KAILUA-KONA — Football players from four Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) schools — Konawaena, Kamehameha Schools-Hawa‘i, Hawaii Prep and Kea‘au — were named to the ScoringLive Division I and II All-Hawaii first and second teams on Wednesday for their exceptional performances during the 2023 season.
After finishing another year with a state title game appearance, it was no surprise Konawaena dominated the DI first team with eight players being selected. Among the eight selected was junior wideout Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio, who finished the season with 1,259 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns.
Anahu-Ambrosio has several collegiate offers on the table, including from the University of Hawai‘i.
Receiver Austin Takaki also made the list, posting 90 catches for 1,257 yards and nine touchdowns on the year. Takaki was additonally selected as a defensive back, honored for his stellar two-way play. Wildcats’ defensive stalwarts Elias Malapit and Armenio Blanco also made the list.
Over in the second team, Kona’s former record-setting quarterback Keoki Alani was named. Alani finished his high school career ahead of Timmy Chang in all-time Hawaii career passing touchdowns at 127 across three seasons as a starter. In 2023, he recorded his second consecutive 50-or-more passing touchown season with 4,248 yards, 57 touchdowns and 13 picks.
In the honorable mentions list, Diego Pettypool (Kea‘au), Akea Cariaga (Konawaena), Hercules Nahale (Kealakehe), Charlie Salazar (Kea‘au), Sean Randall (Kea‘au), Tazein Sykes (Hilo), MJ Feala (Konawaena), Ikona Kainoa-Salvador (Konawaena), Kaiwalya Kaneta (Hilo), AJ Rodrigues (Waiakea), Wyatt Wehrsig (Konawaena), Justin Ah Sing (Waiakea), Carmine Fautanu-Taetuna (Konawaena)
“As always, I’m happy for all our players that made this list,” Kona coach Brad Uemoto told West Hawaii Today. “To be recognized amongst the best in Division I is something they should be very proud of.
“Having 15 players selected from first team to honorable mention is very humbling for our program. It goes without saying that football is a team sport, and these players would be the first to recognize their teammates that didn’t make this list.”
Kea‘au’s Dane Bannister additionally was selected to the second team.
In the Division II lists, no BIIF players were named to first team, but a plethora of Big Island standouts made second team, including running backs Ethan Bowden (KS-Hawai‘i) and Alaka‘i Aipia (Hawaii Prep) — who finished as central contributors to their respective team’s backfield. Bowden posted 657 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, while Aipia tallied over 1,000 yards.
DII honorable mentions in the BIIF included Adam Perry (KS-Hawai‘i), Javen Feary (KS-Hawaii), Diezel Gabriel (KS-Hawaii), TJ Lau (KS-Hawaii), Diesel DeMello (KS-Hawaii), Xander Hoopai (KS-Hawaii), Ezekiel Kuiee-Matias Paliku Nachor (KS-Hawaii) and Lucas Kay-Wong (KS-Hawaii).
The official lists can be found here:
DI
OPOY: Eric Stephens, Waipahu, WR
DPOY: Elijah Nahoopii-Makakona, Waipahu, DB
COY: Bryson Carvalho, Waipahu
First Team
QB: Elijah Mendoza, Waipahu
RB: Sitani Mikaele, Farrington
OL: Kanai Aguiar, Kapaa
OL: Nakoa Ige, Konawaena
OL: Kingston Jennings, Farrington
OL: Eric Moananu, Waipahu
OL: Manamoui Muti, Leilihua
WR: Zed Anahu-Ambrosio, Konawaena
WR: Timothy Arnold, Leilehua
WR: Jayden Chanel, Waipahu
WR: Eric Stephens, Waipahu
WR: Sylas Alaimalo, Damien
DL: Arjay Kelemete, Waipahu
DL: Anelu Lafaele, Farrington
DL: Caleb Lauifi, Waipahu
DL: Elias Malapit, Konawaena
LB: Isaiah Iosefa, Waipahu
LB: Teva Loft, Lahainaluna
LB: Keawe Navas Loa, Konawaena
DB: Elijah Nahoopii-Makakona, Waipahu
DB: Everest Rodriguez, Farrington
DB: Austin Takaki, Konawaena
DB: Taniela Taliauli, Iolani
DB: Armenio Blanco, Konawaena
K: Nakoa Ige, Konawaena
P: Matthew Mashiba, Kailua
RET: Eric Stephens, Waipahu
AP: Tai Aipia-Barrett, Waipahu
Second team
QB: Keoki Alani, Konawaena
RB: Cole Northington, Leilehua
WR: Kekama Kane, Iolani
WR: Abraham Ogata, Konawaena
WR: Dayton Savea, Damien – Jr
WR: Austin Takaki, Konawaena
OL: Kaikoa Kanakaole, Kapaa
OL: Jacob Maneafaiga, Farrington
OL: Morgan Montgomery, Lahainaluna
OL: Kalaeloa Tancayo, Lahainaluna
OL: Esaiah Wong, Kailua
UT: Kaulana Tihada, Lahainaluna
DL: Dane Bannister, Kea‘au
DL: Bruno Likio, Kapaa
DL: Tyven Self-Gomes-Kealakai, Damien
LB: Steeler Burley, Kapaa
LB: Ofa Falekaono, Maui
LB: Matteus Ioane, Leilehua
LB: Eli Keoho, Kapaa
DB: Avery Baybayan, Lahainaluna
DB: Nash Burkart, Kapaa
DB: Javin Nakamoto, Leilehua
DB: Kuola Watson, Lahainaluna
UT: Zion Vea, Farrington
K: Matthew Mashiba, Kailua
P: Jayden Chanel, Waipahu
RET: Jacob Talamoa, Farrington
AP: Kamalei Gonsalves, Kapaa
DII
OPOY: Jeremiah White, Kaimuki, WR
DPOY: Jerome Lilio, PAC-5, DB
COY: Kyle Linoz, Waimea
First team
QB: Makana Kamaka-Brayce, KS-Maui
RB: Kameron Apilado, Waimea
RB: Seth Miller, PAC-5
OL: Dylan Bugayong, Waimea
OL: Ghesiah Faleafine-Auwae, PAC-5
OL: Kaikea Pedro-Hale, Kaiser
OL: Pau Spencer, KS-Maui
OL: Zack Vigilia, Waimea
WR: Keagan Lime, Kaiser
WR: Jahsiah Souza-Armstead, Roosevelt
WR: Jeremiah White, Kaimuki
WR: Iosefa Letuli, Kaimuki
WR: Toosavili Agae-Naipo, Kaimuki
WR: Kody Erdmann, Waimea
DL: Kanekoa Maielua-Kekiwi, KS-Maui
DL: Jacob Nagamine, PAC-5
LB: Justin Botelho, Kalani
LB: Brennen Fernandez, Waimea
LB: Tea Nuuhiwa-Santos, Kaiser
LB: Ezekiel Soon, Roosevelt
DB: Mykah Brun, Waimea
DB: Jerome Lilio, PAC-5
DB: Jeremiah White, Kaimuki
UT: Kaobihu Casci, KS-Maui
K: Journey DePeralta, Roosevelt
P: Shayden Ranis-Alameda Dela Cruz, Waimea
RET: Nainoa Aguiar, Roosevelt
AP: Keona Tam, Waimea
Second Team
QB: Trey Dacoscos, Pearl City
RB: Alakai Aipia, Hawaii Prep
RB: Ethan Bowden, KS-Hawai‘i
OL: Christoffer Alicante, Waimea
OL: Iki Lincoln, Hawaii Prep
OL: Alijah Luamanu, Roosevelt
OL: James Moniz-Kekumu, King Kekaulike
OL: Champ Wells, Kaimuki
WR: Keawe Davis, Roosevelt
WR: Dylan Schnitzer, KS-Maui
WR: Taimane Souza-Fautanu, Roosevelt
DL: Teahi Fukumitsu, Kaiser
DL: Ulufale Lafaele, King Kekaulike
DL: Niau Paulos, KS-Hawaii – Sr • 6’2 195
DL: Joseph Pomele, Pearl City
LB: Asher Becker, Lahainaluna
LB: Iosua Letuli, Kaimuki
LB: Ekela Livingston, Hawaii Prep
LB: Ronin Souza, KS-Maui
DB: Nainoa Aguiar, Roosevelt
DB: Keegan Gantala, KS-Maui
DB: Paani Yap, KS-Maui
UT: Kaili Arakaki, Waimea
UT: Kalelepono Wong, King Kekaulike
K: Shayden Ranis-Alameda Dela Cruz, Waimea
P: Evan Derauf, PAC-5
RET: Kekainalu Fuerte, KS-Hawaii
AP: Taimane Souza-Fautanu, Roosevelt
