Big Island's Pahoa drops football program again
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
After returning to Big Island Interscholastic Federation football last year following a two-year hiatus, Pahoa has once again dropped the sport.
Pahoa athletic director Ron Tomosada said he could not find a replacement for head coach Ed Kakalia, who resigned last month.
Tomosada said Kakalia cited small turnouts for spring and summer conditioning as a factor.
Compounding the fact that players might not have been in the best physical condition, Tomosada said the school has been without a certified athletic trainer the past 14 months.
"We were looking out for the safety and well-being of our players," Tomosada said.
It is the second consecutive season a team has dropped football from the BIIF. Last year, Ka'u dropped the sport after seven consecutive seasons because of a lack of participation. Pahoa dropped football after the 1998 season for the same reason.
In the meantime, the BIIF has added Kealakehe (1999) and Kea'au (2001) to maintain at least eight teams in recent years.
Tomosada said it was too late to find a successor for Kakalia, as yesterday would have been the first day of practice.
He said the school is still in need of an athletic trainer and was fortunate that there were no serious injuries the past school year.
"We sure don't want to do that again," he said.
Tomosada is hopeful that the Daggers can reinstate football by next season.
On Kaua'i, Waimea High will continue to play its home games at Hanapepe Ball Park, despite rumors to the contrary. Waimea athletic director James Kitamura said there is a movement every year to get Waimea to play its home games at Vidinha Stadium in Lihu'e.
Apparently, there have been concerns for safety because spectators can sit close to the playing field.
Ironically, Hanapepe Ball Park was named one of the top 13 stadiums nationally as one of the best venues for prep football by High School Football magazine, a publication by Student Sports and The Sporting News. The article cited the fan-friendly atmosphere (close seating) and surroundings (near the beach) as reasons for ranking the stadium fifth among the top 13.
"That was wonderful," Kitamura said. "They always talk about us going to Vidinha. Now, they cannot argue."
2002 NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
At school sites, JV game at 5 p.m. with varsity to follow 25 minutes after JV game, unless noted
Friday, Aug. 23
Kalaheo at Campbell
Leilehua at Castle
Waialua at Kailua, JV only
Kaiser at Mililani
McKinley at Radford, JV only
Waipahu at Moanalua
Roosevelt at Pearl City
Kapolei at Wai'anae
King Kekaulike vs. Kapa'a at Vidinha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Waimea vs. Hilo at Wong Stadium
Scotts Valley (Calif.) vs. St. Anthony at War Memorial, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 24
Kaimuki at 'Aiea, 5 p.m. JV
Punahou at 'Aiea, varsity
Kailua at Hawai'i Prep, 2 p.m., varsity only
McKinley at Kealakehe, 7:30 p.m.
St. Louis at Nanakuli
McKinley at Radford, 5 p.m., JV only
Waialua at Konawaena, 7 p.m.
Farrington at Kamehameha, 5 p.m., JV
Baldwin at Kamehameha, 7:30 p.m.
Maui vs. Kaua'i at Vidinha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Waiakea vs. Lahainaluna at War Memorial, 7 p.m.
Father Bray Classic
At Aloha Stadium
Damien vs. Kaimuki, 2 p.m.
Pac-Five vs. Farrington, 5 p.m.
Radford vs. Iolani, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 30
Waimea at Kamehameha, 7 p.m., varsity only
Cascade (Turner, Ore.) at Konawaena
Saturday, Aug. 31
Kealahehe at Punahou, TBA, varsity only
Pac-Five vs. Hilo at Wong Stadium, 7 p.m.
Kapa'a at Honoka'a, 7:30 p.m., varsity only
Sunday, Sept. 1
Kohala at Kamehameha, 7 p.m., varsity only
Friday, Sept. 6
Beverly Hills (Calif.) vs. Pac-Five at Aloha Stadium, 5 p.m.
Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif.) vs. Iolani at Aloha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 7
Kapa'a at Kamehameha, 7 p.m., varsity only
Saturday, Sept. 21
HHSAA/First Hawaiian Bank Football Classic
At Aloha Stadium
No. 8 Long Beach (Calif.) Poly vs. Kahuku, 5 p.m.
No. 1 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) vs. No. 15 St. Louis, 8 p.m.
(Note: National rankings based on Student Sports Fab 50)
