Before recent Konawaena graduate Celena Molina joins her sister Chanelle at Washington State, she’ll first join her in the Hawaii Hall of Honor.
Celena Molina, who helped lead the Wildcats to their third consecutive state Division I basketball title in February, was one of 12 selections in a 2017 class, the HHSAA’s 35th, that is highlighted by Tua Tagovailoa, who already is making noise at quarterback for national football powerhouse Alabama.
Honorees receive a $2,000 scholarship from Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
Navy football coach and Radford graduate Ken Niumatalolo will be the featured speaker at the induction banquet set for June 4 at the Pomaika’i Ballroom at Dole Cannery on Oahu.
Taking over for her older sister, Celena Molina earned her first BIIF Division II volleyball Player of the Year as a senior, but it was her younger sister, Cherilyn, who took home POY honors in basketball earlier this year.
Cherilyn, a junior, will have to wait a year to try and join her sisters in the Hall of Honor.
For now, Konawaena’s basketball dynasty has produced seven of the 498 members (249 boys, 249 girls): Nancy Hoist (2004), Jessica Hanato (2005), Jazzmin Awa-Williams (2007), Dawnyelle Awa (2012), Lia Galdeira (2012) and the two Molina sisters.
The BIIF had a single selection for the fourth time in five years.
The exception was last year when former Hawaii Prep track and field star Emma Taylor also was elected along with Chanelle Molina.
The 12 inductees are:
•Tua Tagovailoa (Saint Louis football): Broke fellow Crusader Timmy Chang’s all-time passing yards record and led Saint Louis to the inaugural Open Division state title. Rated the nation’s top-rated dual-threat quarterback, he’s already enrolled at Alabama.
• Kayla Afoa (Kamehameha volleyball, track and field): The multiple-sport standout excelled as a key player for Chris Blake’s title-contending Warriors on the hardwood. She was a two-time Star-Advertiser All-State Fab 15 selection (at No. 2 among all players) as a junior and senior. She also soared at the state track and field championships with back-to-back golds in the long jump.
• Kesi Ah-Hoy (Kahuku football, basketball): Contributed to state championships in both sports and earned all-state football honors on the Red Raiders offense as a junior and defense as a senior.
• Jocelyn Alo (Campbell softball): One of the state’s most feared hitters led the Sabers to the last two Division I state championships. She also won a state wrestling championship as a sophomore at Kahuku.
• Lia Foster (Punahou swimming): Won 12 state championships, three in the 100-yard backstroke, claiming four titles in her junior and senior seasons.
• Hugh Hogland (‘Iolani basketball, volleyball): Named the basketball state player of the year as a junior while leading the Raiders to the Division I title. He also earned All-ILH honors in volleyball the past three years.
• Kekaula Kaniho (Kahuku football, basketball): The two-time All-State selection was outstanding in a two-year run as the state’s best cornerback. His five picks for touchdown returns as a senior tied a national mark. He was also a contributor to the Red Raiders’ run to the state basketball title.
• Kristen O’Handley (Kaiser track and field): Closed her career by winning the 100, 200 and 400 meters and the high jump, the first to claim those four events in the same meet.
• KJ Pascua (‘Iolani football, wrestling, judo): The gritty standout ranked third in the state in rushing as a senior, nabbing All-ILH first team honors for a second year in a row and landing on the All-State third team. On the mat, he won two state wrestling crowns and was a top-three judoka for two years in a row.
• Ava Shipman (Seabury Hall cross country, track and field): Won the 800, 1,500 and 3,000 meters at the state championships at Keaau and anchored the 1,600 meters to push the Spartans to the girls title. Finished her career with five titles.
• Dane Yamashiro (‘Iolani wrestling, judo): The 6-foot, 250-pound technician capped an illustrious career with his fourth state gold in judo. He also won gold in the past two wrestling seasons, beating larger foes at 285 pounds.
• Celena Jane Molina (Konawaena basketball, volleyball): Joins her sister Chanelle as a Hall of Honor inductee. Earned Fab 15 honors in the last three seasons in basketball while helping the Wildcats win the past three Division I state titles.
