The season will open Friday with Moanalua hosting McKinley and Leilehua at Pearl City while Aiea plays Kalaheo at Kailua Saturday.
Na Alii and the Menehunes return two of the league's top backs.
Leading Aiea is Kimo Kim, the quick and agile 5-foot-8, 155-pound senior who established himself as one of the state's most exciting game-breakers last season.
Moanalua's sparkplug is Ken Walker, a powerful 6-1, 202-pound senior who was second in Blue Conference rushing last year.
Leilehua will rely on versatile 6-1, 215-pound defender Warren Ickes to make the big plays and provide leadership.
Last year's regular-season records are in parentheses:
Kim is one of 10 Na Alii starters back on a well-rounded team.
He had more touchdowns - 13 - than anyone else in the OIA last year while rushing for 774 yards.
"We're still going to try to spread the field but we're adding a tight end," said Say. "We'll try to run more out of the two-back set."
Kenny Offerman, a 6-3, 180-pound senior is Aiea's tight end.
"We'll build our offense around Ing Aleaga (6-2, 272-pound junior lineman)," said Say.
Kevin Moriyama provides leadership in the secondary.
The Menehunes have 10 returning starters.
Walker, who also will be playing outside linebacker, was second in mr6 Ken
Walker Blue Conference rushing last season with 594 yards on 90 carries, and he scored four TDs.
At receiver, Moanalua has the OIA pole vault champion, Clint Nahina.
The Mules have 15 returning starters.
Leilehua's best athlete is Ickes, a senior who is converting from defensive end to inside linebacker.
On defense, Leilehua returns two inside linebackers and both of the tackles. At one tackle is 6-2, 280-pound Lavale Sape and the other is 6-5, 270-pound Nalu Salu.
The Mules return their whole backfield except for the quarterback. That job belongs to Joey Raquino, a 5-10, 175-pound junior.
The Mustangs' strength will be at the skill positions.
The line, which Kapele said has his confidence, is keyed by 5-8, 160-pound Kalani Poole and 6-0, 285-pound John Murry at the guard positions.
Kalaheo's most accomplished athletes are 5-11, 180-pound senior running back Jacob Espiau (who also excels at soccer and baseball) and 6-0, 152-pound senior cornerback Fred Moore, a track athlete.
The Knights, who emerged from the Blue Conference, have 12 returning starters.
Castle's receivers are the team's strength. Wideouts Chris Pagoyo and Solomon Lee, tight end Kalani Cathcart and halfback Bay Rombawa are all seniors.
Kaleo Hawn, the third leading passer in the Blue Conference last year, returns.
At place-kicker, Castle has one of the state's best in senior Kiha Sholtz. Sholtz kicked a 45-yard field goal against Kahuku in last year's OIA playoffs.
The Tigers return 12 starters.
They are strongest at the skill positions with quarterback Charlie Napulou and running back Chaune Tokunaga and Faatau Muagututia returning.
McKinley's line is beefed up by the presence of two 6-2, 275-pounders - Francisco Tipoti and Aukuso Tuiolemotu.
On defense, the Tigers have 1995 conference standout Mataitini Kapihe at nose guard.
The Chargers will pass as much as run the ball this season with Kevin Solchenberger at quarterback, Richards said.
Junior running backs Jonathan Fukumoto (5-6) and Greg Kishaba (6-0) are second-year starters.
A surprise is that Wade Taguchi, the fourth leading passer in the White Conference last season, has converted to running back.
Linebacker Duane Sherry is a third-year starter and safety Avory Abordonado is a key to the defensive backfield.