When Honokaa High athletic director Keith Tolentino asked Kau’i Kanekoa to, in effect, save the Dragons’ softball season earlier this year, she had her reservations.
“I was like, only if I absolutely have to do it, as a last resort,” Kanekoa said.
A week later, Tolentino welcomed her to the last resort.
She’s glad she came, and so are Dragons.
If Kanekoa hadn’t come on board as a first-time coach, the team was in danger of not having a season, so she grabbed her cousin, Dragons basketball legend Keisha Kanekoa, to come along as an assistant. After a bumpy beginning, Honokaa (3-2), with four seniors, is finding its footing.
“I love the sport, I love being out there, I love seeing all the competitive levels from all these different schools,” said Kau’i Kanekoa, who teaches culinary at the school. “It’s awesome being out there, but it’s definitely a chunk of your time.
“I do a have a family and not being able to be with my son is a bummer, but I’m doing it for these girls.”
In addition to softball, Kanekoa played volleyball and soccer for four seasons at Honokaa before graduating in 2011. Her senior season marks the last time the Dragons played for the BIIF Division II softball title, losing a nail-biter to Konawaena. While she was still in middle school, Keisha Kanekoa was becoming Honokaa royalty, leading the basketball team to back-to-back-to-back third-place finishes at the HHSAA Division I tournament before embarking on a stellar career at the University of Hawaii.
Does being the coach allow Kau’i Kanekoa to finally boss around her older cousin?
“It’s funny, even though I got this position, I think of us as equals,” she said. “Of course, she has experience coaching (basketball), she knows that side of it. I kind of know the game side. We half and half it.”
Also split down the middle is the experience level on her roster, with an equal divide between players with experience and those with none.
It was back too basics at the first practice, and the team only had been together a few weeks before it was rocked 18-0 by Hawaii Prep in its opener. The Dragons gained confidence with a win against Ka‘u, Kanekoa said, and, spurred by the arm of sophomore left-hander Malie Espejo and the bat senior of Krysta-Lyn Lewis, they are riding a two-game winning streak after beating Konawaena 18-3 on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Dragons play at Pahoa, with the winner grabbing the third seed in the playoffs.
“They are ready to go into the Pahoa game on fire and they want to keep their winning streak up and take it all the way into the playoffs,” Kanekoa said. “Their adrenaline has them rocking this whole time.”
Iliana Kaiamakini, Mahina Young, Lewis and Espejo each collected three hits against the Wildcats (0-4). Espejo hit an inside-the-park home run and struck out eight, and Lewis would have had her second home run of the season, but she was ruled not to have touched home plate, Kanekoa said.
Honokaa’s notable contributions haven’t just come from on the field, but off it as well.
“We have a lot of people in the community who have volunteered to come out and help, either being one day or two days a week, just to help the girls as best as they can,” Kanekoa said. “Our community has definitely had our back on this one.”
Playoff race
In Division I, Hilo’s 15-5 win against Waiakea in six innings Thursday earned it in a home game against the Warriors (2-4) in the semifinals April 28. The Vikings (4-2) have outscored their rival 31-13 in two wins.
Kealakehe (5-0) has a clear path to the final, Waveriders athletic director Alan Vogt said, after Keaau (0-5) pulled out of their semifinal. A regular-season finale between Kealakehe and the Cougars was rained out Saturday, and Vogt said the game won’t be rescheduled.
In Division II, Hawaii Prep beat Kohala 21-10 in Kapaau on Friday, clinching its first trip to the HHSAA tournament as the outright regular season champion at 6-0. In its first BIIF playoff appearance, Ka Makani will host Tuesday’s Honokaa-Pahoa loser. The winner gets Kamehameha (4-1) in the semifinals April 27.
HPA coach Travis Bondallian said HPA committed 10 errors against the Cowgirls (2-4).
“We have a lot of work to do heading into the playoffs,” Bondallian said, adding, “I’m really proud of the girls for accomplishing this for them and the school.”
On Wednesday, Kohala outslugged Konawaena 18-17. Zanaiyah Murai drove in three runs, Savannah Kupuka‘a posted two hits and two RBIs, and Cyann Kauanoe-Galdones, Natalie Majors and Makenzie Afaga also drove in two runs apiece. In the circle for the Cowgirls, Murai worked four innings and Kailani Valenzuela-Conte pitched three.
Division I
W-L
Kealakehe 5-0
Hilo 4-2
Waiakea 2-4
Keaau 0-5
Division II
Hawaii Prep 6-0
Kamehameha 4-1
Pahoa 3-2
Honokaa 3-2
Kohala 2-4
Konawaena 0-4
Ka’u 0-5