Moanalua Na Menehune Replacement QB Micah Kaneshiro Takes to the Air.

Parents always ask me why the media doesn't cover the JV football games, only Varsity games.  To give these kids some coverage, for the past 3 years, I have taken an interest in the Big Boys football as well as JV football.  I have found there is a lot of talent out there moving ahead and heading into our public schools.  Last year, one player that grabbed my attention was Micah Kaneshiro (photo above) who played for the Moanalua Na Menehune JV football team.  He is quite a unique person, quiet and a team player.  He was also QB for the JV team, and his style kind of reminded me of Bryant Moniz, always on target and the biggest factor was his leadership and team work.

This year as a Junior on the Moanalua Varsity team, and backup QB #15, Micah said he'll wait his turn and that Maxwell, a senior is a great person and QB.  At the season opener with Mililani leading 24-6 with 6:34 on the clock in the 3rd quarter, starting QB #10, Maxwell Fiatoa was injured and backup QB #15, Micah Kaneshiro took over, ending the game 31-21, Mililani over Moanalua.  Great attempt.

Now as the starting QB, Micah has led the Na Menehune 46-13 over Kailua and 33-12 over the Castle Knights.  The Na Menehune defense dominated the Castle Knights offense and kept the pressure on the Knights QB#1 Brandon Makekau all night.  Moanalua's next game will be against the Farrington Governors who so far has defeated Waianae 37-23, Saint Louis 39-33, Castle 44-3 and Kaimuki 52-0. For more stats "Click" here. To see the Varsity game photos, Na Menehune and Castle Knights, "Click" here.  JV Photos, "Click here.

What a "Knight" for the Moanalua Na Menehune Varsity Girls Volleyball Team?

What a "knight" for the Moanalua "Na Menehune" Varsity girls who played the Castle Knights at the Moanalua High School gym. The crowd could be heard throughout the school campus and into the surrounding neighborhood.

The Na Menehune took the first set 25-20, and in the second set, the Knights challenged with blow after blow 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21, 22-22, finally ending it 22-25 to take the second game.  This took both teams into the play off, the first to reach 15.  It was truly a battle for tonight's game.  The crowd was really into this game, stomping on the bleachers, shouting, yelling and supporting both teams to hang in there!

In the final playoff, Castle scored first, then Moanalua to even the score 3-3.  Moanalua wasn't  about to blink, and held together as a team throughout this tie breaker to pull ahead 9-4. The battle continued with the Knights keeping the Na Menehune on their toes throughout the whole game playing good defense, but it all ended in a heartbreak for the Knights 15-6. Lots of power hitting on both sides.

Awesome game between both teams tonight. As for the Moanalua JV, they too had a scare losing the first game 23-25, taking back the second game 25-16 and pulling off the win 15-10.  Moanalua's Blue team also won 25-12 and 25-12.  Varsity action photos, "click" here. JV & Blue will be added later.

Moanalua "Na Menehune" Surf Over The Kailua Surfriders (46-13)

What a come back for the Moanalua "Na Menehune" Varsity football team after their pre-season games.  From the very start of tonight's game against the Kailua Surfriders, the "Na Menehune" got the attention of their supporters. Kailua started the 1st quarter with a TD by RB#1, Jarrin Young to take the lead 7-0, and Moanalua caught the next wave and tied the score by WR#7, Sheldon Pagba (photo above) to tie the score 7-7 with 4:14 left on the clock in the 1st quarter.

At the start of the 2nd quarter, the Surfriders struck again for their 2nd TD, and again the 'Na Menehune" came right back with RB#4 Ishmil Scott taking it into the end zone to tie it 13-13 with 8:49 on the clock.  Moanalua's offense and defense took advantage of the penalties and interceptions that plagued the Surfriders throughout the night, winning their first game in the OIA Red East 46-13. Other Moanalua players that contributed to tonight's TDs are RB#20, Kaleo Yanai; WR#3, Donald Lambert; WR#2, John-Michael Sharsh "stretching" for his TD (photo above); SS#5, Richard Parham and LB#11 DJ, Leatimua. "Click" here to view Varsity photos.  "Click" here to view JV photos.

The Kalani Falcons & Moanalua "Na Menehune" Battle It Out to The End

Last year the Moanalua Na Menehune Varsity girls volleyball team placed 5th in the 2011 HHSAA Division I.  Tonight in their 1st game, the Na Menehune put on a show of talent, determination and acrobatic performance beating the Kalani Falcons 25-11 and 25-17, who also put up a great defense.

Going into the second game, the Falcons led 4-0 but the Na Menehune fought back hard and it was a game of who could out pound the other team with kills and blocks.  The Na Menehune OH #7, Jenna Park; DS/L #9, Kassie-Ann Dela Cruz; OH/MB #12, Marina Adolfo (photo above); MB #15, Analise Austin; OH #17, Silerolia Gaogao and OH/MB #18, Johanna Kruise put up a wall to stop the Falcons tonight. What a performance by both teams who played hard all the way to the finish.

As for the earlier game by the Blue Team, The Na Menehune swept the falcons 25-10 and 25-11, and the JV 25-12 and 25-14 over the Falcons. "Click" here to see more action photos.

Iolani 2011 HHSAA State Division II Champions Rematch with The Waipahu Marauders Tonight at Waipahu

Tonight, the Waipahu Marauders and the Iolani Raiders meet face to face again.  The last time they met was at the 2011 First Hawaiian Bank, Division II Football State Championship.  The #2 Marauders made it to the semifinals and defeated #3 Lahainaluna 19-14 and moved on to the Championship on Friday, November 25, 2011 at the Aloha Stadium where the #1 Iolani Raiders dominated the game 34-0 for the HHSAA State Division II Championship Game under Head Coach Wendell Look.  So fasten your seat belt and here we go!

You needed more than a seat belt to hold you down, as excitement rang through Waipahu all night.  The Raiders scored first with a pass from QB #5, Reece Foy to SB #11, Yuuya Kato for a TD in the first quarter.  Waipahu came firing back with QB #10, Kaimi Paredes running in for a TD with 1:57 left in the 1st quarter bringing the score to 7-7.  Going into the 2nd quarter, Waipahu continued their push with REC #4, Dalan Pakau taking it in for another TD.  With seconds left in the 2nd quarter, Waipahu made it 20-14 to end the half.

The game kept everyone on their toes and must have been a scare to Iolani as Waipahu took the lead tonight.  Waipahu kept the pressure on Iolani all night and held the lead 34-27 for most of the 4th quarter.  With 39.8 seconds left, Iolani took over and QB #5, Reece Foy threw a bomb into the end zone.  Then, SB #12, Chad Hanaoka (photo above) ran a pass play for two points to seal the game 34-35.  It was heartbreaking for the Marauders after such a valiant effort, but they have nothing to be ashamed of tonight as Iolani saw a new Waipahu team.  Event action photos, "click" here.

Moanalua 2012 Football Preseason Game with Mililani at Mililani Newly Renovated Football Field (21-31)

Today is the start of a new season for the 2012 Moanalua football team in their preseason game against Mililani at Mililani's newly renovated Kauinana Stadium football field. Last year, Mililani finished 4-6, and 4th in the OIA West Red Division.  Moanalua end their season 5-5 in the OIA East Red Division. This afternoon the Moanalua JV team took on the JV Trojans who dominated the game 35-6. I was told the Moanalua JV team were mostly freshman and sophomores because many of their players from military families left the school.  It was a good experience for the Moanalua team in their first preseason game.  I can see them coming back strong in the regular season games.

As for the Varsity game, Moanalua kicked off to Mililani who fumbled the ball and was recovered by Moanalua. Moanalua put up a great defense ending with a scoreless 1st quarter.  Mililani followed with several TDs bringing the score to 24-0 at the end of the 2nd quarter.  After the half-time, Moanalua came back with RB #4 Ishmil Scott (photo above) running along the outside to take it in for 6 points to end the 3rd quarter.  At the start of the 4th quarter, Moanalua WR #3 Donald Lambert scored a TD with 11:25 left in the 4th, but Mililani QB #15 Jarin Morikawa took it through the middle to score with 5:30 on the clock.  With only a few minutes remaining, Moanalua QB #15 Micah Kaneshiro threw a TD pass to WR #18 Jason Sharsh who ran it into the end zone to close the 4th quarter, 21-31. Great job to all the teams! For the preseason Varsity photos "click" here. For JV photos "click" here.

High School Football OIA/ILH 2012-2013 Season Are Back In Full Swing!

The 2012 High School Football OIA & ILH Divisions are back and here are the division break down for this year.  ILH Division 1: Kamehameha, Punahou, Saint Francis and Saint Louis. ILH Division 2: Damin, Iolani and Pac-Five. OIA Red East: Castle, Farrington, Kahuku, Kailua, Kaimuki, McKinley and Moanalua. OIA Red West: Aiea, Campbell, Kapolei, Leilehua, Mililani, Waianae and Waipahu. OIA White: Anuenue, Kaiser, Kalaheo, Kalani, Nanakuli, PearlCity, Radford, Roosevelt and Waialua. For the OIA monthly schedule, "click" here. For the ILH football schedule, "click" here.

Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association 2012 State Championship - Ke'ehi Lagoon, Oahu

Lanikai AAAA 3rd HCRA State Championship

What a beautiful day for the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association 2012 State Championship held at Ke'ehi Lagoon on Oahu. The Ke'ehi Lagoon field looked like a fleet of cars for sale and thousands of paddlers from Oahu, Hui Wa'a (Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a), OHCRA (Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association) as well as MCHCA (Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association), MCRA (Molokai Canoe Racing Association), MOKU (Moku O Hawai'i Outrigger Canoe Racing Association) and GICRA (Garden Isle Canoe Racing Association) participated at todays event. The race results, "click" here.

The over all winners of todays event, Lanikai with it's third HCRA State Championship (photo above) Pat Dolan, Jack Roney, Aaron Creps, Ryan Dolan, Manny Kulukulualani and John Foti, AAAA with 330 points followed by, Kailua 329, Hawaiian Canoe Club 325, Kai Opua Canoe Club 301, Outrigger 242, Hui Nalu 239 and Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i with 165 points. Keauhou Canoe Club AAA with 193 points followed by, Kihei Canoe Club 160, Puna Canoe Club 151, Lae'ula O Kai 107 and Kaneohe with 100 points. Keahiakahoe AA with 110 points followed by, Waikiki Beach Boys 108, Hui Lanakila 107, Waikiki Surf Club 91, Wa'akapaemua 85, Napili 85, Healani 80, Na Kai Ewalu 75, Manu O Ke Kai 72, Leward Kai 64, Kai' Ehitu 51, Ka Mamalahoe 42 and Hanalei with 37 points. For event video and photos, "click" here.