KAILUA-KONA — As everyone sits at home, enjoying their extended weekend and nursing full bellies after Thanksgiving, several Big Island high school soccer teams will be hitting the pitch for the 47th annual Ka Makani Soccer Classic.
The Ka Makani Classic always boasts a loaded field with many of the top team’s from all over the state.
“It is always great to have the stronger soccer programs in the state come to our tournament,” said Hawaii Prep athletic director and girls soccer head coach Steve Perry. “We have our regulars who enjoy the weekend year in and year out.”
These regulars include the Mid-Pacific boys and girls, the King Kekaulike girls and the Maui girls.
“It is also great to add in the Iolani boys and Punahou girls once again,” Perry said. “They last played here in 2016 and are always strong teams and contenders for the HHSAA titles.”
Locally, four schools are participating in the field including host Hawaii Preparatory Academy, as well as Kealakehe, Kamehameha-Hawaii and Honokaa.
All four schools will compete in the boys field, while Hawaii Prep and Kealakehe will compete on the girls side of the tournament as well.
For two of the powerhouse programs in the BIIF, the tournament will mark the beginning of a new era of boys soccer. Both Hawaii Prep and Kealakehe enter the 2018-19 season with new head coaches.
For Hawaii Prep, the change comes at an unusual time, with the program reaching new heights, which included an HHSAA Division I state title in the team’s first year in the division. Ka Makani also became the first team to ever claim a D-I title after winning the D-II championship the previous season.
However, that was done under former coach Richard Braithwaite, who moved his family to Africa after putting up a 14-0-1 record in his final season.
Taking over Ka Makani this year is James Berry, who is no stranger to Big Island soccer, having assisted with the girls team under Perry. He also coached for Kona Crush.
“This school has a long standing tradition of success in both girls and boys soccer and I was able to learn the culture of the program under Steve,” Berry said. “I feel like I can keep the program going and feel confident that we will be able to continue the tradition of success.”
Berry will be helped in his transition by the game-changing play of senior forward Jake Schneider.
Schneider was last year’s All-BIIF Division I Player of the Year, a clear-cut favorite for the award after leading Hawaii Prep to its third straight title as the state’s leading scorer with 19 goals. He also led his team in assists.
“Jake is a consistent performer and can change a game in 10 seconds,” Berry said. “He is a very vocal, very dynamic player and raises the play of others around him.”
Joining Schneider as early standouts are senior midfielder Brendan Moynaham and junior midfielder Conor Hunt.
“Brendan stepped up and played out of position in our first game due to an injury. He did a good job but we are hoping to get him higher in the midfield,” Berry said. “Conor is very technical and calming in the midfield. He is good under pressure.”
Kealakehe is also hoping to continue its winning tradition at the Division I level, though the program has struggled at bit since the departure of former All-BIIF Player of the Year Laukoa Santos.
Taking over the program is Hayato Fukumitsu, who just happens to be very familiar with Berry at Hawaii Prep.
“Coach J.B. and I are great friends and we have coached together with Kona Crush,” Fukumitsu said. “We are both friendly and competitive. It will be fun to face him for 90 minutes this year. We will leave it all on the field and then shake hands, and probably go get some food afterwards.”
Fukumitsu will look to get the Waveriders back on top of Division I and back into the state playoffs.
“Our expectations are to win BIIF and compete for a state title,” Fukumitsu said. “I am an alumni of the school and was part of the first team to win a BIIF title. I want to continue that tradition.”
The new Kealakehe coach will be helped by three senior captains this year: holding midfielder Teddy Rubenstein, center back Kean Schutte and center-mid Eima Kozakai.
“Teddy’s position is important because with most teams, that is where the heart is,” Fukumitsu said. “He plays both ends of the field. He helps with attacks and defends. We are very fortunate to have a player that can play like that in this system.
“Kean brings a fantastic attitude and a large stature. He is great in build-out plays and hits long balls up front,” Fukumitsu added. “Eima is an attack-minded mid who will create a lot of shots and also get a lot of assists. He brings a lot of energy and amps up the team.”
As for continuing the rivalry with Hawaii Prep, which has only grown since Ka Makani moved up to Division II, Fukumitsu is all game.
“Competitiveness creates greatness,” Fukumitsu said. “Hawaii Prep is well deserved to be in D-I. They have a lot of seniors and I know most of them. They are all fantastic. It will be a great thing to play them.”
Both teams will not have to wait long to play each other. Shortly after the Ka Makani Classic, both Hawaii Prep and Kealakehe square off at Waverider Stadium on Dec. 5. They will play one more time at Hawaii Prep on Jan. 17.
The Ka Makani Classic kicks off Friday. The Kealakehe boys will play Kapolei in the opening round at 1:45 p.m. The Hawaii Prep boys will take on Mid-Pac at 1:45 p.m. as well. Honokaa will play Pearl City and Kamehameha will take on Iolani at 3:30 p.m.
In the girls bracket, Hawaii Prep will face Seabury Hall at noon and Kealakehe will square off with Castle at 1:45 p.m.
Championship games are set for Sunday.