The Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) released its All-BIIF teams for the 2023 football and air riflery seasons Tuesday, with a multitude of west-side players and coaches being recognized for their exceptional fall campaigns.
Kona, HPA dominate football awards
Konawaena, Hawaii Prep and Honoka‘a represented the Kona side of the island in the Division I and II teams, with 27 total players earning honors. Wildcats quarterback Keoki Alani was awarded Division I Offensive Player of the Year after posting 4,284 yards, 57 touchdowns and 13 interceptions — leading an offense that averaged over 50 points per game for the second straight year. Alani also broke a multitude of records during his senior season, including most touchdown passes in a single game (eight) and most career touchdown passes in the state (113).
Alani’s teammate, defensive lineman Elias Malapit, took home the Defensive Player of the Year award — anchoring a defense that allowed just over 13 points per game in 2023. The junior tallied 73.5 tackles and 18 sacks.
Konawaena coach Brad Uemoto additionally dubbed the DI Coach of the Year award. Uemoto led the island’s most dominant team to its third straight BIIF Division I title at 9-0 and second-place finish at state this season.
“I’m happy for all the players that got recognized,” Uemoto told West Hawaii Today. “Our players had a great season and it goes without saying that we had a vey talented group of guys. We are very fortunate at Konawaena to have the level of talent we have year in and year out.”
Over in Division II, Ka Makani running back Alaka‘i Aipia was awarded Offensive Player of the Year. Aipia’s junior season featured over 1,000 rushing yards — leading HPA’s run-first mentality that helped carry it to an 8-3 record and second-place finish in BIIF Division II. The two-way star was additionally named to the defensive team as a defensive back.
Aipia’s teammate, running back and linebacker Ekela Livingston, won DII Defensive Player of the Year. Along with helping Aipia in the backfield, Livingston was a crucial piece in Ka Makani’s stout front seven. HPA leaned on its defense for much of the season, allowing under 15 points per game — a stellar improvement from giving up 23 per game in 2022.
“I’m very proud of them,” Ka Makani coach Lincoln Kalama said of the team’s award-winning players. “They worked hard to achieve that goal and well deserved.”
The entire list of awards can be found here:
Division I
Offense:
Quarterback: Keoki Alani, Konawaena
Running back: Akea Cariaga, Konawaena
Running back: Charlie Salazar, Kea‘au
Wide receiver/tight end: Tazein Sykes, Hilo
Wide receiver/tight end: Abraham Ogata, Konawaena
Wide receiver/tight end: Austin Takaki, Konawaena
Offensive lineman: Noah Tyrin, Waiakea
Offensive lineman: MJ Feala, Konawaena
Offensive lineman: Joshua Nihoa, Kea‘au
Offensive lineman: Daylan Ibanez, Kea‘au
Offensive lineman: Rylan Ishii, Hilo
Offensive lineman: Ikona Kainoa-Salvador, Konawaena
Offensive lineman: Nakoa Ige, Konawaena
Utility: Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio, Konawaena
Kicker: Nakoa Ige, Konawaena
Offensive Player of the Year: Keoki Alani, Konawaena
Honorable mentions: Diego Pettypool (Kea‘au), Sean Randall (Kea‘au), Joseph Nixon (Kea‘au), Micah Lopes (Waiakea), Daniel Weber (Waiakea), Hercules Nahale (Kealakehe), Oshen Oguma (Kealakehe), Kadek Kaneta (Hilo), Nahiku Anderson (Hilo)
Defense:
Defensive lineman: Isaiah Awai, Hilo
Defensive lineman: Elias Malapit, Konawaena
Defensive lineman: Dane Bannister, Kea‘au
Defensive lineman: Chanstin Uahinui-Vagai, Kea‘au
Defensive lineman: Nakoa Ige, Konawaena
Linebacker: Alex Rodrigues, Waiakea
Linebacker: Zaeden Moreira, Kea‘au
Linebacker: Keawe Navas Loa, Konawaena
Linebacker: Wyatt Wehrsig, Konawaena
Defensive back: Justin Ah Sing, Waiakea
Defensive back: Carmine Fautanu-Taetuna, Konawaena
Defensive back: Katin Kaluhiwa, Kea‘au
Defensive back: Jai Pahinuim, Kea‘au
Defensive back: Austin Takaki, Konawaena
Utility: Kaiwalya Kaneta, Hilo
Utility: Armenio Blanco, Konawaena
Punter: JP Carroll, Kea‘au
Punter: Kaiwalya Kaneta, Hilo
Defensive Player of the Year: Elias Malapit
Coach of the Year: Brad Uemoto, Konawaena
Honorable mentions: Tayton Tamashiro (Konawaena), Ezeriah Francisco (Kea‘au), Tryesten Carvalho-Leopodino (Kea‘au), Micah Lopes (Waiakea), Kaimi Santos (Waiakea), Rylan Boromeo (Waiakea), Nehasi Faleofa (Kealakehe), Hirosi Tilfas (Kealakehe), Ezra Holton (Hilo), Exodus Francisco (Hilo)
Division II
Offense:
Quarterback: Adam Perry, KS-Hawai‘i
Running back: Ethan Bowden, KS-Hawai‘i
Running back: Alaka‘i Aipia, HPA
Wide receiver: Keaka Cagampang, Honoka‘a
Wide receiver/tight end: Tyson Kuahuia-Faafia, Ka‘u
Wide receiver/tight end: Kekainalu Fuerte, KS-Hawai‘i
Wide receiver/tight end: Javan Feary, KS-Hawai‘i
Offensive lineman: Greyson Shin, HPA
Offensive lineman: Donovan Valera, Honoka‘a
Offensive lineman: Diezel Gabriel, KS-Hawai‘i
Offensive lineman: Kaaipohaku Brown, KS-Hawai‘i
Offensive lineman: Iki Lincoln, HPA
Offensive lineman: Jordan Horn, Pahoa
Utility: Elijah Kaupu-Alip, Honoka‘a
Kicker: Lucas Kay-Wong, KS-Hawai‘i
Offensive Player of the Year: Alaka‘i Aipia, HPA
Honorable mentions: Kaydn Kalai Nauka (KS-Hawai‘i), Shiloh Santos (KS-Hawai‘i), Jordan Kaluhimoku (HPA), Daniel Habiak (HPA), Adahdiyah Ellis-Reyes (Ka‘u), Ocean Nihipali-Sesson (Ka‘u), Czeiah Silva-Kamei (Kohala), Dominic Nurial-Dacalio (Kohala), Hezekiah Wilson (Kohala), Ryzen Cazimero-Bautista (Kohala), Zedekiah Ahin-Ganir (Pahoa)
Defense:
Defensive lineman: Heolu Bertleman, Honoka’a
Defensive lineman: Lau Talaimotu, KS-Hawai‘i
Defensive lineman: Dominic Nurial-Dacalio, Ka‘u
Defensive lineman: Niau Paulos, KS-Hawai‘i
Linebacker: Keane Tabac, Honoka‘a
Linebacker: Xander Hoopai, KS-Hawai‘i
Linebacker: Ekela Livingston, HPA
Defensive back: Ezikaiah Kaupu-Alip, Honoka‘a
Defensive back: Josiah Napolean-Umeda, Honoka‘a
Defensive back: Paliku Nachor, KS-Hawai‘i
Defensive back: Kekai Haines, HPA
Defensive back: Alaka‘i Aipia, HPA
Utility: Xander Hoopai, KS-Hawai‘i
Punter: Elijah Okano, KS-Hawai‘i
Punter: Kena Craven, HPA
Punter: Zecharia Hose-See, Pahoa
Defensive Player of the Year: Ekela Livingston, HPA; Niau Paulos, KS-Hawai‘i
Coach of the Year: Kealoha Wengler, KS-Hawai‘i
Honorable mentions: Teva Sanchez (KS-Hawai‘i), Xayden Kama (KS-Hawai‘i), Iki Lincoln (HPA), Dutin Petras (HPA), Triton Blanco (HPA), Adahdiyah Ellis-Reyes (Kohala), Zedekiah Ahin-Ganir (Pahoa), Dwight Enriquez (Pahoa)
East side fills up air riflery teams
Primarily east-side schools were recognized in the All-BIIF Air Riflery Teams, with Hilo’s Jeremiah-James Siola-Carvalho and Waiakea’s Francis Dela Cruz being named the boys and girls’ Shooters of the Year. The official results can be found here:
Shooters of the Year: Jeremiah Jones Siola-Carvalho, Hilo; Francis Dela Cruz, Waiakea
Coaches of the Year: Rayner Galdones, Hilo; Kelly Galdones, KS-Hawai‘i
First Team (boys and girls)
Cadyn Corpuz (WHS), Francis Dela Cruz (WHS), Isaac Keola Fukunaga (KSH) Danica-Jason Fujimoto (KSH), Caysen Jay, Guillermo (KSH), Alexandra Gray (CLA), Kuhio Haili-Mizumoto (HHS), Amy Gushiken (KSH), Laakea Kanewa (HHS), Lauren Kamauu (KSH), Cole Kihara (WHS), Jillian Lum (KSH), Kamamalu Kotake (HHS), Raylee Mateo (STJ), Cajohn Hano Mar (KSH), Sarah Mukai (HHS), Kainalu Pakani (KSH), Zalia Olivera (STJ), Jeremiah-James Sioloa-Carvalho (HHS), Kathryn Son (HHS)
Second Team (boys and girls)
Gerwin Barcena (KEU), Janessalynn Aronce (KEU), Kaweloanu Castro (KAN), Haeli Baldwin (HHS), Jonathan Gray (CLA), Elina Bockrath (STJ), Blair Grotkin (KEU), Karly Chang (WHS), Reyn Kaneshiro (HHS), Anuhea Ferreira (HHS), Keiran McGuire (KHS), Kaitlyn Miura (WHS), Dylan Simeon (WHS), Rayne Noa (HHS), Brennan Tagawa (WHS), Hayden Pruett (KSH), Raelyn Quinajon (WHS)
Honorable mentions (boys)
CLA – Tobie Narimatsu
Hilo – Tracen Brigoli Valdez, Cody Sakanoi
KS-Hawai‘i – Isaiah Kunkle, Ethan Loo, Tayden Ryusaki
Kanu o ka Āina – Aukai Soo
Ka‘u – Donovan Kastle
Kealakehe – Folasi Auvea, Nalei Furtado, Nicholas Johnston
Kea‘au – Ohn Urushiyama
Konawaena – Kahiau Kam, Bernard Kraan
Waiakea – Shandon Koochi, Lindon Stalker
Honorable mentions (girls)
CLA – Adrianna Mukai
Connections – Jovie Flinkfelt
Hilo – Noumea Gatting, Caitlyn Inada
Kamehameha Schools – Zaynie Chow, Kenlyn-Clare Turner
Kea‘au – Celeste Douglas
Konawaena – Country Denis
St. Joseph – Olga Arianoff, Yuka Hada, Miko Kobayashi
Waiakea – Kiani Aiwohi, Ricamae Akiyama, Keanie Imaizumi, Journey Morimoto