Tata: Love, respect for Mililani, Saint Louis

Kahuku coach Vavae Tata is not looking ahead of Waianae. Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser
Kahuku coach Vavae Tata is not looking ahead of Waianae. Jamm Aquino / Star-Advertiser

Vavae Tata can’t help it.

The first-year Kahuku head football coach is in the midst of an epic season as the unbeaten, top-seeded Red Raiders (11-0) head into Friday’s semifinal matchup with Waianae in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Championships at Aloha Stadium.

But immediately after the Kahuku-Waianae game, OIA runner-up — and defending state champion — Mililani will take on ILH champion Saint Louis in what is one of the most anticipated semifinal matchups in tournament history.


Tata has ties, strong ties, to both programs. His nephew, Vavae Malepeai, is a prolific running back for the Mililani Trojans. Four of the coaches on staff went to Saint Louis, some being Tata’s teammates back in the day when he was a devastating Crusader defensive lineman.


And during those years, his coaches included current head coach Cal Lee and offensive coordinator Ron Lee.

“Best to both teams. I’ve got family at Mililani in Vae, and the (Crusaders) there have done such a great job,” Tata said. “Cal coached me in high school. Shout out to both teams.”

COMMENTS

  1. ilh November 12, 2015 7:16 pm

    Referees could be big part of semifinal match up between St. Louis and Mililani. hopefully they let the players play, we are not there to watch the referees officialate, we want to watch a good football game with two great programs. to bad they don’t let the referees from the outside island come in and be the officials, i mean a full crew from outer island, these Oahu Refs not the best in the state. nuf said


  2. 88 November 12, 2015 8:13 pm

    Stop making excuses and trying to find someone to blame incase your Crusaders lose. Bad calls are a part of the game of football and life. Its how we rise from those bad calls that makes the difference between a loss and a win. Stop wining its not the ILH way. Or is it?


  3. DynastyOG November 12, 2015 9:19 pm

    @ ilh…..agreed, even Stevie Wonder can see how BOGUS the refs call against the Crusaders.
    Although there are some fuams who think other wise, you know these guys been hating on Big Blue since the 80’s. Guess they mad cause they never get RECRUITED…..LOL.


  4. 008 November 12, 2015 9:27 pm

    ^^^ I agree, some of those FUAMS are just that ….fuams! Hahaha OG RRFL


  5. fan 1 November 13, 2015 6:29 am

    I agree letʻs see a good game, I donʻt wanna watch the zebraʻs run around throwing their yellow rag & donʻt know what they called. I donʻt wanna stay @ the stadium til 11:30 tonight, for a high school football game, The refʻs always gotta huddle for a simple call, keep the coaches in their coaching BOX, itʻs about the kids not the coaches… Good Luck to Mililani & St. Louis… Good Luck to Waianae & Kahuku… let the best team represent the State in the FINALS…


  6. SimpleSimon November 13, 2015 10:04 am

    How is this news again?


  7. Paper Crane November 13, 2015 12:41 pm

    much heartfelt Mahalo to OC16 X CAST 1 for bringing LIVE TELEVISED COVERAGES for fans out of town like Darren included.


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