By: Paul Honda

Paul Honda — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 22:46:53 +0000

Mahalo, Bobby! A lot of ‘what ifs’ in mind here. What if there was a D-II state tournament in the 1970s? What would Kaohimanu do? Why did they transfer to HPA?
I can’t think of anyone who scored more than 52 in a game. Maybe Alan Tanabe or Reed Sunahara at Hilo? Jarrin Akana at Molokai?

By: snowmantoo

snowmantoo — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 18:39:30 +0000

Bobby, you failed to mention that Kalei transferred to HPA his senior year and teamed with Kaohimanu to produce one of the best one-two punches in the history of the BIIF. I remember watching several of their games and being amazed at their abilities as highschoolers. Dem were da days!

By: Bobby Command

Bobby Command — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 07:48:18 +0000

Let’s clear the air here, Pupule. This is the skinny, to the best of my knowledge: Parker’s first varsity season was 1978 and the team was built around junior Kalei Pea, possibly the most physical player ever to come from the BIIF. Pea, pronounced “PAY uh,” would go on to score 351 points that season and end up starting for the UH-Hilo Vulcans a few seasons later. Coached by William Ciancio, Parker played its first league game on Tuesday night, Jan. 3, 1978 in, and damned if they beat Konawaena 56-50 at ancient Thelma Parker Gym. Perhaps no one noticed, as on that same night the second public high school in Hilo, Waiakea, also debuted with a 48-39 win over Ka’u at the Hilo Civic. Two nights later, Hawaii Prep made the short trip up Kawaihae Road to drafty and cold Parker Gym in the first all-Waimea high school basketball league game in the history of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation. HPA scorched Parker 102-64, with John Kaohimaunu ringing up 52 that night. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Kaohimaunu’s 52 still stands as the BIIF record some 41 years later. From that point on, Parker went 11-107, and quietly dropped basketball before the 1985 season began. Kaohimaunu, another junior, would go on to win the scoring title that year in the BIIF, scoring exactly eight more points than Pea. Kaohimaunu, who won the scoring title in ’78 over Pea by .4 ppg, went on to play ball for Whittier College. I played men’s league in the late 1980s against Pea, and he was all that was advertised.

Comments on: Hoopbook: Parker stuns Kona, Kalaheo healthy again

By: Paul Honda

By: snowmantoo

By: Bobby Command