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MIL's most winningest coach honored by HIADA

By RODNEY S. YAP / HIsportsfolio.com

In 21 years at Maui High School, Curtis Lee won nine Maui Interscholastic League championships and four Neighbor Island Football Championships.

When he retired from coaching football in 2004, at the age of 56, he was the most tenured and winningest active coach in the state.

Lee now attends MIL games involving his grandsons at Kamehameha Maui and sits in the stands. He was honored for his work as a coach during the Hawaii Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association meeting in June. Two coaches are recognized each year. Lee was joined by longtime Saint Louis offensive coordinator Vince Passas.

Lee, a standout tailback who rushed for 631 yards in 1965, was proud of his program's monicker — "Tailback High" — for the number of tailbacks who finished as the MIL's rushing leader during his tenure. In fact, Maui High won the MIL rushing title 15 times in Lee's 21 years calling the plays.

After graduating from Maui High in 1966, Lee went on to Kansas State, where he played running back and linebacker. He transferred to the University of Hawai'i for the 1968 and 1969 seasons, playing under coach Dave Holmes.

After seven seasons as an assistant at Baldwin, Lee returned to his alma mater as head coach. In his first four seasons, the Sabers won four consecutive MIL titles. Along the way, he led the Sabers to four Neighbor Island Championship Series titles; the NICS was a postseason tournament among champions of Maui, Kaua'i and the Big Island that ran from 1986-1997.

Lee's winningest season was 2000, when the Sabers had an overall record of 10-1-1, their only blemish coming against Wai'anae in the quarterfinals of the school's only state tournament appearance. His overall career record at Maui High was 129-69-7.

Robert Kemfort was Lee's most accomplished running back and led the Sabers in rushing three consecutive seasons (1993-1995), but Andrew Malafu is the school's all-time career rushing leader with 2,380 yards. Malafu's totals came during the MIL's 10-game season when Kaahumanu Hou participated. Kemfort's career total of 2,116 yards was produced over the course of three six-game seasons. Kemfort is the only sophomore in school history to win a MIL rushing title.

Remembering Hawaii's best hurdler

By RODNEY S. YAP / HIsportsfolio.com

The former Maui High School two-sport standout Dana Navarro-Arias shows the hurdle form that helped him break two state-meet records in 1999 at War Memorial Stadium. With electronic timing in place, Navarro-Arias destroyed the field in the boys 110 high hurdles, finishing in 14.44, almost .3 seconds ahead of Kenyatta Charles of Kauai (14.73). He later broke his own state record in the 300 Intermediates, repeating as champion in 38.10. His time in the 300s nipped the 18-year-old state meet record of Pearl City's Jason Bennerman. Both marks remain in the record books today.

Navarro-Arias followed his record-breaking performance in the high hurdles with a fourth-place finish in the 100-meter dash (11.15) behind winner Shane Victorino of St. Anthony (10.80*). Two events later, Navarro-Arias ran on the Sabers winning 4 x 100 relay team. Teaming up with Matt Tanigawa, Mark Werner and Sean Bersamin in record-breaking fashion, again. The quartet was timed in 42.02, shattering the previous best mark of 42.2 set by Punahou.

In the long jump, Navarro-Arias improved his fourth-place position from the the trials (22-1 3/4) to win a silver medal with a distance of 22-2 1/2. The Sabers finished runner-up to Punahou in the boys team standings, losing by four points to the ILH powerhouse, 42-38. The Buffanblu had to win the meet's final event, the 1,600 relay, to win the meet. And again, Maui High pushed Punahou, this time the dead-even duel ended in a photo finish as a crowd of more than 3,000 stood in awe. Maui High fell short by a hiccup, 3:22.89 to 3:22.83.

Navarro-Arias single-handedly scored 20.5 points for the Sabers. Ironically, St. Anthony, fueled by Victorino's three gold medals in the sprints 100, 200 (21.54), 400 (49.27) finished one point behind Maui High with 37.

MIL athletes enjoyed its biggest and best night in track and field that Saturday in April 1999. In all, the MIL earned nine individual gold medals — setting meet marks in five events — to go with the Sabers' 400-relay victory. St. Anthony's Cassie Coffin won the girls 100 (12.32*) and 200 (25.51). Maui High's Joshua Baker won the girls pole vault (10-0*). Kaahumanu Hou's Ryan Schmidt won the boys triple jump (46-5).

Navarro-Arias was also named to the 1998 MIL All-Star Football Team as a utility player. Before graduating he was honored as Hawaii's Gatorade Track & Field Athlete of the Year and to the Nissan Hall of Honor.

Today the long-time local musician stays involved with track and field as a coach at Kamehameha Schools Maui. Navarro-Arias times in the hurdles remain meet records today, 12 years later.

Football player Kaluka Maiava of Baldwin High signs an official National Letter of Intent (NLI) from Southern California

Chow motivated Maiava's signing with postcard recruiting trick

By RODNEY S. YAP / Feb. 3, 2005

WAILUKU – It was Kaluka Maiava Day on Wednesday, and Baldwin High School rolled out the red carpet treatment for the state’s top football prospect, who signed a letter of intent to play for national champion Southern California before classmates, faculty, family and television cameras.

"It’s been really exciting for me," Maiava said. "I was happy to see my grandmother here, she was really proud of me. And my mom, too. Too bad my dad wasn’t here, but he was happy today, too. He called me about 100 times."

Southern Cal’s recruiting class has been ranked among the top three in the nation by the four major scouting services — rivals.com, Max Emfinger, Tom Lemming of ESPN.com and College Sports TV, and Allen Wallace of Super Prep and Scout.com.

"That’s just crazy," Maiava said of his fellow incoming Trojans. "I guess I’ll be playing with the best of the best."

Among the other players who committed to USC on Wednesday was another linebacker, Rey Maualuga of Eureka, Calif., who was ranked as the fifth-best recruit in the nation at any position by rivals.com. Rivals.com gave Maualuga its highest rating, five stars. Maiava and two other linebackers – Luther Brown of Lakewood, Calif. and Brian Cushing of Oradell, N.J. – got four stars. Kevin Ellison of Inglewood, Calif., received three.

"I told them I’m ready for the challenge. I don’t care who’s coming," Maiava said. "I’m happy Maualuga is coming, maybe we can get get some kind of Polynesian thing going. He’s from Waipahu originally and I think he’s Samoan."

Trojans coach Pete Carroll is excited about the incoming players.

"We’re heavily loaded on defense. With the loss of some linebackers, it was something we focused on," Carroll was quoted as saying on the school’s athletics Web site. "The linebacker class is probably what I’m most excited about and reminds me of the great class of running backs that came in with Reggie Bush, LenDale White and Chauncey Washington. They are terrific players, active, run like crazy. They’re physical and dynamic players."

Before introducing Maiava, Baldwin head coach Jimmy Morimoto also announced Wednesday that Trenson Himalaya would be playing next fall at Dixie Junior College in Utah.

"Signing with the national champions, that’s pretty amazing," said Baldwin athletic director Jon Garcia. "Especially at a program like Southern Cal, with all its prestige and history in football."

Maiava said he has been in contact with his position coach, Rocky Seto, and offensive coordinator Norm Chow, a former Hawaii resident. He expects to get a workout schedule in the next day or two.

Maiava said he liked USC, but, "I thought they looked over me."

The Trojans open the 2005 season at Hawaii.

"I think that was one of Coach Chow’s recruiting tricks," Maiava said. "He sent me a postcard and it said, ’Guess who we play?’ And on the back it said, 'Hawaii.' As soon as saw that I said, oh yeah, that’s a gift from God right there, for not recruiting me? I say, 'payback.’ "

"My eyes opened up and I said, 'We’re playing UH in the first game, back in Aloha Stadium.' I was seeing it in my head and I was getting all amped up."

Teammate and classmate Trenson Himalaya (right) watches on as Kaluka Maiava addresses the media

Many of Maiava's teammates and friends attended the signing at Baldwin's multi-purpose room

Trenson Himalaya (left) and Kaluka Maiava flank Baldwin head coach Jimmy Morimoto

Among the family members present were Maiava's mother, Kathryn (right) and grandmother

MAIAVA NAMED 2005 HAWAII FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR BY GATORADE

WAILUKU –– Maiava, a 6-foot, 215-pound three-year varsity star, was chosen for his accomplishments on and off the field, including academics and overall character. He has already committed to the University of Southern California, but plans to take his official visit this weekend.

Maiava, a first-team all-star linebacker in the Maui Interscholastic League, garnered second-team all-state honors last year. He also plays soccer and scored a hat trick in Baldwin’s 3-0 win over Seabury Hall on Saturday.

On Sunday, he scored Baldwin’s boys only goal in the Bears’ 4-1 loss to Kamehameha Oahu at Keopuolani Park.

Maiava is widely considered among Hawaii’s top prep football prospects and turned down scholarship offers from UCLA, Arizona, BYU, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and UTEP.

Gatorade recognizes a player of the year in each state and the District of Columbia for baseball, volleyball, softball, soccer, basketball and track and field.

SPORTS: Football, soccer

GPA: 3.6

HONORS: Maui Interscholastic League Defensive Player of the Year in football, MIL first-team soccer all-star

CLUBS: Chess Club, Math League, Hawaiian Club

ACTIVITIES: Boxing, Hale Makua luau crew

FAMILY: Kathy and Scott Mahoney of Wailuku

FUTURE PLANS: Studying sports medicine at the University of Southern California

SPORTS LESSONS: “Being an athlete has taught me sportsmanship, how to work as a team and that hard work pays off. Athletics can take you all over the world if you try hard enough."

~RODNEY S. YAP

EDITOR'S NOTE: It's been almost 20 years since Brandyn Akana led Molokai to the MIL championship, averaging 20 points per game and then a fifth-place finish at state, where he averaged 30.7 points per game. Now the young man is married and a father of three, and he's on Maui today, Sunday Oct. 18, as an assistant coach for the University of Hawaii basketball team.

According to Hawaii head coach Gib Arnold, the Rainbow Warriors, are going to try and play on every island, including Hoolehua, Molokai where Akana has assured his head coach that the Friendly Isle would sellout "The Barn."

Kauhaahaa comes full circle almost two decades later

Then: Former Utah Special Teams Player of the Year as a sophomore

Now: Pac-12 coach giving back to the program that once nurtured him

Chad Kauhaahaa's 1996 season stats; WAC second-team defensive lineman

Photo below, Chad Kauhaahaa, head coach for the Baldwin Bears on Nov. 29, 2003, argues with the referee on a call of a blocked Saint Louis field goal in the second quarter. EUGENE TANNER photo.

Coaching mugs: top right, Utah State, Weber State.

All-time best ever MIL soccer team

From from left, Nicole Garbin . . . and (please fill out the rest of this cutline) 

Baldwin's 2001 State Championship Team

Who are these girls? I was fortunate to have covered them during their four-year domination in the MIL and around the state. Blessed with talent up and down the roster, a young head coach named Kawika Keator did an incredible job of blending that talent and getting the girls to execute set plays off corner kicks and throw-ins. The result of Keator's hard work and the girls determination and focus were wins after wins, after wins. For example, Keator was the first coach to take his team outside of Waikiki, staying at a quiet bed and breakfast in Kailua, to avoid the trappings of the Honolulu City Lights. The strategy brought the team closer, if that was even possible, when you consider the fact that majority of the girls were teammates since their AYSO days.

I recall taking this photo, on the green carpet at Aloha Stadium, moments after the final whistle. The team is facing their proud parents, friends and classmates who are beside themselves having just witness an epic triumph. What makes the picture special are the girls smiles — collectively they have this look that makes you want to stare at the picture.

Nicole Garbin, pictured sitting front left, had plenty reasons to smile, knocking in a handful of game-winners — and not with her feet, but her head, and not standing still but running onto long passes from beyond midfield. Phenomenal skills at every position on the field, including a freshman sweeper named Koren Takeyama.

Garbin was and still is the best female athlete to ever play in the MIL — period! Voted the Female Prep Athlete of the Year by the Honolulu-Star Bulletin. Received 17 out of 19 votes for player of the year from an independent panel of soccer coaches and officials. Won 188 of 190 possible points from the panel as the No. 1 attacker in the state. Made spectacular headers for both of Baldwin’s goals in a 2-0 victory over Mililani in the 2000 state championship game and scored four goals in a quarterfinal tournament game. Four-time MIL Player of the Year, two years playing sweeper and two as a midfielder. She remains Baldwin's all-time leading scorer and added MIL Girl’s Basketball Player of the Year honors her senior season.

OK, I know all girls, the question is do you? See if you recognize the rest of Garbin's teammates. Give it a try.

~ Rodney S. Yap

   The picture above appeared on the front page of The Maui News on Monday. Nov. 6, 1978.  In celebration of the MIL championship, St. Anthony gave its students a holiday — no school!!!!

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