WAIPI'O — Punahou's theme of caring carried the Buffanblu to another state title.

Aisha Price scored five goals and top-seeded Punahou was its usual tough self on defense in a 9-2 win over Kamehameha in yesterday afternoon's championship game of the Local Motion Hawai'i High School Athletic Association state water polo championship at the Veterans' Memorial Aquatic Center.

Punahou (11-0) won the first two state tournament titles in 2004 and 2005, then didn't qualify for the last two state tournaments. The difference this year was leadership and a team that prided itself on caring in every possible means.

"We call it our caring defense," Punahou coach Ken Smith said. "We really care about everyone else's position, so that's kind of our key, I care who's in what position and we're always looking out for each other."

Senior goalkeeper Terra DeBold said it's a theme that pushes everyone.

"Our team loves each other, works hard for each other and if your teammate is behind, we'll help her out," DeBold said. "Everyone makes sacrifices for each other."

Price got past a Kamehameha defender to score the game's first goal at the 5:52 mark of the first quarter. Brailey Hirose-Hulbert scored 30 seconds later to make it 2-0 and Price scored on a back-handed shot with 44 seconds remaining to make it 3-0.

Kamehameha capitalized on a 6-on-4 advantage against Punahou early in the second quarter as Ashlee Akeo scored to make it 3-1 with 5:41 remaining. Shayna Price scored a minute later and Aisha Price had two more to make it 6-1.

Kamehameha's Nanea Fujiyama scored with 38 seconds left on a penalty shot to make it 6-2.

"They capitalize on every bit of the game, the littlest things ever," Fujiyama said. "Aisha, Shayna (Price), Kulani (Jenkins), Jane (Galluzzi), they're all very good players."

The Buffanblu scored three times in the third quarter and both teams were scoreless in the fourth.

"We wanted to set an exclamation mark at the end of our season," Aisha Price said. "I'm so proud of everyone."

Kamehameha (8-4), the 2006 state champion, was able to get off shots but Punahou goalkeeper DeBold stopped them in what her coach called "by far her best game."

"I was ready for it," DeBold said. "They're a good team, but our team worked hard on defense, being there, being in the right place, training, being in condition to get those balls."

Shayna Price and Hirose-Hulbert had two goals each for Punahou.

All four of Kamehameha's losses have been to Punahou this year, but yesterday's final was a far cry from a 17-0 loss during the regular season. Punahou won the other matches 11-6 and 17-7.

"To go from that to 9-2, we see that as a good thing, so we're just happy with how we played," Fujiyama said. "We just wanted to have fun in this game. We have a lot of seniors graduating, we had fun."

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2451.

CONSOLATION

LEILEHUA 4, ROOSEVELT 3

Goal scorers—Lei: Kearsten Sega 2, Brittany Sweeney, Elizabeth Lukefahr. Roos: Chyla Houghtailing-Ramos, Patrice Dang, Gina Galmiche.

FIFTH PLACE

NO. 3 KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I 8, HILO 3

Goal scorers—KSH: Ryenn Lyons 3, Nani Davis 2, Kaci Rosehill, Kristina Waiau, Malia Cann. Hilo: Eva Avery, Lauren Van Heukelem, Mandy Ka'apuni.

THIRD PLACE

NO. 2 KAHUKU 5, NO. 4 LAHAINALUNA 4

Goal scorers—Kahu: Gina Ahue 2, Taniya Sifton, Rosei Jaffurs, Minnie Whitford. Lah: Hailey Gill, Alana Hendrickson, Michelle Fuller, Moana Tuipulotu.

CHAMPIONSHIP

PUNAHOU 9, KAMEHAMEHA 2

Goal scorers—Pun: Aisha Price 5, Brailey Hirose-Hulbert 2, Shayna Price 2. KS: Ashlee Akeo, Nanea Fujiyama.