Division II experiment a success

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Columnist

'Aiea players proudly display the Division II First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championship trophy. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"This," he said watching the celebrations from Na Ali'i's 9-7 Division II First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championship victory over Damien unfold around him at Aloha Stadium, "has been just a great experience for us. I hope more kids get the opportunity to experience it someday."

Indeed, two better poster teams for everything a two-tiered state championship can be would be harder to find than 'Aiea and Damien, who waged a furious battle into the final two minutes.

In their wake, there are thousands of reasons for continuing what had been unveiled as a one-year "experiment," and they were on the field and in the stands among the 15,061, undeterred by the rains, who took in the doubleheader last night.

While the Division I championship, aka the Saint Louis School and Kahuku Invitational for the pairing that has existed in the Prep Bowl or State Championship for five of the last six years, brings its own excitement, what Na Ali'i and the Monarchs, fresh new faces with fairy tale seasons, and their followers brought to the scene last night was special in its own way. And long overdue.

Schools — one of which hadn't won so much as a league championship in 40 years ('Aiea) and the other , which has had but two winning seasons in 39 years of existence (Damien) — got their chances to hoist trophies on the winter stage.

And nobody who witnessed the campaign these last three weeks can say it was an opportunity not worth repeating.

"Any other year our season would have been over by now," Say said. "But not this year."

This time, through the foresight of a handful of officials who endorsed the concept, the persistence of Hawai'i High School Athletic Association executive director Keith Amemiya, and some community-minded businesses, Hawai'i got to see what it has been missing these many years.

"This means a lot to our whole school," said Kali Kuia, the 'Aiea quarterback.

For all the doubts, all the hiding behind old grudges and fears of the unknown, this inaugural event was everything that could have been imagined — and then some.

When all the returns are in, Division II will likely have not only paid its own way, but made some change for the thin high school coffers. Competitively it was no less a success, every game decided by 10 points or less. "There were no cakewalks," Say said.

Nor, as the worst of fears would have had it, did a sandbagging team walk away with the hardware.

But the success of this first-year venture was told in the eyes and exuberance of the players themselves. "It was so great," Kuia said.

Afterwards, a procession of various high school fans and coaches would stop Amemiya to inquire, "you're going to have another one next year, aren't you?"

In advance of the January HHSAA meeting, all Amemiya could do was smile.

After all, how could such a positive event not find its way back?

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.