If you understand Mika Makekau’s favorite shows, it all makes sense.

Pressure and family are integral parts of who she is. She has four siblings, which explains why her favorite TV show is “The Fosters.”

“It’s this couple that gets foster kids into the family,” she said. “I think they have six kids.”

Her favorite movie? What else: “Nerve.”

“I’ve seen it,” Makekau said, “probably 10 times.”

It takes a lot of discipline and self-control to become the state’s leader in field goals made. That’s a little extraordinary considering the way each day begins for the ‘Iolani three-sport senior.

Every day, it begins in the cool darkness while all is still. Makekau boards the family car and older sister Keala provides generous service, driving her from Ewa Beach to Moiliili.

“She drops me off at 6:30 and drives back,” said Makekau, who went from Ewa Makai Middle School to ‘Iolani as a freshman. “It was hard. Waking up early. Public school and private school are so different, the kids. I think I was focused on trying to fit in, people accepting me, making new friends. It’s actually been a roller coaster, but this year’s been a good year.”

Neither Mika, her parents and siblings, nor even the coaches at ‘Iolani assumed or expected to be talking about state records at any point.

On Sept. 15, Makekau made three field goals against Damien, helping the Raiders pull away for a key 30-19 victory.

“Whether you look at her as a girl or boy, it kind of doesn’t matter” Damien coach Eddie Klaneski said. “One kick was deep and she did a real good job of taking care of her business. On the other end, our kid missed his field goals. It’s kind of amazing in a male-dominated sport, but she’s a football player. She’s doing a great job.”

Her 44-yarder is a Hawaii state record for a girl. The national girls record distance is 48 yards, something Makekau has done at practice.

Without Rayden Kaneshiro, she may not have another holder as consistently precise. Without KC Bell, the snap isn’t sharp. After breaking the state record, she thanked them, as well as her line. She moved forward. Makekau thinks more about mastering her craft, holding up her end as an ‘Iolani Raider.

“We’re reminded a lot that discipline is what’s going to help us get further in the future, and especially since he’s on campus everywhere, we’re reminded every day when we see him that the way we act on campus is reflecting Coach (Wendell) Look also,” Makekau said. “He teaches and coaches us, and that’s what keeps us in check the most.”

The win over Damien was significant to ‘Iolani’s postseason ambitions. In this new era of OIA-ILH crossover games, all results against OIA opponents count in the ILH standings. There is no playoff for ILH Division I, and with two games remaining, ‘Iolani at 5-1 has the edge on Damien at 4-2. Makekau’s skill has become a key part of the team’s strategy, one that isn’t commonplace for most high schools.

“I’m not a big stats kind of guy. We let the game play itself out,” Look said. “We don’t necessarily say, ‘We’ve got to get Mika this many field goals.’ That’s just how it happens and that’s how it should be. She does her job within the flow of the game.”

Makekau’s record field goal was a demonstration of clarity. The play began with a false start by the Raiders, and as the ball was moved back 5 yards, nothing changed in her mind.

“I learned that from my kicking coach, Coach Myles (Arakawa). He helps me focus on three major points that don’t pertain to anything else, but just focusing. Where you’re going to hit it, picking a point of where you’re aiming, and your follow-through,” she said. “I just block everything out. That 44-yarder, I didn’t even know how long it was. I don’t think about things too much because that messes with my mind. I try not to look at the scoreboard.”

Makekau knows competition well. Her older brother, Keoni-Kordell Makekau, was an All-State receiver and a kicker at ‘Iolani. (He is now a starting wide receiver at Navy.) When Mika Makekau became a kicker on the varsity, she was regularly booming kickoffs inside the 10-yard line. Often, her kicks landed inside the 5. It didn’t matter one whit that she is a girl.

Keoni’s influence on Mika has always been real. It’s the reason she’s a Los Angeles Chargers fan.

“Keoni loves them, and when we were younger, I just kind of leeched off of him,” she said.

In the Makekau household, father (Sam) and mother (Lupe) write the law, but it’s mom who is the enforcer.

“My mom says, ‘Do good or you’re walking home,’ ” Makekau said.

After practice, Keala comes back to campus and picks her younger sister up. Mika sleeps on the way home, has dinner and hits the books until bedtime. The routine has led to state records, even a trip to Tahiti for track and field last spring. Change has been good.

“I want to inspire other girls,” Makekau said, “to do and play things that are unusual for girls to do.”

MIKA MAKEKAU

‘Iolani football

Position: K

Height: 5 feet 7

Grade: Senior

YEAR / G / XPM-XPA / PCT. / FGM-FGA / PCT. / LG

2018 8 33-37 .892 7-11 .636 44

2017 10 40-43 .930 6-9 .667 35

TOT. 17 73-80 .913 13-20 .650 44

LONGEST FIELD GOALS BY A GIRL*

All-time in the state of Hawaii

NAME / SCHOOL / DISTANCE / DATE / OPPONENT

Mika Makekau ‘Iolani 44 9/15/2018 Damien, W, 30-19

Mika Makekau ‘Iolani 35 8/26/2017 Kaimuki, W, 57-34

Chelsie Sato McKinley 33 9/3/2005 Pac-Five, W, 44-7

Darci Hata Pac-Five 32 11/9/2002 Damien, W, 45-6

Mika Makekau ‘Iolani 32 8/26/2017 Kaimuki, W, 57-34

*State record overall is 57 yards by Kailua’s Naia Graham and Hilo’s Christian Doag