In a land where talent abounds from one end of the islands to the other, Ian Kahaloa is a rare entity. The senior right-hander from Campbell was so thoroughly dominant that he was selected pitcher of the year and position player of the year — a hands-down player of the year in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State Baseball balloting. 

Kahaloa, who has signed with the University of Hawaii, is likely to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft on June 8. He may have improved his stock by going 5-0 with a minuscule 0.16 ERA, with 72 strikeouts and a mere four walks. Kahaloa also hit .520 with 15 RBIs and three triples. 

"I’m excited. I’m ready to play at the next level," he said. 

On a state championship team loaded with great pitching and defense, and a superb offense, Kahaloa still stood out. His fastball hit the low 90s with regularity and his breaking ball froze most batters. He was also a huge help to the everyday lineup, batting in the 3 or 4 hole. 

"He went undefeated on the mound, and the bonus for us this year was his bat. We really missed his bat last year when he broke his (left) hand. I’ve been following this team from when they were Little League, winning their Bronco championship. I always knew he could swing it. It’s just a matter of him having that confidence and getting the at-bats," said Campbell’s Rory Pico, who was voted All-State coach of the year. 

"From the beginning, you could see with his added strength he would be stronger at the plate. He definitely put in the work in the weight room. That’s the aspect of his overall game that improved the most, his strength. He joined a gym and went there religiously, put on some good weight. You could see it. It wasn’t overly big. He was able to maintain his flexibility and things came easier. The ball came off the bat easier. The ball came out of his hand easier," Pico said. 

This has been a unique and memorable week for Kahaloa, who flew to Los Angeles with his father, mother and two sisters on Thursday. After enjoying Disneyland and an Angels home game, he pitched in an event for major league prospects on Monday. He threw 45 pitches in the bullpen. No game. No scrimmage. 

"It’s an awesome feeling, throwing in front of teams you don’t know," said Kahaloa, who regularly pitched before 20 to 25 scouts at home games this season. 

It was his first serious pitching since the state semifinal game, when he outdueled Kamehameha’s Codie Paiva. Kahaloa went 10 innings with 15 strikeouts and no walks in a classic 2-1 victory. He threw 138 pitches, an unusually high total that sparked some criticism from near and far. 

"I just wanted my team to win. It’s all about the team. No discomfort, no pain (in my arm)," said Kahaloa, who had roughly 10 days of rest leading into the tournament. "I did my long toss three days afterward."

Kahaloa returned to the islands on Tuesday, and Campbell’s senior class graduated on Thursday. Again, no serious fatigue. "It’s only a five-hour flight coming back," he said on Wednesday. 

Now the future nears. 

"I know I can handle whatever happens," Kahaloa said. "My dad said stay away from girls and do what I do best. My mom said to make sure I do all my chores." 

Graduation. Leaving home. Nothing is ever quite the same again, especially saying aloha to longtime teammates. 

"That’s hard to explain. We grew up together since we were 4. We know each other’s likes and hobbies, cruised together every day," Kahaloa said. 

FIRST TEAM

SECOND TEAM

THIRD TEAM

ENLARGE