KEA‘AU — First-seeded Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i boys basketball will have yet another opportunity to clinch the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) crown.
The Warriors routed the visiting No. 4 Hilo Vikings 86-38 in Monday night’s BIIF DI semifinal in Kea‘au, punching their tickets to the championship against Konawaena at 7 p.m. tonight inside Hilo Civic Auditorium. KSH has been in every DI championship of the 2020s decade.
The Warriors got out to a respectable 20-10 lead after the first quarter, but hit the gas in the final eight minutes of the first half — out-scoring Hilo 37-10 in the first quarter to jump out to a 57-20 lead.
KSH then held the Vikings to under 10 points in each of the last two quarters, securing the rout.
Warrior Kaikuakea Kahana-Rowe, who averages 9.1 points per game, scored a game-high 18 points with four 3-pointers. Teammate Kawohi Huihui added 12 points, while Justin Ondo added 11 with three 3s. Malachi Elisaga, Kolten Tabuyo-Kahele and Raider Dias-Varize combined for 25 points.
KSH made it rain from 3-point land, sinking 17 total.
Hilo had just one double-digit scorer — Kalewa Lerma with 11. The Vikings’ season ended at 9-11 overall and 8-7 in island play. Overall, they averaged 49.1 points per game while allowing 49.9. Hilo’s strongest stretch of the year came in late January, where they won four consecutive against Christian Liberty Academy, Kea‘au, Laupahoehoe and St. Joseph.
The Warriors elevated themselves to 19-3 overall and 14-1 in the BIIF — averaging 67.6 points per game and allowing 43. They’ve now won 13 straight games, continuing to peak at the perfect time in the season. KSH has also punched tickets to the DI state tournament.
Kohala 65, Honoka‘a 41
With a full squad now intact, third-seeded Kohala boys basketball got its vengeance on No. 2 Honoka‘a.
The two teams met in Monday’s BIIF DII semifinal at Honoka‘a Armory, and the 12-2 Cowboys (16-7 overall) sent a message to the rival Dragons — routing the hosts 65-41 to qualify for tonight’s BIIF DII Championship against first-seeded Hawaii Preparatory Academy. Tip off is slated for 5 p.m. at the Civic.
The black and gold also qualified for the DII state tournament.
Falling to Honoka‘a 49-45 on Jan. 18, Kohala took advantage of its opportunity to strike back — especially in the fourth quarter. Ahead 47-41 going into the final frame, the Cowboys’ reputable state championship defense dialed in and didn’t allow a single point over the final eight minutes. Kohala won the quarter 18-0.
Newly-returned star Layden Kauka finished the night with a game-high 24 points and six assists. He went a perfect 9-for-9 at the free throw line. Teammate Jayden Hook finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, as well as a team-high plus-minus of +25.
The Cowboys average nearly 58 points per game while allowing under 45. They will have another opportunity against Ka Makani for the island title, who beat the black and gold 64-52 on Jan. 16.
Guard Kukia Tagabi, who averages nearly 25 points per game for the Dragons, scored a team-high 24 points. No other Honoka‘a player reached double figures, but David Aiona and John Carlo Juan combined for 13.
The Dragons end their season at 12-3 overall and 12-7 in the BIIF.
Kona 40, Kealakehe 37
Second-seeded Konawaena boys basketball escaped No. 3 Kealakehe with a 40-37 BIIF DI semifinal win Monday night inside Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium in Kealakekua.
Qualifying for a state tournament berth, the Wildcats will dance with KSH at the Hilo Civic tonight for the BIIF DI title.
It was the second time the two schools met this season, as both clashed on Jan. 17. Kona won that game 78-45.
The first quarter of Monday’s battle was defensive-minded, as the Waveriders led just 6-4 through the first eight minutes. Kona quickly responded in the second quarter — putting together a 15-2 run to lead into halftime.
But Kealakehe refused to lay down, striking back with a 15-6 third quarter to stay on pace with Kona. In a tight fourth, the Wildcats scored one more point than the Waveriders to secure the close crosstown-clash win.
Kona junior Joven Young, who averages nearly nine points per game, scored a game-high 18 points. Improving to 14-10 overall and 11-3 in league play, the Wildcats average 59 points per game while allowing 55. It was the fifth time this season that the green and white have allowed under 40 points.
Kealakehe was led by Kamalu Pabre, who averaged almost eight points per game in 2024-25. Pabre finished with 11 points. Across the season, the 12-8 Waveriders (9-6 BIIF) averaged 57.5 points per game while allowing 45.
Kealakehe’s strongest stretch of the season came in early-to-mid January, where the blue and white beat Laupahoehoe, St, Joseph, Ka‘u and Parker School.
HPA 51, Pahoa 45
First-seeded HPA boys basketball qualified for tonight’s BIID DII championship against Kohala after a 51-45 semifinal win over No. 4 Pahoa on Monday inside Castle Gymnasium in Waimea.
Ka Makani improved to 19-6 overall and 13-2 in league play. The Daggers season ended at 7-9 overall.
HPA’s 6-foot-7 star forward Vander Eberhard, who averages nearly 17 points per game, scored a team-high 16 points. Ka Makani has averaged nearly 61 points per game while allowing 41 this season, and will play in the state tournament.
Pahoa’s Kyran Canete, who remains the state’s top scorer at nearly 28 points per game, added a game-high 26 points. It was the 11th time Canete scored 25-or-more points in 2024-25. His season high came on Jan. 28 against CLA, where he scored 37 points.
The Daggers ended the season averaging 56.7 points per game while allowing 49.1. Their best stretch of the season was in late December through early January, where Pahoa beat Laupahoehoe, St. Joseph, Parker School and Ka‘u.
See Friday’s paper to read up on how HPA and the rest of the championship qualifiers performed in Hilo.
