utes • All-Star basketball in Kona
The Top 10 high school baseball, softball and boys volleyball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state.
By Stanley Lee / Special to the Star-Advertiser Holding a slim lead in the team standings going into the meet's final event, Kahuku just had to grab a few more points. "We were up by nine points, so we really had to get up there for the last race," said Kahuku sophomore Kayla Taulapapa.