Yesterday, in the Aloha State Games water polo competition at the University of Hawaii pool, Paumalu of Kahuku drove away with a van filled with medals.

North Shore players won the blue ribbon men's open championship, placed second in the 12 years mixed division, and contributed high school girls to a number of medal-winning women's teams.

''The sad part,'' said Paumalu coach Aukai Ferguson, ''is that Kahuku High School doesn't even have a swimming pool for practice.''

The water polo competition drew 11 teams in three divisions, numbering more than 150 players.

''And water polo is a sport where there's no discrimination,'' said meet official John Nielsen. ''Men and women can play equally together on teams. And best of all, neither gives the other an inch.''

In the men's final, Paumalu topped Honolulu's Rainbow-B, 8-4. At halftime the score was tied at one goal each.

''We came out slow. It wasn't until the second half that we began playing as a team,'' Ferguson said.

Among the four women teams - Wind, Fire, Rain and Earth - an effort was made for parity.

''What we didn't want was one team dominating,'' said player-coach Susan Nishioka. ''By distributing our best players among several teams, I think we achieved our goal. The most important thing was to have fun.''

Wind whipped Fire, 10-5, for the women's title, while Rain placed third. ''It was close for the first three quarters before Kehau Chang took over,'' Nishioka said.

Chang, a UH senior, scored four goals in the fourth quarter.

''Being a left-handed player seems to help. People tell me I'm difficult to guard,'' said Chang, a former Kamehameha Schools water polo standout.

Chang, along with Leilani DeJesus, Cheryl Wong and Heidi McElhaney, played on men's open teams, and each held her own.

''Let's face it,'' said McElhaney, a former U.S. National Women's Team member, ''a man has more brute strength and can outmuscle a woman. But most women can hold their own swimming, and some even play smarter (than men).''

McElhaney was a standout player on the Rainbow-A men's team that won the bronze medal.

While the adult teams were exciting enough to watch, the 12-and-under youngsters stole the show.

''The kids play wide-open water polo - the kind that's a thrill to watch,'' Ferguson said.

The Warriors from Kamehameha Schools topped Paumalu, 12-9, in a slugfest that included dunkings, errant passes, missed shots at the goal, penalties and ejections.

''Sure, the games got a little ragged at times,'' said referee David Fasi, ''but the kids and adults all played hard and appeared to have fun. I called the games close.''

Among the 12s, Paumalu placed second, while a team of Oahu Club and Rainbow Aquatics players finished third.

''Our water polo definitely met organizers' goals - participation and fun first, winning second,'' Nielsen said.