The Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) released its All-BIIF teams for the 2023 football season on Tuesday.
KSH totals 19 awards
Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i head coach Kealoha Wengler was named DII coach of the year — and one of his seniors, defensive end Niau Paulos, was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year alongside Hawaii Prep linebacker Ekela Livingston.
“We had good leadership this year from our captains,” Wengler said. “There was a good push from the coaches, but then it was that push from within the team as well — and especially Niau Paulos, he was the voice of the team. He was so vocal, pushing everybody to believe and to trust, that was huge.”
Another seven of KSH’s players were named to the All-BIIF DII offensive first team, an additional six were placed on the defensive first team and four more received honorable mentions. The Warriors finished the regular season 10-1 before shutting out HPA 38-0 to win their first BIIF title since 2018 — the first during Wengler’s tenure.
“I give all credit my very talented coaching staff and coordinators,” Wengler said. “They worked hard 7 days a week, and dedicated a lot of time and energy to this season.”
For Wengler and his Warriors, support from the team’s assistant coaches was critical. Less-than-convenient school bus schedules limited KSH’s practice time, so the coaching staff had to put extra planning into their practices in order to maximize efficiency.
“We had a great staff this year,” Wengler said, “led by our offensive coordinator Maui Ramos and defensive coordinator Lyndon Turner. Those guys did a great job of organizing their parts of the practice every day, scrutinizing every bit of practice to make sure that we were on target with our weekly goals every single day.
“The practices had to be so efficient that we had (Ramos), (Turner) and myself looking at every single detail trying to fit in every bit of conditioning wherever we could.”
Honoka‘a High, which ended the season at No. 3 in DII, also collected quite a few nods — nine total, with three on the offensive first team, four on the defensive first team and two honorable mentions.
Ka‘u High senior wideout TJ Kuahuia-Faafia made the DII offensive first team, and defensive lineman Dominic Nurial-Dacalio received a defensive nod. Three additional Trojans received honorable mentions, with junior Adadiyah Ellis-Reyes getting honorable mentions for offense and defense.
Pahoa High also got some representation — as offensive lineman Jordan Horn was named to the first team alongside punter Zecheria Hose-See. Two other Daggers were given honorable mentions, including senior Kukui Ahin-Ganir, who was the only other DII player besides Ellis-Reyes to be given honorable mentions on offense and defense.
In DI, runner-up Kea‘au was well-represented with four offensive first-team nods, six on defense and six honorable mentions. No. 3 Hilo was not neglected — with two offensive first-teamers, three on defense and four honorable mentions.
Despite another rough season, Waiakea High’s top performers got some love. Senior Noah Tyrin was named a first team offensive lineman, AJ Rodriques and Justin Ah Sing were placed on the defensive first team and the Warriors got five honorable mentions.
Konawaena, HPA rake in nods
Konawaena, Hawaii Prep and Honoka‘a represented the Kona side of the island in the Division I and II teams, with 27 total players earning honors. Wildcats quarterback Keoki Alani was awarded Division I Offensive Player of the Year after posting 4,284 yards, 57 touchdowns and 13 interceptions — leading an offense that averaged over 50 points per game for the second straight year. Alani also broke a multitude of records during his senior season, including most touchdown passes in a single game (eight) and most career touchdown passes in the state (113).
Alani’s teammate, defensive lineman Elias Malapit, took home the Defensive Player of the Year award — anchoring a defense that allowed just over 13 points per game in 2023. The junior tallied 73.5 tackles and 18 sacks.
Konawaena coach Brad Uemoto additionally dubbed the DI Coach of the Year award. Uemoto led the island’s most dominant team to its third straight BIIF Division I title at 9-0 and second-place finish at state this season.
“I’m happy for all the players that got recognized,” Uemoto said. “Our players had a great season and it goes without saying that we had a vey talented group of guys. We are very fortunate at Konawaena to have the level of talent we have year in and year out.”
Over in Division II, Ka Makani running back Alaka‘i Aipia was awarded Offensive Player of the Year. Aipia’s junior season featured over 1,000 rushing yards — leading HPA’s run-first mentality that helped carry it to an 8-3 record and second-place finish in BIIF Division II. The two-way star was additionally named to the defensive team as a defensive back.
Aipia’s teammate, running back and linebacker Ekela Livingston, won DII Co-Defensive Player of the Year alongside Paulos. Along with helping Aipia in the backfield, Livingston was a crucial piece in Ka Makani’s stout front seven. The entire list of awards can be found here:
DIVISION I
Offense:
Quarterback: Keoki Alani, Konawaena
Running back: Akea Cariaga, Konawaena
Running back: Charlie Salazar, Kea‘au
Wide receiver/tight end: Tazein Sykes, Hilo
Wide receiver/tight end: Abraham Ogata, Konawaena
Wide receiver/tight end: Austin Takaki, Konawaena
Offensive lineman: Noah Tyrin, Waiakea
Offensive lineman: MJ Feala, Konawaena
Offensive lineman: Joshua Nihoa, Kea‘au
Offensive lineman: Daylan Ibanez, Kea‘au
Offensive lineman: Rylan Ishii, Hilo
Offensive lineman: Ikona Kainoa-Salvador, Konawaena
Offensive lineman: Nakoa Ige, Konawaena
Utility: Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio, Konawaena
Kicker: Nakoa Ige, Konawaena
Offensive Player of the Year: Keoki Alani, Konawaena
Honorable mentions: Diego Pettypool (Kea‘au), Sean Randall (Kea‘au), Joseph Nixon (Kea‘au), Micah Lopes (Waiakea), Daniel Weber (Waiakea), Hercules Nahale (Kealakehe), Oshen Oguma (Kealakehe), Kadek Kaneta (Hilo), Nahiku Anderson (Hilo)
Defense:
Defensive lineman: Isaiah Awai, Hilo
Defensive lineman: Elias Malapit, Konawaena
Defensive lineman: Dane Bannister, Kea‘au
Defensive lineman: Chanstin Uahinui-Vagai, Kea‘au
Defensive lineman: Nakoa Ige, Konawaena
Linebacker: Alex Rodrigues, Waiakea
Linebacker: Zaeden Moreira, Kea‘au
Linebacker: Keawe Navas Loa, Konawaena
Linebacker: Wyatt Wehrsig, Konawaena
Defensive back: Justin Ah Sing, Waiakea
Defensive back: Carmine Fautanu-Taetuna, Konawaena
Defensive back: Katin Kaluhiwa, Kea‘au
Defensive back: Jai Pahinuim, Kea‘au
Defensive back: Austin Takaki, Konawaena
Utility: Kaiwalya Kaneta, Hilo
Utility: Armenio Blanco, Konawaena
Punter: JP Carroll, Kea‘au
Punter: Kaiwalya Kaneta, Hilo
Defensive Player of the Year: Elias Malapit
Coach of the Year: Brad Uemoto, Konawaena
Honorable mentions: Tayton Tamashiro (Konawaena), Ezeriah Francisco (Kea‘au), Tryesten Carvalho-Leopodino (Kea‘au), Micah Lopes (Waiakea), Kaimi Santos (Waiakea), Rylan Boromeo (Waiakea), Nehasi Faleofa (Kealakehe), Hirosi Tilfas (Kealakehe), Ezra Holton (Hilo), Exodus Francisco (Hilo)
DIVISION II
Offense:
Quarterback: Adam Perry, KS-Hawai‘i
Running back: Ethan Bowden, KS-Hawai‘i
Running back: Alaka‘i Aipia, HPA
Wide receiver: Keaka Cagampang, Honoka‘a
Wide receiver/tight end: Tyson Kuahuia-Faafia, Ka‘u
Wide receiver/tight end: Kekainalu Fuerte, KS-Hawai‘i
Wide receiver/tight end: Javan Feary, KS-Hawai‘i
Offensive lineman: Greyson Shin, HPA
Offensive lineman: Donovan Valera, Honoka‘a
Offensive lineman: Diezel Gabriel, KS-Hawai‘i
Offensive lineman: Kaaipohaku Brown, KS-Hawai‘i
Offensive lineman: Iki Lincoln, HPA
Offensive lineman: Jordan Horn, Pahoa
Utility: Elijah Kaupu-Alip, Honoka‘a
Kicker: Lucas Kay-Wong, KS-Hawai‘i
Offensive Player of the Year: Alaka‘i Aipia, HPA
Honorable mentions: Kaydn Kalai Nauka (KS-Hawai‘i), Shiloh Santos (KS-Hawai‘i), Jordan Kaluhimoku (HPA), Daniel Habiak (HPA), Adahdiyah Ellis-Reyes (Ka‘u), Ocean Nihipali-Sesson (Ka‘u), Czeiah Silva-Kamei (Kohala), Dominic Nurial-Dacalio (Kohala), Hezekiah Wilson (Kohala), Ryzen Cazimero-Bautista (Kohala), Zedekiah Ahin-Ganir (Pahoa)
Defense:
Defensive lineman: Heolu Bertleman, Honoka’a
Defensive lineman: Lau Talaimotu, KS-Hawai‘i
Defensive lineman: Dominic Nurial-Dacalio, Ka‘u
Defensive lineman: Niau Paulos, KS-Hawai‘i
Linebacker: Keane Tabac, Honoka‘a
Linebacker: Xander Hoopai, KS-Hawai‘i
Linebacker: Ekela Livingston, HPA
Defensive back: Ezikaiah Kaupu-Alip, Honoka‘a
Defensive back: Josiah Napolean-Umeda, Honoka‘a
Defensive back: Paliku Nachor, KS-Hawai‘i
Defensive back: Kekai Haines, HPA
Defensive back: Alaka‘i Aipia, HPA
Utility: Xander Hoopai, KS-Hawai‘i
Punter: Elijah Okano, KS-Hawai‘i
Punter: Kena Craven, HPA
Punter: Zecharia Hose-See, Pahoa
Defensive Player of the Year: Ekela Livingston, HPA; Niau Paulos, KS-Hawai‘i
Coach of the Year: Kealoha Wengler, KS-Hawai‘i
Honorable mentions: Teva Sanchez (KS-Hawai‘i), Xayden Kama (KS-Hawai‘i), Iki Lincoln (HPA), Dutin Petras (HPA), Triton Blanco (HPA), Adahdiyah Ellis-Reyes (Kohala), Zedekiah Ahin-Ganir (Pahoa), Dwight Enriquez (Pahoa)