The Islanders, coming off a 5-11 inaugural season in arenafootball2, finished 11-7 this past season under former Saint Louis School coach Cal Lee. The team lost in the National Conference semifinals last Saturday in Tulsa, Okla.

"I was thrilled with the final results," Islanders owner Kimberly Wang said. "As far as win-loss ratio it was tremendous. Cal did an outstanding job. I wouldn't expect anything less from the man."

The Islanders averaged an announced crowd of 3,458 this past season in nine home games at 6,443-seat Blaisdell Arena.

The team said it sold 1,250 season tickets — compared with only 16 last season — and sold out the entire lower bowl and lodge section prior to the season. Also, about "90 percent" of the tickets were purchased rather than given away for free, according to Wang.

But it wasn't enough to prevent the Islanders from losing "over a million" dollars, according to Wang.

"There were still pretty major financial losses," she said. "Not as bad as last year — a little more than half."

The team cut its budget this past season by going without a television contract, and cutting back radio coverage and marketing, according to Wang. "TV was a big expense as well as radio," she said. "Cutting those two things back eliminated a huge chunk of the budget."

With less mainstream coverage to promote the team, Wang said, "everyone in the office worked twice as hard. The office staff lives and breathes Islanders."

In 2004, the Islanders will enter the final year of a three-year mandatory commitment to af2.

But Wang is already looking well beyond next season.

"I put together a five-year plan this year. I'm not planning on going anywhere," she said.

She said next season's budget has already been completed.

"Worst case, we cut losses in half again," Wang said. "Best case, we break even. It depends on the fans; we need to have the arena full."

Selling out the Blaisdell would allow the Islanders to break even, according to Wang. The franchise then hopes to turn a profit with increased sponsorships and merchandise sales.

Wang said the Islanders could be feeling the effects of two recently failed indoor football leagues that played their home games at the Blaisdell.

"Fans emotional invest themselves in a team and they don't want to have their hearts broken," she said. "Coming into the third year these guys are here and not going anywhere."

Lee is the most successful high school coach in Hawai'i football history, compiling a 241-32-5 record in 21 seasons at Saint Louis. He won 18 Interscholastic League of Honolulu titles, 14 O'ahu Prep Bowl crowns and the first state championship in 1999.

He was able to bring winning results and a new attitude to the Islanders this past season.

"I was real proud of the players and what they accomplished the whole season," said Lee, who was hired last October. "There were many heart-warming performances."

Wang said she would like Lee and his hand-picked coaching staff to return next season.

"Cal is definitely going to be coming back," Wang said. "I have no idea what he's doing with his coaching staff. They worked really well together as a team and I'd be surprised if all are not back. I promised Cal total autonomy in all things football related."

Lee said, "I would like to continue (with the Islanders)," but he was very cautious as far as committing to next season.

He recently accepted a job at the University of Hawai'i as linebackers coach and wanted to check with school officials to make sure he could coach both teams again. Lee missed part of UH's training camp while coaching the Islanders.

Lee said it was "speculation" he would return to the Islanders next season, and added he wanted to "check with the necessary people if it's OK to continue."

UH head coach June Jones said: "Cal and I will talk about it, then I'll let you know."

ÊNotes: The Islanders didn't place any players on the all-af2 National Conference first and second teams. ... The Honolulu Hurricanes played the 1998Êseason inÊthe Professional Indoor Football League before folding, and the Hawai'i Hammerheads of the Indoor Professional Football League won the 1999 championship but quit operations before the following season.

Hawaiian Islanders 2003 Results

• March 30 Green Bay Blizzard W, 48-37
• April 4 at Quad City Steamwheelers W, 53-52
• April 19 at Bakersfield Blitz* L, 43-58
• April 26 San Diego Riptide* W, 51-43
• May 3 at Wichita Stealth* L, 29-36
• May 10 Bakersfield Blitz* W, 50-48
• May 16 Wichita Stealth* W, 61-55
• May 24 at Cincinnati Swarm W, 35-28
• May 31 Louisville Fire W, 67-48
• June 7 at Arkansas Twisters L, 39-58
• June 14 Peoria Pirates W, 44-43
• June 21 at San Diego Riptide* W, 39-38
• June 28 Quad City Steamwheelers L, 36-54
• July 12 at Tulsa Talons L, 47-48
• July 18 at San Diego Riptide* W, 34-26
• July 27 Bakersfield Blitz* L, 61-75
• Aug. 2 Wichita Stealth (playoffs) W, 57-30
• Aug. 9 at Tulsa Talons (playoffs) L, 38-58