It’s been a rush for Gene Okamura. More specifically, it’s been a season of mad dashes across the soccer field.
There was one Oct. 27 to celebrate the UH-Hilo women’s soccer team’s 1-0 overtime victory against Point Loma, a conquest which helped the Vulcans grab their first Pacific West Conference title.
There was another March 5 in Honolulu to bask in the glow of Kamehameha’s HHSAA Division II championship, which was clinched in penalty kicks.
Each felt equally good, ended in some form of a celebratory pile and in some small part brought any shared values between Okamura’s two champs into clearer focus.
“I think the ability to grind and to persevere,” Okamura said. “Just a pure desire to find a way to make it happen.
“Both teams were underdogs at the beginning of the season and found ways to stick together.”
He was selected as the Pacific West Conference coach of the year, and he’s certainly in the mix to be honored again when soccer BIIF soccer awards are released.
If there were a Big Island coach of the year award handed out for the 2021-22 school year, Okamura might have wrapped that up as well.
Considering the history of UHH women’s program, it could be argued that the Warriors’ second state title was the lesser of his achievements, though no less fulfilling. The roots of Kamehameha’s run took shape during a busy stretch in which the Warriors played seven matches in 11 days.
“It was rough and so hard to see what kind of quality we had,” he said. “There would be spurts, but it was hard because there were so many matches in such a short span.
“Those seven matches really helped prepare us for the state tournament. Those three matches we played (in Honolulu), there was no easy ones.”
The Warriors hit their stride, he said, in a 4-1 win against Makua Lani in the BIIF semifinals, before executing their game plan and playing well in a 2-1 loss to Hawaii Prep in the BIIF final.
“I think (the semifinal) was the moment I was like, ‘Oh wow, this group can execute. They can execute the tactics we talk about.”’
Fulfilling a media obligation after the Vulcans were ousted at their first trip to regionals in November, Okamura ended the interview by saying, “We’ll be back.”
In a way, the Vuls already are. They are undergoing spring practices and played the University of Hawaii in a scrimmage on the same day Kamehameha beat Seabury Hall to win the state title.
His latest Division I transfer gem could be Teani Arakawa, a Maui native who scored five goals as a freshman for South Dakota State in 2021 before opting to move down to D-II and sign with the Vulcans.
“She going to be big-time for us,” Okamura said.
That same adjective could be used to describe Kamehameha’s potential.
The Warriors lose five seniors, including three who started in the state final. (Havelu Haunga scored a goal in the state semifinal that was credited to another player).
The incoming senior class is set to include the ever-dangerous Elijah Dinkel, who led Kamehameha with 20 goals, and another key contributor in Po Roback.
Dinkel and Roback each were chosen to take part in the penalty kick in the state final, but consider that the remainder of of Kamehameha participants chosen by Okamura were underclassmen: Freshmen Everton Kuamoo and Will Anderson and sophomore Lucas Kay Wong converted their PKs, and freshman Jacob Aiona held strong in goal.
Kamehameha, Okamura said, is taking advantage of a strong feeder system provided by East Hawaii clubs teams. The same club pipeline also helped fuel historic runs by the Hilo High’s boys and Waiakea’s girls.
“The club scene has increased the level of play,” Okamura said. “Looking at the kids in high school, more so the junior class, sophomores and freshmen … all these kids started club when they were 6 or 7 years old.
“It’s a testament, for sure, to the clubs and their development in these players.”
