Comments on: Kahuku closes 2021 at No. 1, Kapaa at all-time high No. 8

By: Grey F.

Grey F. — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 03:54:20 +0000

I want to play this ranking game. My way-too-early Top 5 rankings for next season is based off of potential. Please don’t take offense to any of this. This is my opinion. It’s totally fine if you dislike it.
1) Kahuku, Having both the offensive and defensive player of the year in Kainoa Carvalho and Liona Lefau back next year I expect them to not skip a beat back on the field. If Tausili Akana transfers to his Home in Kahuku, this team will be packed with talent and still be hungry for there next championship. The only way I see them coming up short is if they do not stay healthy. But with this championship mentality, I see them going far like always.
2) Saint Louis, Although coming up short this past year, I see a destined team wanting to prove they are the next destiny in the family. With Iona Purcell and Josh Sagapolutele leading the Crusaders on the defensive side and Trench Kekahuna contributing to the offense. I anticipate Kekahi Graham transferring back to Saint Louis from Timpview to take over the reins of this Crusader team. Lack of consistency in certain positions(I won’t go in depth) last year put them in tough situations but I expect them to clean it up this year. Expect them to make it a special season.
3) Mililani, Having 2 stellar QBs in Emana Tarape and Treston McMillian, I wonder who’s going to lead this offense. Both QBs are good so I await to see who is going to be under center this August. 2-way player Gavin Hunter is probably going to be one of the best skill’s player to come out of Mililani. I predict he’s going to be a key contribution to Mililani’s success next season. Aiden Manutai and Kamaehu Roman will probably clamp it down on the defensive side. If they can overcome adversity and pacify themselves, Mililani is going to be up there in the rankings for sure.
4) Kamehameha, despite not making it to state tourney. This is a very physical team, with QB Keali’i Ah Yat taking snaps for the Warriors offense and LB Brennan Dupio on the defense, I see them making an impact on the ILH conference. I will say thought it will be hard trying to replace Noah Bartley who was there heart and soul for the Warriors. I hope to see them light it up.
5) Punahou, With the way they did not planned to go out, 3 year starter QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele will bring his will power and life back to the Buff-n-Blue for a final time. Also with his weapons Astin Hange, Noah Macapulay, and Ean Waikiki all back. The team chemistry will go through the roof. With Terahiti Wolfe and Iosepa Lyman on the defensive side. These guys will make it a hard time for opponents to pass or run. A problem I see was the lack of taking downfield shots this past year. I would say there was an excessive amount of screens/RPO’s in this offense and we all know Sagapolutele has a cannon of an arm. We saw flashes of his downfield throws last year but I think they will need to use his arm far down the field more to be up there again.

-I apologize in advanced if I spelled any name wrong. I’m just going off the top of my head.

By: Waimea Watcher

Waimea Watcher — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 20:27:19 +0000

I SECOND the #30 post! This makes the most sense and remains INCLUSIVE as so many people worry about. I think showing the top 5 teams for each division would be useful for multiple reasons.

Open:
1
2
3
4
5

Div 1:
1
2
3
4
5

Div 2:
1
2
3
4
5

By: Paul Honda

Paul Honda — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 01:06:25 +0000

In reply to Oia fan. The ballots are, as always, confidential. Just like your ID here.

By: Pakelika

Pakelika — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 00:04:35 +0000

If Eddie K sincerely would like to know if Saint Louis is a “football high school” he could arrange to meet with the President of the school, Dr. Glenn Medeiros, or Admissions Director Russel Valente, or someone in the school administration, or just ask Gerald Welch if you live in his neighborhood.

By: Eddie K

Eddie K — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 20:22:49 +0000

This is my 2022 Pre Pre Season Hawaii High School Top 10.

1. Kahuku…till somebody knocks them off, I could be wrong but some pollsters had a 6-3 team #1 for weeks. Also too much Carvalho,Lefau,Ah You,Taulapapa,Crawford,and maybe Akana?

2. St.Louis. too much returnees. Sagapolutele at QB.
3. Mililani.
4. Punahou. Sagapolutele at QB. Wait ,I said that already.
5. Kamehameha..good nucleus of Offensive players
Ah Yat back.
6. Campbell
7. Kapolei..Tapeni is a monster.
8. Waianae…thank you coaches and community.
9. Leileihua…because they Open.
10.Aiea…because they go up to Open, and really have a decent team.

I’m not including any D1 or D2 team because I believe if you dont play a Open team on a weekly basis then No can. Yes Iolani is undefeated, and they got a better coach to player ratio and also $$$ and facility, but then other D1 teams need to step up. I’m still a bit confused on St.Louis 2 team. Are they JV or varsity D2? If they get varsity status then that’s easy 200 plus football players at that small school. So, it’s a football high school?
Also toomeke, you didnt watch the St. Louis vs. Kahuku 2010 when they beat a senior Mariota team by 22 pts?

By: mjthegoat99

mjthegoat99 — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 20:00:00 +0000

@Oiafan – yup lets see who voted and what they voted for.

@Paul – You are missing the point. Greater then the voting participants its the simple fact that the SA present the voters with the only option of a single poll, something you may not be in charge of.

My polling system:
* Make the open div the owner of the Div 1 classification, this is a whole new rabbit hole that goes back to the history of the OIA/HHSAA/ILH meetings.
Div 1
1. Kahuku
2. STL
3. MIL
4-10. it doesnt matter

Div 2
1. Iolani
2. Lahainaluna
3. Aiea
4-10. it doesnt matter

Div 3
1. Kapaa
2. KS-Maui
3. Kaiser
4-10. it doesnt matter

By: Oia fan

Oia fan — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 16:41:56 +0000

Paul,
I am curious how and which coaches voted. I’d like to know if any open coach voted for a lower division team to be higher then an open team. If an open coach actually threw a D2 team in over all D1 and open teams. And how Iolani voted.

By: Paul Honda

Paul Honda — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 11:02:07 +0000

In reply to mjthegoat99.

The poll is voted on by coaches and media. Period. It isn’t about “big money sponsors” or whatever else theories are caranging within your skull, brother.

I dunno. It’s a cup of whipped cream and you think it’s the Mt. Everest of conspiracy theories. The coaches (and a few media) can leave any teams off their ballots that they want. Then I do the math. Simple.

Tell us, what do you think of iPhone technology? Is it really earth-originated? Or did Steve Jobs negotiate it away from alien visitors?

While you’re at that, post your personal Top 10 high school football teams of Hawaii for the 2021 season. That will be worth the wait.

By: mjthegoat99

mjthegoat99 — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 21:42:04 +0000

I wouldn’t blame writers, employees or coaches for a questionable polling system, nor would I expect them to speak out for fear of being shunned, pidgeon holed.

That is why us common people can freely speak out because they cant fire us.

By: mjthegoat99

mjthegoat99 — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 21:28:34 +0000

StarAdvertiser: “Here guys, a list of all the HS football teams this year, tell us how you would rank them”

Coaches: “Shouldn’t we rank them based on their respective divisions”

StarAdvertiser: “No” (our big money sponsors don’t want the D1 and D2 champs to feel inferior in a separate poll)

Coaches: “OK, whatever”
———————-

StarAdvertiser: OUR POLL IS VOTED BY COACHES!