Kealakehe lineman Lino
commits to Southern Utah
Kealakehe lineman Hinano Lino orally committed to Southern Utah, a Division I-AA school, on Monday.
Lino helped the Waveriders to an 8-0 record in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, but the squad eventually lost to Hilo in the league's Division I championship game.
A three-year starter, the 6-foot-1, 275-pound Lino is being projected as a center or guard for the Thunderbirds, according to Kealakehe coach Sam Papali'i.
"He's a hard worker, a good student, very well-rounded," Papali'i said. "He's developed his technique the past few years at the Brian Derby lineman camp and camps at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University. That's where the Southern Utah coaches saw him."
A two-time BIIF all-star, Lino is the son of former Waiakea football coach Tim Lino, who was in the running for the Saint Louis coaching job last summer.
The Thunderbirds are also highly interested in Waveriders cornerback and wide receiver Jared Ursua, according to Papali'i.
Kealakehe quarterback Michael Kaniho and running back Thomas Kamoku are among the team's other Division I college recruits, Papali'i said.
Coach thrilled about bowl: Kahuku football coach Siuaki Livai was ecstatic about the reception the Hawaii team got on its recent trip to American Samoa.
Livai and several other coaches and chaperones took a group of 26 players of Samoan ancestry to the island to play in Samoa Bowl I on New Year's Day.
The Hawaii group witnessed the wrath of Tropical Cyclone Heta, which hit Jan. 4.
"The hotel where we were at was solid," Livai said.
"So we were fine, but the people (residents) were hurting, with houses blown apart and trees being pulled out by their roots."
In the bowl game, Hawaii lost to a Samoan all-star team 13-12.
"Our kick after the first touchdown hit the goalpost," said Livai, who led Kahuku to a 27-26 state Division I championship game win over Saint Louis in November.
"After our second touchdown, we tried a two-point pass to (Kahuku safety) Afa Garrigan, but it went off his fingertips.
"But it was about more than the outcome," added Livai. "We were treated like kings. It was a great experience for everybody and it looks very much like we can continue these goodwill trips in the future. Everybody in Samoa was all excited that we were there."
Jan. 5, the day after the cyclone hit, was fast-food day for the Hawaii contingent.
"Most places were closed, but we ate breakfast at McDonald's, lunch at Kentucky Fried Chicken and dinner at Pizza Hut," Livai said.
Kahuku's Toriano Taulogo nearly turned the outcome of the Jan. 1 game around by returning a punt 75 yards for a touchdown to make it 13-12.
It was Taulogo's 62-yard return that set up Darren Magalogo's winning 3-yard TD run in the final seconds of the state championship victory over the Crusaders.
Papali'i, the Kealakehe coach, is one of Hawaii's coaches in Samoa, and thinks many more Hawaii athletes of Samoan ancestry will sign up to play next year.
"Those American Samoa players can really hit ... and they're quick," he said. "But it was a game that we could have won."
Knights on a roll: Three Castle varsity squads are undefeated this winter --the boys soccer team (6-0), the girls soccer team (7-0) and the basketball team (3-0).
Hawaii School Web Sites