Kahuku selects new varsity football coach

Kahuku has hired its fifth different head football coach in six seasons. Bruce Asato / Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Kahuku announced the hiring of Sterling Carvalho as its head varsity football coach today.

Carvalho had coached the junior varsity team for the past three seasons.

He replaces interim coach Makoa Freitas, who went 11-2 this past season, won an OIA title, and advanced to the state title game in the Open Division.


Carvalho, a Kauai High graduate and former quarterback, is a former assistant under previous Kahuku head coach Reggie Torres.

He was a finalist along with Freitas, who took over as interim coach for the 2017 season when Vavae Tata was not rehired after two years at the helm.

Carvalho is also a former Waialua assistant.


At least five other candidates interviewed for the job, according to sources. Only four could be verified: Torres, former Kahuku head coach Siuaki Livai, former Kahuku assistant Marvin Cravens, and Faasea Mailo, who was an assistant under Freitas.

Multiple sources indicated that Tata also applied for the job, but did not interview.

There was a lot of speculation that former University of Hawaii assistant Chris Naeole, former Campbell head coach and Kahuku assistant Darren Johnson, and former Red Raiders assistant Byron Beatty put their resumes in, but it has been confirmed that they did not.


Livai, Tata and Torres have all won at least one state title for Kahuku.

Carvalho will be the fifth head coach since 2013. Torres was not rehired after the 2013 season. He was followed by Lee Leslie (2014), Tata (2015 and 2016) and Freitas (2017).

Kahuku picked Sterling Carvalho as its new varsity football coach Thursday. Courtesy of Sterling Carvalho.

COMMENTS

  1. Aunty Lala January 18, 2018 12:57 pm

    ok


  2. Aunty Lala January 18, 2018 12:59 pm

    Lots of different coaches 5 in 6 seasons, wow


  3. Lougang January 18, 2018 1:07 pm

    Who Cares ?


  4. inuulu January 18, 2018 1:32 pm

    It’s the referee’s fault if you listen to Kahuku logic


  5. Shmuck January 18, 2018 1:33 pm

    Obviously you do, donkey


  6. PlayaHatersAnonymous January 18, 2018 2:32 pm

    Kahuku has so much talent that a monkey can coach them and they’ll have a winning season. But it’s going to take a genius to win the Open Division against Cal Lee and the UNDEFEATED Crusaders. It’s only one Siuaki Livai that has a track record of defeating Cal & Crusaders. The rest are just monkeys(including Tata, who threw the game).


  7. Thurston Haole III January 18, 2018 2:54 pm

    The more I learn, the clearer it becomes to me that Kahuku football has achieved its incredible level of success in spite of the school’s administration, rather than because of it. These people could screw up a two-car funeral.


  8. Mana kahala January 18, 2018 3:13 pm

    Congrats coach Sterling!!!


  9. rrforlifebaby January 18, 2018 3:41 pm

    Congrats to Sterling.

    Big Red always has enough talent to get the Championship, but until proven wrong, this administration has basically made it easier for St Louis to keep their second dynasty going. Cal Lee and company must be laughing because they know Sterling won’t out coach them.

    We’ll see what happens from now until August.

    RRFL!!


  10. Coach C January 18, 2018 4:02 pm

    Wonder when Cal is going to announce that 1st.time senior Taulia will be his qb? Hell No, we don’t recruit. Any academic test required? Guess not. Football first.


  11. HanaBrada January 18, 2018 4:13 pm

    #10, Coach C, you have reliable info Taulia going leave Alabama for St. Louis? Really? What are your sources? PUT UP OR SHUTUP!!


  12. Mahatma Gandhi January 18, 2018 4:23 pm

    Taulia gotta be tremendously homesick. Cannot get more different, Alabama and Hawaii. You know St Louis gotta be talking to him, encouraging him to come back home.


  13. Knation January 18, 2018 4:38 pm

    Congrats to sterling! Was hoping for makoa or Beatty but it is what it is… sterling was the OC when they won states in ’11 and ’12 so he’s knows kahuku football. There is a lot of talent on the team returning so he got it lucky too. Will be very interesting but he’s offensive guy so we should be fine.


  14. Mahatma Gandhi January 18, 2018 4:42 pm

    How could the Kahuku admin not have been happy with Makoa Freitas? His Kahuku team hung tough with win-at-all-costs St Lulu and their all out recruiting of OIA talent.


  15. IlH January 18, 2018 5:13 pm

    How did the RR JV football team do this past season?


  16. ??? January 18, 2018 5:28 pm

    Only Kahuku and St Louis fans/alumni care about state titles SO much that it’s crazy. 5 coaches in 6 years with all of them in winning OIA or States & still get fired or not retained. After Cal Lee, STL went through Tengan, Arceneaux, Hao, Wright but nobody was satisfied till Lee came back & won states. So sad 😞
    I believe Taulia will be back cause STL ain’t winning without him this year.


  17. Red Raider Alumni January 18, 2018 5:35 pm

    Congrats Coach Sterling…Now that we’re over the drama, let’s get to work..Off season started yesterday..Coach’um up….Go Big Red….RRFL


  18. slsfan January 18, 2018 5:41 pm

    all of you connecting taulia and sls are in for a huge, huge, huge, huge, huge,………………….surpirise.


  19. Knation January 18, 2018 6:00 pm

    @slsfan guy you just saying anything. You actually make it sound that st.louis needs taulia to win. Taulia don’t even need st.louis but st.louis needs taulia…just saying 🤓


  20. Crusaderdynasty January 18, 2018 7:12 pm

    It’s funny reading all these comments, all u guys coming up with ur own speculations about the Lou!!!! Lmao!!!! U guys should blame the stinking kahuku admin for these coaching shuffles. It’s stupid to reapply every year for the head coach position. As long as they keep doing this Kahuku will never be a dynasty again!!!! Thank you RR admin. Btw KRR coaching game gave last year’s game away!!! Wrapped that present up with a big blue and red ribbon and handed it to Cal!!!! 😂😂😂😂 stop blaming the refs it’s a dumb thing to say. Blame the coach who for got to tell the kids stay in bounds Lmao!!!! #crybabys


  21. ahinalu January 18, 2018 7:22 pm

    I Blame the Principle because She is in Charge !!

    Reminds me of Lokelani !!

    Broken Trust .


  22. Coach C January 18, 2018 7:30 pm

    Lol,hanabrada, reliable sources? Just about reliable as all these post names. Look, the whole DEAL was Taulia excels at Kapolei as a freshman. JJ comes on board as a personal coach for Taulia”s sophomore year. Saban deals by shipping the family to Alabama. JJ goes to StL. then takes the CFL job. Taulia goes to a school that is waiting for him to train and start. Part of the Saban recruiting deal is to offer siblings scholarships too. All leads back to Taulia senior year in Honolulu. All part of the Alabama Big Deal. Listen I know it’s complicated. College recruiting nowadays is a 10 prong deal especially with SEC.


  23. Coach C January 18, 2018 7:38 pm

    Sorry. Yes Sterling, congratulations. What is your surprise sls fan? SolJay?


  24. Mason January 18, 2018 7:56 pm

    Thank you Kahuku admin for making it easier for all the other top tier OIA and ILH teams to beat you. I’m not even a Kahuku Fan and even I thought it would be best for the program if Coach Freitas came back and coached the team. Because I believe he would give you the best chance to win. SMH you guys are crazy, oh and btw Your boy Sol-Jay is transferring to the Sabers to be with Unko Darren and Taulia’s not coming back to STL, he’s actually thinking about going to Kailua to play for Coach Wong!


  25. YeahYoo January 18, 2018 8:01 pm

    What’s the surprise? Damien transfer Jayden?


  26. Terii'te'toofa January 18, 2018 8:03 pm

    Lol like your comment #20 ahinalu. The whole Kahuku administration involved in these continues soap opera football coaching decisions NEEDS TO BE FIRED. Because you playing with these kids mind’s with your instability.


  27. PlayaHatersAnonymous January 18, 2018 8:46 pm

    Kahuku RR Team are so talented they adopt quickly and learn on the fly, I can’t wait to watch Sione Mahe get his shot at carrying the work load for the Big Red Machine. Don’t worry about Taulia coming back because the truth is, StLouis has a real QB coach and he’s the key to having such success in the Field Generals position. He’ll turn a mediocre player to a Giant slayer. What would be a concern is that the Crusaders defense will be graduating a lot of talent and would have to replace their All-Staters except the DT. This is going to be a concern for them facing Kahuku’s experienced offensive unit. The OC needs to be retained because he’s the system that Soljay has learned to operate. Or the scheme at least. I wouldn’t be concerned with Kahuku Team, but Kaiser’s if they will compete this year so that their scheduled games won’t be of a lost cause.


  28. 808Sams January 18, 2018 9:00 pm

    I think alot of people will be in for a surprise on the next QB taking over the reigns at SLS, I seen this kid (Jayden DeLaura) play, he’s the real deal, second coming of Tua thanks to JJ and Mel SLS just reloaded at the QB position.


  29. 808 sports fan January 18, 2018 9:19 pm

    24 mason
    If soljay transfer he will have to sit out for one year.


  30. 88 January 18, 2018 10:24 pm

    Not if he transferred before this semester started. Watch the mass exodus to Campbell now.


  31. 808 sports fan January 19, 2018 5:15 am

    The transfer rule states if a player played for a public school and transfers to any public or private school the player is ineligible for the next season.


  32. TooMeke January 19, 2018 6:14 am

    Taulia was Alabama HS FB POY…and his whole family moved there. You guys crack me up. He’s not coming back. Looking forward to watching him at the next level. HI grown are making noise on the national stage. Great for all HI HS student athletes.


  33. TooMeke January 19, 2018 6:21 am

    Congrats Sterling and good luck. Hope you do good. Job #1 is keep soljay, cuz rumor is he is being recruited by IMG Academy in FL.

    Condolences to Makoa – not your fault KHS is run by a bunch of ‘waste of skins’ cuz dey think dey own da school. smh.

    Mostly sorry for the kids – stupid admin don’t care about the kids.


  34. RR4ever January 19, 2018 7:22 am

    If Sol-Jay wants to leave then go right ahead and take all the family drama with you. So damn annoying with his family thinking they’re more important than the program. We’ve won championships before him, we will win championships after him.


  35. Coach C January 19, 2018 9:10 am

    Thank you Coach Makoa Freitas. It’s not easy taking over a program like Kahuku. You are a successful individual. Good luck.


  36. WeWillSee January 19, 2018 9:28 am

    For those who don’t already know, the OIA Transfer Rule has been suspended/thrown out. This is due to the ruling from Mililani-Kapolei Boys Basketball case. The parents sued the DOE to allow their son to play at Kapolei. During the hearing the Judge “suggested” the OIA suspend the transfer rule until they can provide better wording to block challenges. As of now all transfers are being allowed. I also heard a bunch of boys from Kahuku are transferring to Campbell. Don’t know if it’s true…so just rumors for now. We will see.


  37. Footballyoubet January 19, 2018 9:47 am

    Unreal…I heard there’s kids from Kailua, Kalihi, Wahiawa, and Halawa and some other schools around the state are gonna be playing at Kahuku this year…Oops sorry my bad,Only ILH can do that….


  38. rrforlifebaby January 19, 2018 11:05 am

    If kids want to transfer, so be it.

    But if they’re going to a rival public school because they or their parents don’t like the coach, then I don’t want to hear about how their blood is still RRFL! As far as I’m concerned, if they are going to Campbell(and nothing against DJ), then these kids and their parents are sell outs.

    The road to a State Championship let alone an OIA Championship might be that much harder, but Big Red always has enough in the cupboard to take on whomever is placed in front of them.

    RRFL!


  39. Lisa Vaimoui January 19, 2018 1:53 pm

    rrforlifebaby January 19, 2018 11:05 am
    If kids want to transfer, so be it…

    …As far as I’m concerned, if they are going to Campbell (and nothing against DJ), then these kids and their parents are sell outs.

    How about you get the #REALSTORY #TRUEFACTS before being a blubber mouth? And why you hiding behind a screen name? If you got something to say, let’s talk. Be mature, no hide…we all adults. Atleast I would hope you were adult and mature enough to be straight up.

    Thank you!!!


  40. Knation January 19, 2018 2:08 pm

    @RR4ever I’m pretty sure your not even a kahuku fan but want soljay to leave coz your afraid that he’s going to destroy the real school your from. Enough with the hate. If you even know soljay he’s always rep kahuku. Even if he transfer he will always be a red raider


  41. Red Raider Alumni January 19, 2018 5:06 pm

    Sol-jay is not going no where..Remember he’s only a sophomore, His Junior year coming up is where he starts to showcase why he’s the quarterback to be reckoned with. Looking forward to seeing you this kid mature..With Coach Sterling, the play calling will be a lot better…Good Luck Coach and Go Big Red…


  42. Knation January 19, 2018 5:43 pm

    @red raider alumni that’s what I’m thinking. There offense would be more explosive with sterling calling it. I also think soljay is staying just because he’s a RRFL and there team is going to be favorites to win it all.


  43. Deuch January 19, 2018 8:28 pm

    Heard Soljay just posted something on social media that he transferring to a school in Washington. Good luck to you and your endeavors.


  44. Coach C January 19, 2018 9:13 pm

    Nobody going Campbell. Pleeze. DJ got enough talent there and the ewa kids not going Kapolei.Kahuku generates ESPN national exposure for a small country public school. Kahuku kids play for Kahuku.


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