WAIMEA – Hawaii Prep has no intentions to relinquish their throne atop the BIIF.
After claiming the BIIF Division II title last year – their first since 2010 – Ka Makani won’t have to wait long for the first big test in their title defense. In front of a statewide audience on OC16, Hawaii Prep will kick off their season on Friday, August 19 against BIIF runner-up Kamehameha.
Such a big-time season opener has made it easy for third-year head coach Kaluka Maiava to keep his team motivated.
“The vibe in the whole room, you can feel it, man; they’ve been hitting the workouts really, really hard,” said Maiava, 13-4 in his first two seasons leading the program. “Our guys know what’s at stake… This year is when we stamp it home and prove that we’re a real, legit program.”
While Ka Makani faces a tall task in replacing last year’s BIIF D-II Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year – Tre Walker and Braeden Samura – the team has plenty of talent retuning, particularly in the trenches. 2021 All-BIIF honorees Gabby Aiona and Kela Livingston are joined by returning starters Nick Sebastian, Iki Lincoln and Greyson Shin to give HPA one of the most experienced lineman units on the Big Island.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but we’re really excited to see those five returning,” said Maiava. “That makes or breaks our success.
“I know they’re all really good friends off the field, so playing together, being in the trenches together makes them that much tighter… It’s vital that our front five is clicking on all cylinders.”
On offense, that front five will pave the way for a pair of All-BIIF playmakers in Jakob Honda and Luke Hendricks. Honda – a senior – averaged 7.2 yards per carry as the team’s leading rusher in 2021 and could be poised for a huge year as the feature back in Hawaii Prep’s spread offense.
“We’re really looking for a big year from him,” Maiava said of the speedy running back. “It’s his senior year; he’s hungrier than ever, and he’s putting in a lot of work.
“I expect him to be a household name – especially in Waimea for sure – at the end of the season. We’re really excited for this season with him leading the charge.”
Hendricks, meanwhile, steps into the starting job under center after earning All-BIIF honors as a receiver a year ago. The sophomore has already impressed his coach early on with an exceptionally fiery mentality.
“You never have to doubt his competitiveness,” said Maiava. “He’s trying to go for it every single practice; I actually yell at him to dial it back sometimes. But that’s a great problem to have… The kid is definitely next-level talent.”
On the perimeter, Alakai Aipia returns as the primary weapon for Hendricks, though newcomer Sam Landers – an All-BIIF basketball and volleyball player – could prove to be a game-changer in the red zone.
As is typical for Hawaii Prep, most playmakers will play both ways. Fans should expect a versatile defense with the ability to adjust as needed.
“I’ve heard rumors there’s a few new OCs in our league,” said Maiava. “We’ll morph to whatever they give us, depending on what we see on film.”
Game 1 could be the team’s toughest test of the regular season. Hawaii Prep will travel to Kamehameha for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff against a Warrior squad that surely has hopes of reclaiming the BIIF from Ka Makani. A win could prove to be the launching point for Hawaii Prep with lofty aspirations.
“Win BIIF, win a state title,” said Maiava. “That’s our goal. That’s always been our goal.”