This was always going to be the year of the committee for Hilo High’s offense.
The one-man safety blanket that was Kahale Huddleston and his 35 touchdowns from a 2017 dream season weren’t walking through the door again.
So it was all the more encouraging during the latter stages of a lopsided preseason loss at Campbell when Fiki Aguiar sprinted on to the scene with a 75-yard touchdown run in which he used a high-wire act to avoid the right sideline.
The new man, even if to a much lesser degree, had arrived.
“It showed me I could be a good player,” Aguiar said. “I didn’t really get to play last year. It showed me I could compete with these guys.”
The versatile junior used the coming-out performance as a springboard, and he didn’t slow down until the Vikings won their sixth consecutive BIIF title and were back on Oahu for the state Division I title game. He led an ensemble cast of playmakers that included four all-BIIF selections with 14 touchdowns, and a scoring toss against Campbell, and he was named offensive player of the year by West Hawaii Today, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald and the league’s coaches.
“Amazing,” said Aguiar, the son of a rancher, said. “I’m stoked.”
That likely wasn’t his exact sentiment on Sept. 7 during a rainy night at Honokaa, his second game playing out of position, at quarterback.
“It was wet and the ball was hard to throw, it was going straight up,” he said.
When Kyan Miyasato returned as quarterback for the remainder of the season in the Vikings’ next game, Aguiar was able to return to his best position, wide receiver, and the offense got straightened out.
The 5-foot-11 Aguiar hauled in 38 catches for 594 yards as one of the primary threats in a three-headed monster attack at receiver that also included Guyson Ogata and Kalae Akui, adding 239 yards on the ground.
“My sophomore year, Kyan and me got close, “Aguiar said, “and this year he started to throw the ball to me.”
“I love that feeling before you play the game,” he said, “and scoring touchdowns.”
In essence, Aguiar loves to play in big games.
He caught a touchdown pass in the BIIF championship win against Kealakehe, scored via a run at QB and a catch in the state semifinals, and Aguiar went beast mode in the state championship loss to Waipahu, with eight receptions for 129 yards and two TDs.
“Next year, we have to get (the state title),” he said. “We have to be hungry.”
The Vikings (9-2) landed five all-BIIF picks on offense and 15 in all. Aguiar also was honored by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser has an honorable mention selection at wide receiver, a designation that covers all three high school divisions.
Coach Kaeo Drummondo was hesitant to focus too much attention on any individual player, preferring to stress the team aspect.
“With that said, I believe (his) overall play throughout the season makes (him) worthy,” Drummondo said. “We look forward to another year of maturity and growth … and we are happy to have him returning for his senior season.”
Aguiar started playing football in the fourth-grade, which is also around the time he decided not to try his hand at rodeo. His father, Kevin, owns a ranch.
Vikings teammate Kalen White, the defensive player of the year, remembers going up against Aguiar year after year in Pop Warner play, Aguiar with the Wailoa Razorbacks, and White as a member of the Panaewa Alii.
“He was always the kid (to watch),” White said. “He has always been hard to tackle.”
Aguiar is part of a team that Drummondo is taking to Las Vegas in February for a Pylon 7on7 Football tournament, and he plans to run track in the spring to try to increase his speed.
In the long-term, he’d like to go to college and get a business degree and maybe take over the family ranch.
On sunny day at Hilo High as the holiday break beckoned, Aguiar was asked what brings him the most pride about being a Viking.
If you think about it, we’re the only school on the island that doesn’t have a home field,” he said. “Same with the practice field. We come from nothing.”
Yet Hilo’s offense, whether utilizing a committee or a star player, is always something.
