KEALAKEKUA/WAIMEA — With the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) spring season well underway, teams from all across the island have begun their regular season matchups. But one particular sport has flown under the radar during preseason preparation.
Starting Saturday, April 6, the Big Isle lacrosse season will begin between the island’s only two teams — Konawaena and Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Waimea. With lacrosse being a non-BIIF sport, the schedule runs a bit differently, as the Wildcats and Ka Makani play each other several times followed by matchups with several Oahu schools.
With the regular-season slate not starting until much later in the spring season, this allows Kona and HPA to gain more practice and chemistry before the competition begins. But there are challenges that come with that, as many players from both teams are brand new to the game.
“It’s kind of like trying to teach somebody to walk, talk and crawl every single year,” Ka Makani coach Will Zucker told West Hawaii Today at a recent practice. “At least 50% of these guys are first-timers.”
“We’ve got some guys here where it’s their second or third time ever picking up a lacrosse stick, and we throw them right in there,” Wildcats coach Dan Curran added. “And they basically learn as they go. The more experienced guys that are around them are supportive, which is really helpful.”
The lacrosse scene in Hawaii is miniscule, and on the Big Island, it’s even smaller. With just two teams, both Zucker and Curran agreed that the sport is in its infancy in the community, as there are no intermediate or elementary feeder programs on the island. But with both coaches having extensive backgrounds in the sport, the pair have built cultures that have helped their players fall in love with the game.
“(A former player) told me to come try it, and it’s been great ever since,” Kona player Dylan Nonaka said.
“I’ve had players that have tried it, gone away for a couple of years, then come back to play and say that they wished they had never left it,” Zucker said. “They really have a great time out here.”
With the sport being so fresh in the community, recruiting has been one of the major hurdles for Kona and HPA. With both teams forming in the early-to-mid 2010s, Zucker and Curran have fielded players through physical education classes, word of mouth, weekend box lacrosse games and offseason clinics.
“We really want to open it up to the community, and anybody that wants to learn the game or try it out…all they have to do is show up to one of our practices and we’ll teach them,” Curran said.
Both teams have been entirely welcoming to new prospects, as the Wildcats have players as young as seventh grade on their roster. Ka Makani’s team is co-educational. Needless to say, all are encouraged to come out.
“(Us coaches) are all passionate about the sport, and I think it all means different things to each one of us,” Zucker said. “I want the kids to have fun because (us coaches) had fun (when we played) — it’s a special thing. It’s pretty much full circle for us coaches.”
As for season goals, both Zucker and Curran want their teams to improve fundamentally, but most importantly, have fun doing it. Konawaena reached the annual Founder’s Cup championship match a year ago for the third straight time, taking place on Oahu. Although they fell to Winward for the title, Curran hopes the Wildcats can earn a rematch.
“That was a heartbreaking loss for us,” he said of the 2023 Founder’s Cup. “The kids really fought hard last year to get to that place. And I know that a lot of them are excited to get back and play those guys. We lost quite a few people from last year. But the people that we do have here are showing a lot of promise.
“But as long as these kids are out here having fun and taking away something that they’ve never learned before, while enjoying the sport at the same time, then it will be a successful season.”
Zucker shared much of Curran’s thoughts, as he agreed that the process of improving and enjoying the game is all that matters in the end. Later in the season, Zucker will be taking his team to Texas to play his alma mater in an exhibition match, giving Ka Makani a true taste of mainland lacrosse.
For any student at Konawaena and HPA with any interest in playing, both coaches highly encourage them to come out to a practice to try it out for themselves — as they promise many benefits to participating.
“If you’re a basketball or football player, and you try out the sport of lacrosse, you’re gonna see a lot of similarities in the skills and the athleticism that you need from sports all across,” Curran said. “And if you’re trying to get in shape for a fall sport, lacrosse is a great opportunity to cross-train in the offseason. Watching the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) on Hulu or YouTube to give yourself a better idea on the sport helps a lot, too.
“To me, it’s the sport of the future.”
Zucker concurred with Curran’s sentiment, adding that the game’s culture is hard to top — even with lacrosse being a newer sport.
“If you’re on the fence, you have nothing to lose,” he said. “And I think that the majority of students that play this sport for more than a season really do love it.
“I used to say that when you see or meet another lacrosse player, or if you see somebody on the side of the road with a stick…there’s a bond there that you’ll instantly have. It’s an instant connection that I think is unique compared to most sports. And if you want a challenge, then this will be the most difficult thing that you can do.”
