Punahou football
players disciplinedSeveral of the Buffanblu
will likely miss Friday's game
after breaking team rules
Punahou is going to be without a number of players for its upcoming nonleague football game against rival Iolani this week.
Buffanblu athletic director Tom Holden and football coach Kale Ane confirmed yesterday that some players broke team rules while on a neighbor-island trip to play Kauai High School on Aug. 29.
Holden and Ane didn't specify which team rules were broken or how many players were involved, but several sources close to the situation said about a dozen players were caught drinking alcohol at the Kauai Marriott.
Ane held a team meeting yesterday to discuss the incident and to levy punishment. He wouldn't verify the severity of the penalties, but it's likely the players will sit out one game and possibly several more.
The Punahou administration is expected to finish up an investigation this week and could hand out further sanctions such as suspension or expulsion. Ane, however, doubted that any of the players would be expelled.
"We have a large team of 81 players and the (players being disciplined) is not a large group," Ane said. "But more than one is a lot to me. They're from a cross-section of the team (starters and substitutes, offense and defense, upperclassmen and underclassmen).
"Some kids made poor choices and I feel for the families involved. It's a sensitive and emotional issue."
One source said that some of the Punahou players smoked marijuana, but Ane said that accusation is untrue. The coach didn't deny that marijuana was at the scene of the incident. Other sources said some residents of Kauai were also there and involved in the partying.
Punahou's problems at the Kauai Marriott didn't mushroom into troubles with the law.
No unusual reports involving Punahou players were reported to the hotel, according to head of security Kapena Kinimaka. Kauai Chief of Police George Freitas didn't hear of any trouble, either.
"Hopefully, this will be a learning experience," Ane said. "The kids can learn that they made a mistake and that there are consequences."
Holden is comfortable with the way the school is handling the problem.
"I believe the students will learn, grow and mature and that whatever punishment is decided will be appropriate," he said.
Ane hopes the players will also learn that their decision affects the players who abided by team rules.
"Now (the other players) have to step up and really be prepared," he said.
Punahou (1-1) hosts Iolani (2-1) at 3:30 p.m. Friday in a game that doesn't count in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu standings. The teams meet in an ILH encounter Oct. 17 at Iolani.
