KEAAU – Waiahuli Akau flashed a grin while fighting back tears of joy that weren’t going away anytime soon.
She was teary-eyed when she received her medal, and as she recounted the sterling manner in which her indomitable presence willed her team to a comeback victory. Even if her eyes did dry up, they were sure to return when she facetimed her sister later in the day.
“I just wanted to make my sister proud,” she said.
Ocean Akau missed her final two true seasons of water polo with Kamehameha because of the pandemic, but, not to worry, the BIIF championship is staying in the Warriors ohana for the 10th time in 11 tries. Waiahuli led a spirited rally, scoring the go-ahead goal in the final minute as Kamehameha stunned top-seeded Hawaii Prep 14-13 in a thriller at Naeole Pool.
Akau scored six times and Oliliu Wise added five goals to propel Kamehameha (6-1), which trailed by as many as five in the first half before finding its way and scoring six of the game’s final eight goals. Akau scored her team’s final three goals.
“We really fought,” Wise said. “At first, we were really down. We let them get under our skin, fought and we came closer as a team, which helped us pull through.”
In basketball terms, this was akin to a center down low and a guard on the perimeter helping to take over a game. Akau brings power and Wise, a freshman and the BIIF breaststroke champion, delivers speed. With their team swimming upstream much of the match, they each brought precision.
“The girls had so many mistakes in the first half, but we brought it back, we worked the ball, we slowed things down, we got it fixed,” Akau said. “Our passes were on point, we had more steals.”
An early mismatch turned megamatch, this was the most thrilling BIIF water polo final since, at least, 2016, when Kamehameha beat HPA in double overtime at Naeole. Under Greg McKenna, Ka Makani broke through for a title in 2017, and with Ali Wawner (five goals) scoring from long range and Claire Hughes (five goals) on the attack Saturday, they looked poised to do so again.
HPA (6-1) played suffocating defense early, with Lia Craven’s steal and transition goal giving Ka Makani their first four-goal lead.
“We were prepared for everything and anything that might happen,” first-year Kamehameha coach Kaena Horowitz said.
He also had an ace up his sleeve – another coach was in the water.
“Lots of experience, lots of knowledge,” he said of Akau, “and the most impressive part is how she elevated her teammates and helps make them better.”
One of the fixes Kamehameha made was to leave Akau alone in the set 2-meter position and let the offense flow though her. When she got in position late in the match, she snapped shots into the net.
Kacelyn Kubojiri’s second goal cut the Warriors’ deficit to 12-9 late in the third, and Akau and Wise scored to close out the quarter. Akau’s goal from inside with 6:10 remaining gave the game its first tie since it was 1-1. Hughes tried to restore order, taking an outlet pass and swimming more than a half-length of the pool to score.
However, HPA’s offense stagnated during the final three-plus minutes of the match, and Akau couldn’t be stopped.
“She’s really big for us, because we idolize her,” Wise said. “Her being there and encouraging us, was really helpful.”
Craven had two goals and Maile Imonen one for HPA, which will play an HHSAA first round match May 2 at a Big Island pool to be determined.
Earlier in the third place match, Waiakea beat Kealakehe 12-4, locking down its first state berth since 2012. The Warriors will hit the road May 2 for a state match
Ka’iulani Rocha also scored for Kamehameha, which draws a bye into the quarterfinals, May 5 on Oahu.
By then, Akau’s eyes should be dry.
“I feel like I can help guide the girls, and I’m so excited I have another year with the girls,” she said.
