The Kamehameha Schools Kapālama girls soccer and boys canoe paddling teams were honored by the Honolulu City Council Wednesday after claiming Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state titles earlier this month.
Council Chair Emeritus and Vice Chair Ron Menor recognized the student-athletes and coaches with certificates as part of the ceremony. Council members Ikaika Anderson, a 1996 KS Kapālama graduate, and Heidi Tsuneyoshi, whose daughter was a member of the KS Kapālama girls soccer squad that won the state crown in 2014, also congratulated the teams.
“I guess this is Kamehameha Schools day!” quipped Menor before addressing the teams. “You really did a tremendous job. We wish the team, players and coaches the very best and continued success for years to come.”
On Feb. 2, the KS Kapālama girls soccer team secured its ninth Queen’s Medical Center Soccer State Championship in program history with a 1-0 victory over Campbell at Waipi‘o Peninsula Soccer Complex. Leah Feato’s goal in the 33rd minute was the difference as the Warriors made it through the Division I tourney without allowing a goal, and outscored opponents by a combined margin of 10-0.
“To finish strong, and win the whole thing after claiming the ILH championship, it’s huge,” said KS Kapālama girls soccer coach Missy Moore, who has been at the helm of three state title-winning teams. “It’s so nice of the City Council to honor our team this way. I can’t express enough gratitude for the opportunity that the girls have to come here and meet their Council members and be a part of this experience.”
Earlier that Saturday, the KS Kapālama boys paddlers claimed the Hawaiian Airlines State Canoe Paddling Championship by a razor-thin 0.32-second margin over Interscholastic League of Honolulu rival Punahou at Ke‘ehi Lagoon. It’s the seventh state title secured by the Kapālama boys, and the first under the guidance of head coach Richard Williams, since the state regatta was launched in 2002. KS Kapālama and Punahou have combined to win 13 of the 18 boys state paddling championships in event history, including 10 consecutive titles (five apiece).
Menor, an ‘Iolani School graduate, joked that he was appreciative that the KS Kapālama paddlers had put an end to Punahou’s winning run.
“Punahou had been victorious the four years prior, so God blessed us with the win and today’s opportunity,” said KS Kapālama senior paddler Paliku Brown. “It’s great for us to get involved with our elected officials, and it’s very exciting for our team to be part of this process.”
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