SALT LAKE — Francis Achiu has quietly built the foundation for the Moanalua air riflery program.

Quietly, if that's possible, in a sport where serious concentration equates to silence, and where the sounds of shooting reveal Na Menehune's hidden home — an inconspicuous outdoor basketball court fenced in by blue panels.

In two years, the same amount of time Achiu has been coaching the sport, Moanalua has found itself among the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's traditional powerhouses. Last year, the girls team qualified for the state tournament after finishing second in the OIA East. This year, the girls team (8-1) finished second again while the boys (7-2) tied for second in the East. Before Achiu arrived, the girls were 3-6 and the boys were 2-7.

"Going through the first time, we were very tentative," Achiu said of last year's state tournament appearance. "It was the (assistant) coaches and my first time. We kind of saw what needs to be done and made adjustments to our practice schedule.

"We used to just shoot 30 pellets, now we've adjusted and shoot 60. It makes us even more experienced."

When several sports switched seasons last year, their effects trickled down to the air riflery program. Achiu's son, Kurt, was looking to take up a fall sport after boys volleyball got moved to the spring. So Achiu, an English teacher at Moanalua, asked athletic director Joel Kawachi what exactly was air riflery.

"Next words out of his mouth, 'Would you like to coach?' " Achiu said.

Achiu did a double take.

He had never coached before, but relented in the end. He said assistant coaches Ryan Kawakami and Sean Saki, both Moanalua graduates and former students of his, have done a major part in helping the program.

The move in sport seasons also meant the air rifle teams had to share their practice field with the junior varsity softball and baseball teams.

Too many students. Too little space. Too many fly balls. And what if someone wandered into the shooting area?

So the air rifle teams packed up and went to the outdoor court on the edge of campus. Junior Janis Lee said the fencing helps keep the wind out and a storage area is an added benefit. She said they used to keep supplies in a dark room under the gym.

"It's more secure," senior Chelsie Shiraishi said. "Before, anyone could just walk (by)."

Junior Chelsie Hata has led Moanalua in all nine matches this season. Her average of 265.44, out of a possible 300, is tops among boys and girls in the OIA.

"After we went to states last year, I got more interested in the sport so my mom tried to find a private coach," Hata said.

The ongoing private instruction and a trip to a rifle camp on Maui over the summer has helped her learn more about the technical aspect of the sport. She laughed when she said she used to "aim for the black."

"It broke it down a lot," Hata said of the camp. "They went step by step and it was very thorough. It helped me a lot."

A strong team effort, though, has helped Moanalua. The girls team finished second in the OIA East for the second straight year, which enabled it to qualify its top four girls for the state tournament on Oct. 28. Teams need a minimum of four shooters to be eligible for the team standings at states. The rest of the team can still qualify individually at Saturday's OIA championships at Pearl City.

"Almost everybody is shooting over 200," Achiu said. "Last year, we had only four girls who were consistently shooting over 200. Now, my top eight are shooting over 200."

Shiraishi said Hata has "pushed me to do a lot better."

"I've never broke 200 — ever — until this year," Shiraishi said.

Changes in practices has helped, as well. Moanalua takes 60 shots in practice, twice as ma ny as what is usually shot in a regular match.

"It helps develop your skills and refines it more," Lee said.

This year, targets are no longer scored after practices, and match scores have since gone up.

"The kids are not worried about their score," Achiu said.

Now, the hope is to qualify as many shooters for the state tournament. Hata said last year's experience "showed us where we have to be at."

Added Shiraishi: "If we keep shooting the way we are, we'll be good."