If the Konawaena girls basketball program doesn’t have its own wing in the HHSAA Hall of Honor already, perhaps it will now.
Kaliana Salazar-Harrell is the 12th former Wildcats standout to gain induction, and also in the 12-member Class of 2022 is an all-time great from Kohala’s proud basketball community, O’shen Cazimero.
While Cazimero would be in prime consideration for the Mount Rushmore of Cowboys athletics, Salazar-Harrell moves into a hallowed sorority in her own right, joining such alumnae as her coach, Dawnyelle Awa (2012), the Molina sisters – Chanelle (2016), Celena (2017), Cherilyn (2018) – and her former teammate, Caiyle Kaupu (2020).
“It feels really great, especially comparing myself to them. They’re really great players,” Salazar-Harrell said. “I really looked up to them when I was younger, so it really feels good, and I hope that the younger generation will look up to me in the same way I did to them.”
Each honoree – the ILH gained six selections, the OIA two and the MIL and KIF one apiece – received a $2,000 scholarship from the HHSAA and Enterprise Holdings. Cazimero, who signed with Southwestern Oregon Community in April, can add this scholarship to the $1,500 stipend he pocketed as Fujimoto Scholarship winner.
Salazar-Harrell, who graduated Saturday as a valedictorian, might be able to bank her scholarship for graduate school. She’s already got a full ride to play for Cal State Fullerton and intends to major in kinesiology.
“I leave in six days to go to (California),” she said Sunday. “I’m going to be going there for summer school and to rehab on my knee.”
Salazar-Harrell, the BIIF player of the year as a senior and a prolific scorer ever since her freshman season, injured her knee in February during the Wildcats’ loss to Iolani in the state title game.
“It definitely was stressful, and I had my days and my pity parties and struggled,” she said, “but I just learned to live in the moment and be thankful where I’m at.”
She’s on the road to recovery. Salazar-Harrell’s not able to run on the court, but she’s shooting around and her doctor told her she could be ready to return by Oct. 1, a date that could clear her in time to vie for playing time during Titans’ preseason practices.
“I’m really hoping that I’m going to be able to play next season,” she said. “My rehab is going very well.”
Other Wildcats in the Hall of Honor are Mi-Suk Lee (1999), Nancy Hoist (2004), Jessica Hanato (2005), Jazzmin Awa-Williams (2007), Lia Galdeira (2012) and Mikayla Tablit (2018).
If ever there were a Big Man on Campus, it would seem to be Cazimero, an athletic guard and three-time BIIF player of the year. He led the Cowboys to the school’s first state title in any sport in 2020, and one his fondest high school memories came his senior year when Kohala claimed its first league title since 2014.
“Winning Kohala a (first) BIIF title since one of my role models, Kealen Figueroa, did his junior year was such a surreal moment,” Cazimero said. “It’s always a great feeling to make my family, friends and community proud.”
According to an HHSAA release, a 13-member panel from around the state voted on the selections. “The criteria is based mainly on athletic achievement but character, sportsmanship, academic record and community service also are taken into consideration,” the release said.
Also honored were:
• Ailana Agbayani, Iolani School (softball)
• Aiva Arquette, Saint Louis School (basketball, baseball)
• Kaleonahe Bukoski, Kauai High (volleyball, soccer)
• Erin Hikiji, Mililani High l (wrestling, judo)
• Devin Kahahawai, Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama (volleyball)
• Jovi Lefotu, Iolani School (basketball, volleyball)
• Grace Monahan, University Laboratory (swimming)
• Kale Spencer, Kamehameha Schools-Maui (basketball, volleyball, football
• Blaze Sumiye, Moanalua High (wrestling, judo, football)
• Teva Tafiti, Punahou School (football)
