Dominant performances abound among this year’s 12 inductees into the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Hall of Honor.
The Hall of Honor’s 34th class of seniors includes two four-time wrestling champions (Kamehameha’s Teshya Alo and Lahainaluna’s Lalelei Mataafa) and the state’s all-time leading rusher (Mililani running Vavae Malepeai).
Kamehameha’s Kaeo Kruse won 21 medals in the state cross country, swimming and track and field meets and Baldwin’s La‘akea Kaho‘ohanohano-Davis finished his career with a remarkable four-gold performance at the state track championships.
The class will be formally inducted in at the Hall of Honor banquet on June 5 at the Pomaika‘i Ballrooms at Dole Cannery and the inductees receive a $2,000 scholarship from Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
Comprising the 2016 Hall of Honor class are:
>> Teshya Alo, Kamehameha (wrestling, judo): Won 13 state tournament matches by pin and one by default in an overwhelming run of four titles. Reached the semifinals of the U.S. Olympic Trials.
>> Emalia Eichelberger, Punahou (water polo, paddling): Goalie for Punahou’s four-time undefeated state champions in water polo and added three golds in paddling.
>> Mariel Galdiano, Punahou (golf): The second golfer to win three titles and her bid for an unprecedented fourth fell short in a playoff. The seventh ranked women’s amateur in the world.
>> Shandon Hopeau, Kapolei (soccer): The state’s premier goal scorer will be going to Croatia to start a professional career. Scored 72 career goals and a two-time All-State pick.
>> La‘akea Kaho‘ohanohano-Davis, Baldwin (football, track and field): Set records in the long jump and triple jump while earning four golds at the state track and field meet. First team All-State in football.
>> Kaeo Kruse, Kamehameha (cross country, swimming, track and field): Won 21 medals in state meets and set event records at the cross country and track and field championships. The first Hawaii high school runner to go under 4 minutes in the 1,500 meters.
>> Aukai Lileikis, Punahou (swimming): Holds records four freestyle events in the state swimming championships and has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
>> Vavae Malepeai, Mililani (football): A three-time All-State pick and the state’s all-time leader in rushing yards (4,549) and touchdowns (71).
>> Lalelei Mataafa, Lahainaluna (wrestling, water polo): Completed a perfect four-year career in wrestling and was an imposing presence in the pool as a water polo all-star.
>> Austin Matautia, Moanalua (volleyball): Led Na Menehune to four OIA titles and top-three finishes in the state tournament each year while earning four Fab 15 selections.
>> Chanelle Molina, Konawaena (basketball, volleyball): Led the Wildcats to two state championships and a four-time Fab 15 pick and three-time Player of the Year. Also a Fab-15 pick in volleyball.
>> Emma Taylor, Hawaii Prep (track and field, soccer, volleyball): Four-time state champion the 100-meter hurdles, three-time winner in the 300 hurdles and helped Ka Makani win state titles in soccer and track and field this season.
