Saint Louis receiver Jonah Panoke made the Open Division state championship game-winning 53-yard touchdown catch by pulling the ball away from Kahuku defensive back Alex Fonoimoana-Vaomu in 2017. Steven Erler / Special to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
The OIA and ILH officially announced today their historic football agreement in which both leagues will play interleague, regular-season games, starting in 2018.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser first reported the deal Feb. 13, but it did not become official until a vote by ILH principals Monday.
Under the agreement, OIA and ILH teams will play a full slate of games against each other in three divisions — Open, Division I and D-II. The games will not count toward teams’ standings in their particular league. The leagues are still planning on crowning their own champions and state qualifiers based on playoffs.
To take a look at the news release sent jointly by the OIA and ILH to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser today, click on the link below.
I love this idea, this is pretty fair, to be honest. I knew my idea will work out. Thank you OIA, and ILH for this amazing idea. But there 2 things I disagree, and I agree on with. Iolani moving down to D2, cause they are scared to go against OIA Teams and Leilehua should be in Open Divison instead of D1 Division, I understand there are some people that might move to the Mililani cause of football, and there Open Divison, but Leilehua football program has been good for a while. To be honest, Kailua doesn’t deserve to be moved to the Open Divison, because their schedule was hard as heck. There are young too. Don’t get me wrong Kailua had a pretty good season, but I don’t think Kailua would defeat the tough teams in Open Divison. This should be very interested, and lots of transfer this season.
Kailua lose to Kapolei 33-0
Kailua lose to Mililani 52-0
Kalia lose to Farrington 3-0 (It was all defense)
Austin, you killing me. Leilehua has a new HC. Over time, we’ll see how their program comes along. Past laurels from the Tokuda era, don’t win any games. Kailua had 1 good surprising season 2 years ago but has been a perennial 500 to under 500 team. Let both of them prove themselves in the D1 Division. The OIA better hope for their own pride that the ILH don’t dominate all 3 divisions and that may happen. It’ll end up being a short lived 2 year trial pilot program. Yeah, the OIA probably going make $ as the ILH just happy to get a full schedule. They no need the game $. Yes, the crossover games won’t count in their respective league standings but who like get lickens from the other league plus, the media going keep one top 10 poll going based on overalll wins. Them egos going start bumping heads with each other, hahaha.
Wonder if the ILH dare to play at weed and dirt field Kahuku. Last time an ILH went out there, Mariota took a 3 touchdown beat down.
Does anybody know how does this work for the the money that is made…Sure hope this benefits the Public Schools..And if so How?
It will cost the ILH because their student body count will go down because once the OIA teams start to ground and pound they will feel the pain
None of this would have happened if the President of Damien had not brought the issue of league imbalance in the ILH to the table. When he announced that Damien would forfeit their games to St L because of a history of mismatches, that led the league to develop the two tiered system that would eventually bring us to today’s solution. Thank you, Br Greg!
Coach C-
Why play at a sub-par field when you can play on turf?
Btw, I know someone brought it up last time, what are you a coach of?
And, I personally think that Leilehua should be in the open and not Kailua.
Kailua is in Division 1.
I can’t wait for the season. All I will say is let the kids play no matter what division.
I can see it now….if the ILH teams win all you people still will chirp about the kids coming from all over the island. For you uneducated people, private schools don’t have any geographical area unlike public schools. If the kids go to a private school it’s the families choice.
Oh and for people like aannnnyyywwaayyyssss, y don’t all your Kahuku people go to UH after for college then because that’s the school of this community. Stop living your broken down youth through these kids!
bbwwaahhaahhaahhaa!
@ALLILH
didn’t cordeiro from st louis signed with UH
“Go Monarchs”, Thank Damien’s FB Head Coach at that time for getting blown out 88-0 or some absurd score like that. He lasted 2 seasons and was gone, damage done.
@rrfl yes he did….but it’s your fellow aannyywwaayyss and mahatmaghandi that like to tell everyone to stay and play for the community they live in. Hence my comment of having all the Kahuku players play for UH.
Bbwwaahhaahhaahhaa
Punahou played at Kahuku in 2012 and lost by much less there than they would in the state title game @ Aloha Stadium.
YNAE4EVA February 22, 2018 7:01 am
It will cost the ILH because their student body count will go down because once the OIA teams start to ground and pound they will feel the pain
I somewhat agree with this, but, do you think that the OIA will remain with the same offenses they have run or adjust to what will be a wider spectrum of defenses and offenses with the addition of the ILH?
YNAE4EVA translated-
wat cuz, you guys going still ground and pound, even doe da spoiled private schools going trow da rock???
I kid, I kid. Real question. Thoughts.
@ilh, although majority of football fields now have turf to cater to this soft generation of football players. If your good, doesnt matter what type of field you playing on.
Alpha- that is quite a harsh generalization of our players today. I think that the type of play, schemes, today call for a different type of player than the old student body right and left and what not. I wouldnt go as far as to judge them as being soft but different to meet the changing game. I will tell you that the skill level of the players today far outweigh that of the players of the 80s and 90s. Look at the lineman. Gone are the 300 pound behemoths and in are the tall lean athletic lineman that have nimble footwork. Why? to be able to move with the tall lean DE’s that are coming off the edge that can run a 4.6 40 yd dash.
Dont you agree though that turf augments the play of good, decent and sub-par players and that shoddy fields decrease it?
I think the important question is why would a team get home field advantage over another team? Especially since they will only play once.
@ilh, to answer your last question concerning home field advantage. IMO the team that actually has a home field to host a football game should have the advatage. Instead of meeting up at the stadium where both schools lose out on revenue. Maybe St. Louis can take a lesson from the oia here and use Roosevelt as a home field, saves time and brings money to their program.
As for the soft generation comment, i believe so, due to the fact that high schoolers dont want to ruin their college hopes due to injury, but rightfully so. Also, the amount of technology involved, softer field to play on to reduce injury, every hit is microscoped to ensure a safe hit etc. This generation of players are so pamperd they dont play unless they are 100% healthy. But there is always a few throwback players, their dna is football, born to play this game, technology cant keep up with them, defy the laws of todays game. But thats a few, The majority of these kids are built to play the game, not born to do it.
Alpha- great points, fairness would probably become an issue, im pretty sure of it. Plus, with the match ups were looking at this year, my opinion is that the stadium would prove to be a more appropriate venue to adequately accommodate the #s.
Btw, are you the OG Alpha? Your writing style has changed somewhat. Just an observation.