If there was a Mount Rushmore of student-athletes for Kohala High school, they would be chiseling Mikayla Kekoa’s face on it as we speak.
The Hawaii High School Hall of Honor selection committee was able to imagine such a view in Kapaau.
The BIIF is represented in the 12-member HHSAA Hall of Honor class for the eighth consecutive year, and though there is only a single member this time – after having three selections in 2018 – Kekoa is a pioneer for the Cowgirls.
The senior perhaps saved her best work for last, leading Kohala to its first appearance in the state Division II softball tournament championship game earlier this month and a runner-up finish on Maui.
Kekoa played in four state softball tournaments, but her first foray into state competition came during her freshman year when she helped Kohala’s girls basketball team reach the semifinals and a fourth-place finish in 2016.
She’s also the reigning BIIF Division II girls volleyball player of the year after helping Kohala to its first league championship in 2018.
The inductees also include the first-ever athlete from Lanai, Naighel Calderon.
The Hall of Honor banquet will be held on June 2 at Dole Cannery’s Pomaikai Ballroom on Oahu. The other 11 inductees besides Kekoa in alphabetical order:
Naighel Calderon
Lanai baseball, football and basketball
Arguably the finest male athlete in Pine Lads history, Calderon tilted the long odds against him by competing year-round off-island. He spent almost all of his summer last year playing baseball across the nation in the top tournaments, and emerged as a college prospect. He was also a standout scorer for the Pine Lads’ MIL title-contending basketball team, and was a major weapon on Lanai’s eight-man football team that was MIL co-champion. Calderon, who blasted four home runs in one game this season, will walk on at Hawaii in baseball.
Duke Clemens
Punahou football, basketball, baseball, track and field
Clemens was a versatile first-team All-State offensive lineman, as selected by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, for the high-scoring Buffanblu football squad. He was also No. 7 in the Boys Basketball All-State Fab 15. During the spring, he pitched for the baseball team, and as a senior, placed fourth in the state shot put.
Kelani Corbett
Leilehua wrestling and judo
Corbett wrapped up her two-sport career as a four-time wrestling champion and was also a four-time medalist in judo. She is only the fifth female wrestler all-time to achieve the wrestling grand slam.
Kiran Costa
Kapaa soccer and volleyball
The versatile Warrior was the Kauai Interscholastic Federation boys soccer player of the year and was voted to the Star-Advertiser Boys Volleyball All-State Fab 15 at No. 11.
Sunshine Fontes
Pearl City soccer
Before injuring her knee late in the OIA playoffs, Fontes was already a two-time All-State selection, and as a junior she led the junior national team in scoring. Fontes is heading to UCLA on scholarship.
Dillon Gabriel
Mililani football
The steady and prolific All-State quarterback was a force from Day 1, becoming the all-time passing yardage leader with 9,848 yards. His 105 TD passes ranks second all-time only to Timmy Chang. Gabriel is already enrolled at UCF this spring.
Ashley Gooman
Kamehameha-Kapalama wrestling
The three-time state champion came within one win of a slam, losing only to current national champion Tiare Ikei of Kaiser last year in the state final.
Kameron Ng
St. Francis basketball, football and volleyball
Arguably the most effective playmaking and scoring guard in prep basketball since Miah Ostrowski, Ng was a tireless scorer and passer. Even with a severely injured ankle, he returned early during his senior year and averaged 24 points per game. After moving up to D-I, the Saints upset in the ILH playoffs to ‘Iolani, then lost to the Raiders in the tiebreaker battle for the ILH’s third state berth. He also led St. Francis to D-II state titles in ‘17 and ‘18. Ng will walk on at Hawaii in basketball.
Kalina Obrey
Kamehameha-Kapalama basketball and volleyball
The talented two-sport standout was a key middle blocker for the volleyball squad. On the basketball court, she was a two-time All-State selection, earning player of the year honors as a senior. Her evolution from post scorer to wing playmaker in less than one year was stunning. Obrey will play basketball at San Jose State next season.
Faatui Tuitele
Saint Louis football
The standout defensive lineman was a stalwart force for the Crusaders, who began their three-year run of Open Division state championships when Tuitele joined the varsity as a sophomore. He was voted All-State defensive player of the year as a senior. His ability to absorb double- and triple-team blocks opened up the possibilities for Saint Louis’ defense. He received 39 scholarship offers and signed with Washington.
Noah Wusstig
Moanalua judo and wrestling
Wusstig earned only the sixth ever grand slam in judo. As a senior, he won all but one match by ippon (throw). Combined with his three wrestling titles, Wusstig registered seven gold medals on the mat.
– Capsules by Paul Honda
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
