Contrary to what some may believe, Hilo High is not located on easy street, home to that delightful state where football programs never have to rebuild because they simply reload.
Contrary to what some may believe, Hilo High is not located on easy street, home to that delightful state where football programs never have to rebuild because they simply reload.
In actuality, BIIF dynasties take a lot work to maintain.
That the Vikings put in their due diligence is evident to anyone who passes by their school field in the afternoon. Hilo’s players aren’t just there in August, when they have to be, they gather en masse for voluntary workouts in June and July.
“It all starts in the summer, and that’s why we’re so good,” senior free safety/quarterback Kaleo Apao said. “All our kids are getting work.”
Hilo builds momentum in spring practice, and the excitement carries over to the summer, giving the Vikings a head start toward fortifying their foundation.
Third-year coach Kaeo Drummondo walked into practice recently and was happy to see that some of his players already were running wind sprints, while others shuffled in from position meetings.
“The building takes place right here at Waianuenue (Avenue),” Drummondo said. “It doesn’t take place at Wong Stadium. Hopefully, when we show up at games our execution will show that we’ve been working.”
The only problem – and it’s a good one to have – is that Hilo’s winning ways have yet to extend beyond Wong Stadium. Each of the Vikings’ four successive BIIF Division I championships have been followed by losses at the HHSAA tournament, including last season’s 26-25 heartbreaker to Leilehua.
“Leilehua was a big upset for us and we’re very pissed about it,” Apao said. “We’re bored with the (BIIF). Very bored. Winning the BIIF is not enough for us. We just want to win the state championship this year.”
He wasn’t bored two weeks ago, as Hilo made a loud statement, ripping Iolani 62-35 in its first preseason game behind Kahale Huddleston’s 243 yards rushing and six touchdowns, two on kickoff returns, giving the Vikings their first win on Oahu since 1975, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
“We’re what I hope to always be, a work-in-progress,” Drummondo said. “I think it might be a little hard for people to understand. There is talent, but we need to work hard to get our grades right, stay eligible and healthy and we need to progress as the season goes along.”
That work-in-progress label will be even harder for some to understand after the preseason breakthrough victory, but the Vikings do have holes to fill, including four standouts on defense, led by BIIF Player of the Year Ka’aina Lewis, as well as the dynamic Kalei Tolentino-Perry, the POY on offense.
Apao will help fill voids on both sides of the ball. The Vikings have packages for him at quarterback – he threw for 107 yards and rushed for 71 more Saturday – and he is the quarterback of the defense.
“(Kaleo) has taken a leadership role, vocally and by example,” Drummondo said. “It makes our job easier when you have a player that is so talented but so willing to step up and lead.”
Kyan Miyasato, now a sophomore, filled in admirably and gained seasoning at quarterback last season when then-senior Ka’ale Tiogangco was injured, first against Konawaena and then against Honokaa. Still a bit undersized, in the best case Miyasato will take the next step under center and Hilo can sprinkle in Apao in certain situations.
Whoever takes snaps will have the luxury of handing off to Huddleston, who has the added luxury of running behind Kaeia Vera, Livai Tillini and Koa Kapahu. Together, they form one of the team’s biggest strengths.
“They’re a big help and make the holes bigger for me and make it easier to see the field,” Huddleston said. “They’re good, strong, fast, and aggressive.”
In his big preseason Game 1 effort, Huddleston picked up where he left off in the state playoffs, where he also ran like a man possessed, churning out 216 yards and two touchdowns in the one-point loss to Leilehua.
“I wanted to win it for the seniors, but we came up short and we’re using that as motivation,” he said.
A classic three-sport standout, Huddleston also made all-BIIF in soccer last year, and he geared up for football in the spring in track, running on the Vikings’ 400-meter relay team, which took silver at states.
“I think I got a little faster,” Huddleston said. “Track helped me a lot.”
Drummondo thinks junior Kaleo Ramos make a difference when he spells Hilo’s workhorse.
Kapahu is a senior center and Tillini a junior guard. Vera could play anywhere on the line and the coaching staff thinks he will garner major attentions from FCS schools this fall if all goes right.
At tackle, Hilo is hopeful to slowly work senior Loni Bloomfield back into fold once he fully recovers from injury. Seniors Lono Vincent and Austin Younce, primarily a defensive lineman, will pull some double duty, and junior Lawai’a Enos is set to help provide depth.
No, Hilo doesn’t have one player who can replace Tolentino, who essentially carried the load at wideout/place-kicker/punter/returner.
“Whoa, I don’t think we have kids who can replace what Kalei did, but we have kids who can do it in sections,” Apao said.
With the fleet-footed Lucas Kuipers off to Southern Utah, the pass-catchers are the most inexperienced unit of the offense, but all-BIIF wide receiver Kainalu Tiogangco, a senior, returns, and sophomore Elijah Apao will play in the slot. Sophomore Guyson Ogata hauled in a touchdown pass Saturday, senior Makana Kanihailua is coming off a fine offseason, and Drummondo also likes the potential of a group that includes sophomore Kyler Aguair, junior Kalae Akui and shifty senior Logan Respicio.
Sophomore place-kicker Keanu Keolanui flashed a big leg on field goals in practice, now it’s just a matter of seeing if the production translates to games.
Like on offense, the strength of the defense is upfront.
Ka’ale Tiogangco’s injury was the biggest story coming out of the victory against Konawaena last year, but Vincent also suffered a season-ending injury in the game
“That was big (loss) for us,” Drummondo said.
Vincent and Younce will rotate at defensive end along with sophomore Kaipo Ramos, and all-BIIF lineman Kuresa Toledo will play nose tackle.
Senior Isaac Liu could play up or down in the front seven as well as handle the punting duties, senior Iosaia Lavata’i plays linebacker along with sophomore Kalen White, who brings loads of potential, Drummondo said, while sophomores Kahiau Walker and Kainalu Lewis could play linebacker or safety.
All-BIIF defensive back Kashtian Ioane returns for his senior season and will be one of the team leaders along with Kaleo Apao. Elijah Apao will see time at cornerback.
Senior Micah Bello is primarily known as a Hilo baseball standout, but he’s looked fit for the gridiron in the spring, whether he was playing receiver or defensive back.
“He looked good,” Drummondo said. “He looked real good.”
Drummondo’s worst football nightmare is that the program would ever become complacent with its success.
“No, no,” he said.
That’s perhaps one reason he said he’s worked this group as hard if not harder than any of the previous Vikings’ BIIF champions.
“I like how they take it and I like their work ethic,” he said.
Kaleo Apao agreed, echoing what has become one of the program’s mantras.
“Just because of work ethic, I think we’re a lot better than last year,” he said.