The constant eruption of Kilauea wasn’t the only show happening on the Hilo side.
During Wednesday morning’s Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Week 3 golf meet at Volcano Golf Course, Waiakea’s Jake Otani proved that he keeps getting better and better as the season progresses. The senior won the boys individual field for the third time this season, shooting a season-best 8-under par (64). In the previous two weeks, Otani has posted a 69 and 77.
Kealakehe’s Noah Okazaki placed second after carding a season-high 67, followed by teammate Malakai Akeo shooting a season-best 71. Because of the pair’s strong showing, coupled by Waveriders Xander Broderson (+3) and Tristan Laflamme (+5) finishing in sixth and seventh, Kealakehe was able to get its second win of the season in the boys team competition — shooting a collective 290, which was 15 strokes better than second-place Hilo.
Tyler Maag led the Viking boys’ second-place finish, shooting even (72) to place fourth. Maag shot 10 strokes better than his previous season best on March 7 at Waikoloa Village. Maag’s teammate, Iakona Manuia, rounded out the top five with a 73.
Kaylee Palikiko of Kealakehe placed first in the girls individual competition, shooting 4-over (76) to log a season best. Hilo’s Nalei Ramos carded a +7 to finish second, followed by teammate Lauren Kozohara and Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Khloe Nakagawa tied in third with an 83. For Nakagawa, it was her best score thus far in 2025, even after winning the field in the March 7 meet where she shot an 84.
Waiakea’s Madelyn Awaya shot an 84 to place fifth.
Despite having no individual players make the top five, Kamehameha-Hawaii won the girls team competition by just one stroke — escaping Kealakehe 257 to 258. It was the team’s first win of the year after placing third and fourth in the previous two matches.
The Lady Warriors’ top-two finishers in Addison Arbles and Zaynie-Lee Chow tied for sixth after each carding +13. Teammate Adriana Volpe finished in the top 10, shooting an 87 (+15).
The 2025 BIIF golf season resumes at 10 a.m. April 4 at Waikoloa Kings Resort.
Team results
Boys
1. Kealakehe +2 (290)
2. Hilo +17 (305)
3. Waiakea +26 (314)
4. HPA +31 (319)
5. KSH +69 (357)
6. Kohala +162 (450)
Girls
1. KSH +41 (257)
2. Waiakea +42 (258)
3. Hilo +45 (261)
4. HPA +63 (279)
