New Kahuku football coach Vavae Tata has his new staff in place, he confirmed Monday.
Former Saint Louis and University of Hawaii quarterback John Hao is the offensive coordinator.
Gerald Welch, another former Crusader and Rainbow Warrior, will coach the wide receivers.
Tata, a former UCLA defensive end, will double up as the defensive coordinator.
The new Red Raiders staff is listed below.
Offense
>> Offensive coordinator: John Hao
>> Offensive line: Makoa Freitas
>> Offensive line: Peni Holakeituai
>> Tight ends/offensive line: David Vimahi
>> Tight ends: Ernest Aliksa
>> Running backs: Junior Mataafa
>> Wide receivers: Gerald Welch
>> Wide receivers: Loga Fonoimoana
Defense
>> Head coach and defensive coordinator: Vavae Tata
>> Defensive line: Paulo Kamakeeaina
>> Middle linebackers: Lesa Maiava
>> Outside linebackers: Aofaga “Al” Wily Sr.
>> Safeties: Keala Santiago Sr.
>> Cornerbacks: Les Kekahuna (volunteer)
Too many coaches. Is that the norm nowadays? Or just at Kahuku? When I played in the 1970s, I think we had 5 coaches total. One was DL and linebackers. Another was backs and receivers. One was OL coach.
Too many former St Louis players. What are they going to do if Kahuku ends up playing St Louis in the state championship game? Game plan for St Louis to win?
If no broken, no fix. You fala go fix something not broken, now da bugga real broken and no can fix. Lose money, St Louis in Kahuku’s House to funny.
This is the 2000ʻs, every position has a coach, itʻs been like that for years. Pink Sushi look at all programs, some programs have more coaches for position & they are probably volunteer coaches. Kahuku has a new head coach so he has to put his staff together as well as he knows how, Heʻs got a great looking staff on paper, now these new coaches gotta go to work. Iʻm sure theyʻll do a good job, Kahuku has good kids in their program, Kahuku will be back to the top, give new coach Vae time, theyʻll be playing for the State high school championship one day….Good Luck
Big Red has had big coaching staffs since the Semones era. I think only in the last several years have you seen schools like Mililani and Campbell(basically public schools) with good sized staffs. I’m not too worried about having former Crusaders, especially Gerald Welch since he is from Kahuku. I like that most of the D coaches are RRFL. Too bad Sola not on staff. Lot’s of people wanted to see a more diversified O, and I think J.Hao will be able to integrate Kahuku’s Power O with a more open passing game. Excited for this season, as usual cause of the studs we have on D. GO BIG RED!!!
Just goes to show how in demand Kahuku Football is! Everybody can hate….or relate nd jump on board. Tata brings fire to an already on fire school. RRFL….heawikoooo!
It’s going to be awesome, enough hating and get on board because the big red machine is going to roll! ROLL RAIDERS ROLL! WE’LL see how the offense will do,but they got outstanding OL coaches and that’s where it all starts baby! And Everyone Wants To Be A Red Raider! Even John Hao!!Good luck Coaches and don’t be surprised we take the whole thing. Chee Pono!
@pinksushi, the answer to your question about playing the saints is simple…WIN BABY! And stop asking loser questions and get on board!
Coach Tata has a lot to live up to, the years when our own alumni Coach Siuaki had 18+ kids in college and a handful 5-8 in the NFL. If Tata can reborn those years when Kahuku was a national power then I think the north shore peeps will not grumbo as much about these St.Louis alumni.
You got to remember that over the years there are some Kahuku alumni that left the island to attend college in the mainland and crossed paths with alumni from other schools on Oahu (St.Louis,Campbell,Kapolei,Kaimuki,Farrington..) and became friends so the rivalry in their minds have kind of dwindled. BUT, there are tons of Kahuku alumni that never left the island or never crossed paths with other alumni so St.Louis beating us down in the 90’s is still fresh in our minds.
In either case, lets do whats best for our kids and support them. RR4L!!
As long as Coach Tata doesn’t pick Recruiter808, he will be okay and do well!
At Punahou there are like 40 coaches. Most of them don’t do anything. They just watch and jump on the bandwagon.
And why do you guys care where the coaches are from? Please correct me if I am wrong, but Coach Nick Saban never went to Toldeo, Michigan State, LSU, or Alabama.
At Toledo he improved their record to 9-2 by year 3.
At MSU, they didn’t have a winning season for 5 seasons prior to Saban arriving.
At LSU he won a national title.
At Alabama he won 3 titles.
The point is the best candidate should be hired regardless of where he/she went to school. It sounds a little bit like discrimination if you ask me.
If Coach Tata was the best candidate then it should not matter what school he went to.
Hold on, let me put down my Xbox controller. Whats up Observer? Move out of Aunties house yet?
hopefully coach hao knows that we don’t have that typical QB that the crusaders have and that is going to be a working progress if they want to build a passing game in Kahuku. Kesi is the offense right now
Well according to coach Tata, we’re going to be a mini Stanford and that’s right up our alley! We’ve got the OL coaches with a wealth of knowledge and look at what they did on the jv level, I’m excited and so should you! Go Big Red!
Red X: We have a couple of talented QBs! We Ain’t Saint Louis…We Kahuku! Just because we lost Tuli, come on now! If you a RRFL? Then we got this!!! Still think Sola Soliai should be the DC!!! Politics continues…
@Halatree you are exactly right, here in red raider country we care!
Well it’s super interesting that he has a staff put together and it hasn’t even be proven yet that he has passed the background check. I sure hope all his assistants have been vetted too.
So many other public schools that these St. Louis coaches can go coach at and make a difference, are they not up to the challenge of taking something from nothing and building it into something great? or is it much easier to ride on the name of a power house like Kahuku and take credit for it??? smh!
redalert293 Siuaki may have had 18+ go on to college but how many of them actually made it thru the first year or even able to be academically ready. I won’t go further than that but I know Reggie instilled an academic culture that was challenged by disgruntled parents of players that did not meet the minimum academic requirements during his first year as head coach. Some of those so called good players did not make the Utah preseason trip the first year. As far as the new head coach playing St Louis, that is not even an issue. When you become a coach it is always for the program that you are with. I like the John Hao as offensive coordinator. Remember a lot of Kahuku boys when away to play high school ball at Punahou, St Louis and Kamehameha and other private schools. Kahuku is in good hands. Just don’t know about their principal.
Recuiter808 is a clown. Euuff said!
Here is a funny clown fact for you Red Raider, only about 60 kids are showing up for spring ball everyday. Thats both Varsity and JV put together. We need more kids to come out!
RedAlert, the coaches who have been hired have just as much right to coach at Kahuku as anyone else if they were properly hired. Many of the ways that some people think on this board reflects discrimination. I would like to think that in 2015 the best candidates would be chosen regardless of race, gender, religion, or personal orientation.
Well the big boys season ends this weekend and we got some talented kids coming up and that gives us more kids. Plus we only need 35 on the roster. Before you had to earn your spot on the team. But anyway if you all want to see how our future team, come out to Mililani and watch the championship games at 545pm and 745pm.
Sorry guys. I apologize for acting like I know about football. The truth is I got cut from the pop warner team. I tried to be a waterboy but I could never get that right. I play xBox and I am quite successful at it. I come on here to insult people and act like a bully because I have a lot of build up anger. I humbly apologize for insulting Education First, Red Raider, and An Observer. I am going to try and get help for my problem. Once again Red Raider Community, please accept my apology.
@recruiter808 it’s all G bro we all ohana here! Besides it was education first instigated you so he should be the one apologizing
I guess putting scientific numbers that illustrate the huge concern for an improvement to academics out there is offensive, then I apologize. If anything all the people getting disturbed should be the ones who should be apologizing to the kids. You are the very ones who are causing them to obtain these low scores. Instead of tacking accountability you make excuses or attack the person who post the scores. It’s the truth. Scientific Data is fact. But I understand the need to point the fingers at others. What is the other options? Point the finger at yourselves? You would never do that. If you did point the finger at yourselves then this lack of education would probably not exist.
@education first sorry we didn’t go to Hogwarts like you did! Maybe you and Harry potter can come and teach at Kahuku so we can be wizards like you
The school has nothing to do with it. It has to do with culture and family values. Obviously your parents taught you to ignore accountability and make stale jokes. What isn’t stale are those test scores.
auw i missed education first. any more data for us? You always have exciting news. I’m pretty sure you already have new charts, graphs, and all kind of goodies you want to share.
Now since SBAC testing ended recently for most schools, that data isn’t released to the public yet. As soon as I can release it I will make sure you are the first one to get it.
I can’t wait!!! you are one big ball of fun. You must always be the life of the party. You lucky guy. Have a good summer!!!
I want to apologize to you RRFL and to the rest of the community out there in Kahuku. You see I just hate the fact that you guys promote family values and culture out there. I never had that growing up and to see a community hold on to those values makes me wonder why I couldn’t have the same growing up. I know that my scientific data shows that the test scores out there are low but I also fail to mention that they are improving and most likely will continue to improve. Please find it in your heart to forgive me. I need companionship
Its okay friend….. I’ll be your shoulder to lean on. By the way, would you like to attend the first Kahuku game with me? We can sit together and absorb in all the community spirit and culture and maybe even share a pop corn.
BREAKING NEWS – Recruiter808 is the new head coach for the Laie Ballet Team!
Parent I would like your children to join my team. I will sponsor all the tutus and tights. I didn’t make the football team which is why I blog all the time. But I will promise you that I have much experience wearing tights, dressing up with sequence, and wearing bright colors! My tutu even got retired! First tryouts are Sunday, in front of the Pineapple Stand on the Highway! See you girls there!
Sunday? Can i still use your truck to move out of my Moms house?
Hey Observer you can use my truck. Maybe after your done moving we can drive up to Pupukea look out.
Please help. My mom kicked me out of the house and I have no where to go. She is upset that I keep using the internet to blog.