Latest news

Latest news

Hawaii high school athletic directors cancel their annual meeting

By Nick Abramo on March 23, 2020

The Hawaii Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association’s canceled its annual meeting, organization president Deren Oshiro announced today. “Due to the public health threat posed by COVID-19, all of the accompanying financial implications, and restrictions on travel and gatherings, our executive committee has voted to cancel the 2020 HIADA Conference,” Oshiro said in a news release. The conference was scheduled for June 1-4 at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa on the Big Island. “We will explore ways to meet virtually or […]

Red Raiders alum Spencer Yates is the new Kauai High baseball coach

By Nick Abramo on March 23, 2020

On a smaller scale, it’s comparable to the NFL’s Manning family. The athletic line of mostly quarterbacks went from Archie down to Cooper (wide receiver), Peyton and Eli. On Kauai, you’ve got two who made the show as Major League Baseball pitchers —Tyler and Kirby Yates — but there is another baseball player in the family. Spencer Yates, born between the other two, is the new Kauai High baseball coach, and Tyler is his pitching coach. Unfortunately, baseball is on […]

Punahou pole vaulter J. Kai Yamafuji whittles college choices to 2

By Nick Abramo on March 23, 2020

Like most every athlete in the sporting world, J. Kai Yamafuji is hoping the COVID-19 virus pandemic situation clears up soon. This spring, he wants to soar higher than anyone else has in Hawaii. Again. But he might not be able to because of all the cancellations. We’re talking about the pole vault, the discipline in which Yamafuji reached 16 feet when he was a sophomore at Punahou two years ago. He didn’t better that mark a year ago as […]


SPRING SPORTS Spiral Notebook: This and That

By Nick Abramo on March 17, 2020

Here we are without high school sports, so what’s a sportswriter to do? Think. Jot. Clear the desk of stuff that was on the list of things to do before the seriousness of COVID-19 put a halt to sports everywhere. So, here’s a fist bump to everybody in our sports community along with hopes and prayers that this crisis lasts a few weeks rather than a few months, or a few months rather than a year or more. And here […]

Hawaii’s 5 high school leagues agree to stop practices

By Nick Abramo on March 17, 2020

On Friday, the message from the Hawaii High School Athletic Association in conjunction with its five member leagues was clear: All sports activities would be suspended starting Monday until further notice due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic. But the definition of “sports activities” left a little gray area, so when Monday rolled around, at least one sports team in the state held a practice. On Monday morning, the HHSAA convened what will be a weekly meeting of the five leagues, […]

Punahou’s Dominic Gusman is one of 3 to repeat on All-State boys soccer team

By Nick Abramo on March 15, 2020

The selection panel for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s All-State boys soccer team is a steady bunch. One year ago, the group of voters put just three juniors in the Stellar Eleven to go along with eight seniors. This year, they did not forget those three juniors, who all are repeat choices for 2020. The trio is led by Punahou forward Dominic Gusman, who is this year’s Player of the Year as a mighty offensive threat in the Buffanblu’s run to the […]

Campbell and Mililani baseball teams show us why we play the games

By Nick Abramo on March 14, 2020

Saturday afternoon at the ballpark, probably for the last time this spring, fans got to see Mililani junior catcher Hunter Faildo and Campbell senior center fielder Ty Stephens provide good examples of why we play the games. After all, now that the games aren’t going to be here and the world is in crisis mode due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic, this is a great time to pause in wonder at the beauty sports can give. Both players made plays […]

UPDATED: All leagues suspend spring sports beginning Monday

By Nick Abramo on March 13, 2020

All interscholastic competition in Hawaii high school sports will be suspended indefinitely beginning Monday according to a release from the Hawaii High School Athletic Association. The possible resumption of play will not be made without the HHSAA first consulting with the Hawaii State Department of Health and the Lt. Governor’s office according to the release. The HHSAA has not made a decision on the status of its spring state championship events in May. “The priority of the HHSAA continues to […]