News Article
Konawaena wins D1 State Football Championship!

























The Konawaena High School Wildcats brought home the school’s first Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I football title with a 38-28 win Saturday night over Waipahu High School.

Quarterback Keoki Alani posted his 50th touchdown pass of the season, and defensive end Chray Flannery scored touchdown on a blocked field goal attempt in the dramatic win over the Marauders at Mililani High School on Oahu. The win came despite star sophomore wide receiver Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio being disqualified from the match after a second flag for unsportsmanlike conduct after catching Alani’s 50th touchdown pass.

“It means a lot. We just made history. And when we get back home it’s going to be a parade and party,” Alani told Spectrum O C16
in the moments after the team’s win. “All of the community of Kona town is going to come out.”

Konawaena High School Coach Brad Uemoto said he was proud to lead the team to the first title in the school’s 101-year history.

“This is my eighth season of coaching, BIIF titles are one thing, but to bring this school a state championship — I got to try to catch up to girls basketball,” he said, referring to the six titles brought home by the squad led by Bobby Awa.

The No. 2-seeded Wildcats were undefeated in Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I play this year, claiming their second straight BIIF title. The Wildcats lost in the semifinals in 2021.

The 2022 team earned its spot in Saturday’s title game by defeating 27-24 the Aiea Na Alii in the HHSAA Division I Football Semifinal held Nov. 19 in Kealakekua.

In the Division II title game, Kauai’s Waimea High School defeated Maui’s King Kakaulike 45-6 to win its first-ever state championship.