KAILUA-KONA — Scoring Live officially released its All-Hawaii awards for the 2023-24 basketball season, and multiple Big Island Interscholastic (BIIF) players represented the isle by making the list.
Leading the boys was Division II state champion Kohala, as sophomore Layden Kauka made the All-Hawaii First Team while junior teammate Jayden Hook was named to the second team.
Kauka was also named Division II Player of the Year for his superb play throughout his team’s title defense. He improved his overall scoring from 17.1 points per game to 21.8.
“His mindset has always been to get better each and every day,” Cowboys coach Kihei Kapeliela said of Kauka.
Kauka also elevated his play in the state postseason. The guard tallied 31 points, six rebounds and six assists against Le Jardin in the first round, 24 points against Kaimuki in the semifinals and 24 against Seabury Hall in the championship game. Down three against the Trojans, Kauka was fouled on a 3-point attempt in the final minute, and then sank each free throw to force overtime. Late in the ensuing period, Kauka hit a 15-foot jumper from the wing to help seal a second consecutive state championship. He averaged 26 points per game in the tournament.
“Winning DII Player of the Year is a blessing and I am very grateful,” Kauka said. “None of this would be possible without my coaches and teammates who push me, my parents who set a great example and the support of the community. I would like to thank everyone who supported us throughout the season.”
Hook’s selection to the second team also came as no surprise. The forward averaged 11 points per night as the Cowboys’ second-leading scorer while being an elite inside presence and slasher. Hook’s impressive jumping ability allowed Kohala to grab a plethora of second-chance looks on the glass, which was critical for the gold and black due to being a smaller team. Hook also scored the last point of the Cowboys’ season — a free throw with 10 seconds left in overtime to go up 49-45 on Seabury.
“It’s a great honor,” Hook said of being selected. “I am extremely grateful and I want to be able to push myself further and achieve a higher level next year.”
Kapeliela also explained that Kauka and Hook’s presence on the floor made everyone else around them better, which was key in Kohala’s title run.
“When their teammates see (Kauka and Hook) work hard, it pushes them to work hard, too,” he said. “It brings confidence to their teammates, and when our team is playing with confidence, it’s hard to beat us.”
Kapeliela won DII Coach of the Year after leading his squad to a 22-2 overall record (12-0 BIIF) and being the second school to repeat as a state champion in Division II tournament history. Since becoming head coach in 2019, Kapeliela has a 71-7 overall record with three state championships (2020, 2023, 2024) across four seasons.
Kapeliela credited his entire coaching staff for the unforgettable season, saying that they notice “all of the little things” during games.
“I take this award as a coaching staff award,” he said. “We’re always on the same page and each decision is made together. I’d like to thank my staff — Reeve Cazimero, Robin Marquez, Paul Antonio and Elijah Antonio. Coaching staff of the year!”
Cowboy players Landon Kauka and Isaac Salvador-Libron were named to the honorable mention list. Bruce Lee (HPA), Cam Root (HPA), Mauloa Tagabi (Honoka‘a), Kukia Tagabi (Honoka‘a), Kaumualii Gancinia (Pahoa), Hunter Paio (Pahoa) and Amari Wiedemeier (St. Joseph) were the rest of the BIIF selections in the DII list.
While no Big Island players were named to the boys DI teams, Peyton Pana (Hilo), Ikena Leao (Hilo), Kawohi Huihui (KS-Hawai‘i), Kiai Yasso (KS-Hawai‘i), Estevon Morales (Kealakehe), Abraham Ogata (Konawaena) and Josiah Amuimuia (Waiakea) made the cut for honorable mentions.
Most notably in the girls division, Hawaii Preparatory Academy senior guard Brooke Samura was named Division II’s player of the year.
Samura led the state with 34.5 points per game, also totalling 51 three-pointers and a 75.8 free throw percentage. She also passed the 40-point mark six times throughout the 2023-24 season, scoring a season-high 44 points against Parker School in January.
“Brook is a generational player,” Ka Makani coach Sierra Huebert-Sanchez said. “She is a skilled shooter, an aggressive driver, crafty passer, feisty rebounder and tenacious on defense. Aside from her obvious talent, she also has one of the highest basketball IQs that I have ever witnessed.
“Having coached her for three years, I have seen first-hand how determined she is to be the best player and teammate she can be.”
Huebert-Sanchez also pointed to Samura’s tireless work ethic as part of her success, adding that she even sometimes practices with the boys varsity team to challenge herself.
But Huebert-Sanchez was most impressed by Samura’s leadership as the lone senior on HPA in 2023-24 — helping some of the more-inexperienced players develop.
“This year, we had a young team (eight freshmen, two newcomers),” she explained. “(Brooke) was both friendly and firm, and really set the tone for our team’s culture. Overall, Brooke is an outstanding basketball player and an even better human being.”
Alongside Samura, Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i senior and UH-Hilo commit Keanu Huihui was named to the All-Hawaii DII First Team. Her teammate and classmate, Maela Honma, received a spot on the second team.
A number of BIIF DII hoopers received honorable mentions, including Honoka‘a’s Rylee Velazquez, KSH’s Bayleigh Lukzen, and Pahoa’s Jaylynn Kaawaloa-Alidon.
In Division I, Waiakea High sophomore guard and forward Pua‘ena Herrington made the first team. Her teammate, senior guard Jolie Mantz received a nod on the second team, as did Konawaena High’s Tavina Harris.
Honorable mentions were earned by Konawaena’s Kaitea Galletes, Haikela Hiraishi and Kaylie Yamasaki.
