KAMUELA — Hawaii Preparatory Academy football scored its most points in a game since Sept. 2021 in Saturday’s beatdown against Ka‘u at home — winning 69-0. Ka Makani executed its game plan perfectly by dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. It was the second time HPA has shut out the Trojans in 2024.
But the story of the afternoon was the red and white’s star running back Alaka‘i Aipia, who broke the state record for most rushing yards in a single game with 427 (per MaxPreps and Hawaii Prep World). The senior’s performance surpassed Kalaheo’s Jesse Carney, who rushed for 379 in 2010.
Aipia also added four rushing touchdowns and two interceptions while playing safety on the other side of the ball.
“I think I played really well, but we all worked hard as a team today,” Aipia said postgame. “It was a great win for us.”
“We did everything we could to utilize (Aipia) in the best way possible, and it worked out well,” head coach Lincoln Kalama added.
Aipia put HPA in prime field position early after securing an interception in the secondary on Ka‘u’s opening drive. Aipia then changed positions and drove the offense downfield after a number of forceful runs — eventually punching the ball in the end zone for the first touchdown of the afternoon.
Ka Makani’s physical defensive front overwhelmed the visiting Trojans — forcing multiple turnovers on downs and giving HPA’s offense a multitude of opportunities to score. To open the second quarter, Ka Makani’s scoring outburst began after quarterback Hayden Kalama connected with receiver Cam Root on a long pass to move the chains into Ka‘u’s territory. On the very next down, Aipia scored a 25-yard rushing touchdown to go up two scores. Aipia then scored another long rushing touchdown on HPA’s ensuing drive.
Near the midway point of the second quarter, Ka Makani’s defense forced a fumble, giving Aipia the ball back. He wasted no time scoring again — rushing from 70 yards out for his fourth touchdown.
Kalama then threw two touchdown passes before the half concluded — one to Christian Rhodes and the other to Tosh Lindsey. HPA went into halftime with a commanding 41-0 lead.
Ka Makani’s Skye Raymond continued the scoring onslaught at the start of the second half, rushing the ball in for a 1-yard touchdown on the team’s opening drive. Raymond was put in a good position to score after Aipia secured a monster run into the Trojans’ territory.
Shortly after, Kalama threw his third touchdown pass of the day with a long connection to Kena Craven to go up 55-0. HPA then forced another Ka‘u fumble on the next drive — setting up another quick Raymond rushing touchdown.
Root scored the last touchdown of the afternoon after catching a 20-yard bomb from Kalama. Kalama finished with four touchdown throws while completing nine of his 10 attempts for 167 yards. Craven (three catches, 67 yards), Rhodes (two catches, 62 yards) and Root (three catches, 28 yards) were the junior quarterback’s top targets of the afternoon.
Aipia ended any hope of a Trojans’ touchdown after grabbing another interception on their final drive.
“Credit to our defense and our coordinator Chance Lincoln,” Lincoln Kalama said. “He does a great job of keeping our guys dialed in.”
Now at 5-2 overall and in second in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Division-II standings, Ka Makani is scoring an average of over 36 points per game and allowing less than 16. Thanks to Aipia’s rushing prowess, the team is averaging an incredible 243.8 rushing yards per week — comfortably No. 1 overall in the BIIF.
Aipia is now at 1,620 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns with two regular season games remaining. With the BIIF single-season rushing record at 1,845 yards set by Hilo’s Royden Nabarro in 2003, Aipia is approaching legendary territory.
“We are definitely going to try to put him in the best position possible to get him into the rushing records,” Kalama said of Aipia. “We’re also going to try to win every down that we have in these last two games.”
HPA will be back in action on the road against the Dragons at 6 p.m. Friday in Honoka‘a town. When the two schools last met on Sept. 14, Ka Makani won 28-21.
Ka‘u (1-6) will shift its focus to BIIF II-leading Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i, hosting the Warriors at 1 p.m. Saturday in Pahala.
Konawaena 68, Waiakea 0
No. 12 Konawaena football recorded its third consecutive shutout and sixth of the season with a 68-0 beatdown of Waiakea on Friday night at Julian R. Yates Field. The Wildcats continued their four-game homestand, remaining unbeaten on their new turf.
Kona quarterback Keenan Alani had his best showing of the season, as the sophomore completed 14 of his 16 passes for 200 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. His seven scores were three to All-BIIF receiver Austin Takaki (74 yards) and one apiece to Max Fautanu-Taetuna (35 yards), Malu Tan (65 yards), Kaiea Thomas (six yards) and Kainalu Willis (20 yards).
In Alani’s debut season as a starter, he has tallied 1,942 yards, 35 touchdowns and two interceptions — orchestrating an offense that has averaged over 45 points per game, which leads the entire BIIF.
Hercules Nahale was the Wildcats’ featured back once again, rushing for 111 yards and two scores. In Nahale’s first season with Kona, he’s put up 668 yards on the ground with 11 touchdowns. His backfield teammate, Jiohvani Soto-Ramos, added seven carries for 90 yards.
Defensively, it was business as usual for the Wildcats. Tan and linebacker Lokuhao Lapera both secured an interception, while Thomas grabbed two of his own. With one game remaining in the regular season, Kona is allowing an impressive average of six points per contest.
The Wildcats currently stand at 7-2 overall and 7-0 in conference play. They’ll next set their sights to their season-closing bout with second-placed Kea‘au on Oct. 25 in Kealakekua. When the two schools last met on Sept. 2o, Kona won 49-6.
The Warriors (2-5 overall, 2-4 BIIF) have two games remaining in their season — Oct. 19 hosting Kea‘au and Oct. 24 against Hilo at Waiakea High School.
Kea‘au 55, Kealakehe 0
Second-placed Kea‘au football moved a full game ahead of Hilo in BIIF Division I on Friday night against Kealakehe, where the Cougars blasted the Waveriders 55-0.
Quarterback Diego Pettypool was the star of the show, passing for 204 yards and four touchdowns — three to Josiah Nihoa (108 yards) and one to Kelii Kahale (58 yards). In the backfield, Pettypool (67 yards), Charlie Salazar (101 yards), Israel Recio-Buchin and Elson Kalaawe rushed for one score apiece.
Defensively, the Cougars were led by Recio-Buchin with 2.5 sacks and nine tackles. Damien Fronda also caught an interception.
Now at 4-2 in the BIIF and 4-3 overall, Kea‘au is averaging 34 points and allowing 21 per week. They’ll face a tall task against Konawaena this week on the South Kona proper.
Kealakehe is still winless at 0-7. The ‘Riders will conclude their season against Hilo on Friday night at Waverider Stadium.
Honoka‘a 47, Kohala 14
Honoka‘a football notched its second win against Kohala this season, routing the Cowboys 47-14 on the road in Kapa‘au.
West Hawaii Today and Hawaii Tribune-Herald were unable to obtain a box score from this game by Tuesday’s deadline.
Now having won two consecutive, the Dragons’ (5-3) prolific offense that averages nearly 33 points per game will next host Hawaii Prep at 6 p.m. Friday in Honoka‘a town. Currently, the green and gold sit in third place in BIIF DII.
Kohala (2-6 overall, 2-5 BIIF) will have a short week — slated to face Pahoa at 6 p.m. Thursday at Kea‘au High School.
