The defending Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II football champion Nanakuli Golden Hawks will be without a home field for the rest of the season.
The original plan was to have the Golden Hawks (4-1, 4-0) play their final two games of the season at home, but work being done on the track surrounding the field won’t be completed in time. Instead, the games against Radford on Oct. 2 and Kalani on Oct. 10 will be considered home games but will be played at the nearby Waianae High field.
Nanakuli has been all over Oahu this season, and, literally, won’t be able to “defend the valley,” which has been a slogan printed on fans’ gold and black T-shirts in the past few seasons.
The Golden Hawks, so far, have scrimmaged at Waianae and then have played games at the high school fields at Kapolei, Kailua, Kaiser, Waialua and Roosevelt. Nanakuli’s game, scheduled for Friday at Roosevelt against Anuenue, has been cancelled after Na Koa announced it is forfeiting due to a lack of players.
Prior to their final two “home” games, the Golden Hawks visit Pearl City on Sept. 25.
The work being done on the Golden Hawks’ track was originally scheduled to have been done in July, but the completion date was pushed back several times for various reasons.
“Defend the Valley” also means to defend the pride, community, families, and respect of the Nanakuli and others, which is incorporated in that slogan’s meaning. So even though we are not at our “home field” playing our games, the integrity of the above mentioned is still in tact. Waianae is a close relative to Nanakuli in so many ways and playing there is home. Maybe we might need to make shirts saying “Defend the Coast” Mahalo!