Akana still running Kahuku basketball

Officially, Alan Akina is back in his position as Kahuku boys basketball head coach.

Akina, however, was not in the gym for the Red Raiders’ 55-39 Oahu Interscholastic Association first-round playoff victory over Waianae on Thursday night at Moanalua.

As part of an agreement reached at a state court hearing Wednesday, Akina will not actively participate as the coach because it would cause a disruption. Instead, interim head coach Brandyn Akana will lead the Red Raiders until the end of the season.

“That’s the last thing he wants to do is cause a disruption,” Akina’s attorney, Eric Seitz, said Thursday night. “But I feel he should be there (in the stands) for his kids.”

In December, Akina was placed on leave by the Kahuku administration pending an investigation into complaints by parents and players that he was favoring his two sons, guards Keanu and Kawika Akina. Akina then filed a lawsuit, seeking relief and damages stemming from his “summary removal” as head coach.

“It was important for us that they reinstate him,” Seitz said. “It was important to them (the Kahuku administration) that he not step back in and cause a disruption to the team that has been without him for five weeks.”