RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada is a jack of all trades for the Kapolei football team. The senior standout has played every skill position for the Hurricanes this season, and he leads them into the Division II state championships tomorrow against Damien at Aiea High School.
Never out of position
Kaheaku-Enhada does it all
for the Kapolei Hurricanes
YOU won't find the drop kick anywhere in the Kapolei play book, but it isn't because the Hurricanes don't have someone who could fill the role. If the Hurricanes asked him to perform this outdated skill, Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada would comply.
First Hawaiian Bank
State Football
ChampionshipsDivision I
Quarterfinals
Tomorrow
Kauai (5-3) vs. Kahuku (11-0), at Aloha Stadium, 5 p.m.
Farrington (6-4-1) vs. Hilo (8-2), at Keaau High School, 7:30 p.m.
Kailua (8-2-1) vs. Baldwin (9-1), at War Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Mililani (9-2) vs. Saint Louis (7-1), at Aloha Stadium, 8 p.m.
Semifinals
Nov. 28
Kauai/Kahuku winner vs. Hilo/Farrington winner, at Aloha Stadium, 5 p.m.
Kailua/Baldwin winner vs. Mililani/Saint Louis winner, at Aloha Stadium, 8 p.m.
Championship
Dec. 5
Semifinal winners, at Aloha Stadium, 8 p.m.
Division II
First round
Tomorrow
Damien (3-5) vs. Kapolei (9-1), at Aiea High School, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Hawaii Prep (7-4) vs. Lahainaluna (1-7-1), at War Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Nov. 28
Damien/Kapolei winner vs. Waimea (6-2), at Vidinha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Hawaii Prep/Lahainaluna winner vs. Aiea (8-2), site TBD, 7:30 p.m.
Championship
Dec. 5
Semifinal winners, at Aloha Stadium, 5 p.m.
The Kapolei senior has played every skill position, most notably, quarterback, a duty shared with junior Jon Medeiros.
"He can kick, punt, return punts, return kicks -- he can do it all," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "He's always in the game."
And always a concern for opponents. Tomorrow, Kaheaku-Enhada and his teammates meet Damien at Aiea High School in the first round of the First Hawaiian Bank Division II State Football Championships. The winner advances to the semifinals and a date with Waimea the following Friday on Kauai.
But the Hurricanes' greater chore this week, in addition to zeroing in on Damien's tendencies, is to regain the mental edge they enjoyed in winning their first nine games. For the first time all season, Kapolei finds itself trying to come back from defeat after last Friday's 22-15 loss to Aiea in the Oahu Interscholastic Association White championship game.
"This loss was hard," admitted Kaheaku-Enhada, who scored all 15 of the Hurricanes' points last Friday. "It was a long two days. But you learn more from a loss. You look at your mistakes and get better from them. Our team hates losing. It was a shock to us. We have to regroup and get back to playing the way we played before."
How the Kapolei offense fares against the Damien defense is a match-up that figures to go a long way in deciding the outcome of tomorrow night's game. The Hurricanes' offense has scored more than 30 points in seven of its ten games this season and has been able to keep defenses off balance by offering different looks depending on which quarterback is in the game. Of the two, Medeiros is known more as the passer. His "emergence" has been one of the keys to the Hurricanes' success this season, according to Hernandez.
"Jon has done real well," he said. "We're proud of him, too."
Kaheaku-Enhada, while also a skilled passer, excels at running the option and scored on all three of his carries in a game against Kalaheo a couple of weeks ago. When Medeiros is at the helm, Kaheaku-Enhada plays receiver, making the Hurricanes all the more dangerous. The Hurricanes also feature Brandon Pieper, who has been a consistent performer at wideout this season.
Although a natural on the football field, Kaheaku-Enhada seemed destined to be a basketball player while younger. He has 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash and is 6-feet-1, 180 pounds.
"I always wanted to play football, but my parents said it was too dangerous," he said. "My mom (Dellas Alexander) was into basketball. I played basketball and baseball. When I got into high school, they gave me the OK."
"I was a wide receiver and free safety, and then sophomore year, my coach (Hernandez) challenged me to run his option, so I took it (quarterback) up," he continued. "As soon as I started to play, I knew this was what I wanted to do. It was fun. I love the challenge of it. I love challenges. I'll play wherever coach puts me and make the best out of it."
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kaheaku-Enhada splits time at quarterback with junior Jon Medeiros. When Medeiros is at the helm, Kaheaku-Enhada lines up at wide receiver. "He can kick, punt, return punts, return kicks -- he can do it all," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "He's always in the game."
Said Hernandez: "He has it all -- a great arm, speed, a lot of ability. He's smart, he's mobile, he makes good decisions, and he's able to read defenses properly. He's a good team leader ... everything you'd want in a quarterback."
Off the field, Kaheaku-Enhada is also a good student, with grades to get into the school of his choice. Several schools are courting him, some as a quarterback, others as a safety and wide receiver. Among those recruiting him as a quarterback is Navy, which is coached by former UH assistant Paul Johnson. Kaheaku-Enhada's uncle and role model, Adrian Kaheaku, is in the Navy. Kaipo-Noa will make an official visit sometime in January.
"I'm leaning toward engineering," Kaheaku-Enhada said. "It depends on the school. It really doesn't matter where I play, as long as I get to play."
"He was probably going to join the military anyway," Hernandez added. "Now he has a chance to possibly be a commissioned officer, get an education and play football."
Some of Kaheaku-Enhada's leadership abilities have been formed at home. He is the oldest of seven children. Kaipo-Noa's younger brother Kainoa starts at free safety for the Hurricanes.
Far from being spurred on by sibling rivalry, the pair have always been close.
"We've always been supportive of each other," he said. "He' always there for me, and I've always been there for him."
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
When Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada isn't running the Kapolei offense as an option quarterback, he lines up at wide receiver.
