'Aiea assistant proud of Damien's success in 2003
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
"Every time they hear I went to Damien, they chuckle," said 1993 Damien graduate Punahou Aina.
Aina was referring to the players at 'Aiea High, where he is one of three Damien alumni who are assistant coaches to Wendell Say. The others are Chris Smith and Mike Morishige.
AINA
The players, of course, aren't laughing now since Na Ali'i will meet the Monarchs in the inaugural First Hawaiian Bank Division II State Football Championships at 5 p.m. Friday at Aloha Stadium.
Aina, who was literally raised in Damien football from water boy to Interscholastic League of Honolulu Defensive Player of the Year in 1992, is proud of the accomplishments of his alma mater.
"I feel fortunate to be a part of this important game," Aina said. "Being that Damien has come so far and we're meeting, I don't want to say it's our destiny, but it's a positive feeling to see how far Damien has come, now that they're vying for a championship. It feels very special. Instead of being a fan in the stands, I feel fortunate to be the one to challenge them."
In Damien's 39 seasons in the ILH, it has been to postseason four times, albeit in non-championship games, until this year. It has only two winning seasons in that span. A win Friday will give the 5-5 Monarchs their third season over .500.
A couple weeks ago, 'Aiea players got to witness the Monarchs up close. Damien played Kapolei in an opening round game of the state tournament at 'Aiea. The Monarchs' 20-13 win was the showcase Aina needed to prove Damien football was no laughing stock.
"They had never seen Damien play," Aina said. "The only thing they knew about (Damien) was what they had heard from the past. The day of the game, the ('Aiea players) were like, 'Wow, that's the school you grad from?' I said, 'Yes,' proudly. They weren't expecting them to be as good as they were. It was good for them to see some of my roots, where I came from."
Aina, a counselor at the MARIMED Foundation in Kane'ohe, has been an assistant at 'Aiea for the past five seasons. His father, Wally, who coached at Damien from 1985-1995, is the dean at Damien.
"I'm really proud and happy to see how far they've come," Punahou Aina said.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
