Punahou, Kamehameha reach HHSAA boys volleyball championship

Kamehameha has one last chance to slay the dragon.

Ten-time defending boys volleyball state champion Punahou and the challenger from Kapalama reached the final of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Division I championships by dispatching the best the Oahu Interscholastic Association had to offer in Friday’s semifinals at Hemmeter Fieldhouse.

The Warriors and star Kainoa Wade resolved to be back at this stage after their heartbreaker of a reverse sweep loss to the Buffanblu in last year’s final at Cannon Activities Center on the North Shore.

They accomplished that part of their mission by defeating OIA champion Moanalua in four, 25-11, 26-28, 25-20, 25-19, behind 36 kills on 60 swings from the University of Hawaii commit Wade, a junior who plans to graduate early and play college ball next spring.

Punahou (15-0) won all four meetings with Kamehameha (13-5) in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular season and playoffs. Rick Tune’s Buffanblu eased past OIA runner-up Mililani, 25-17, 25-19, 25-19, with a typically balanced effort. Adam Haidar and Brody Badham put down 10 kills and Evan Porter and Afatia Thompson had nine.

Buffanblu setter Nalu Akana had 29 assists, 11 digs, an ace and three blocks.

Saturday’s 7 p.m. final at the Blaisdell Arena will be a true contrast in styles between the Buffanblu’s well-rounded, well-oiled machine with threats all across the net, and the Warriors’ dependence on the 6-foot-8 opposite Wade, who can string together kills like no other player in this generation of Hawaii high school volleyball.

It appeared 2023 was the Warriors’ year after they won the ILH, only to have the dynastic Buffanblu stun them at the finish line. Can the reverse be true this time?

“It’s a dream come true (being back) after losing that ‘ship last year, we just wanted to play for each other and bring it back one last year for our seniors,” Warriors libero Harryzen Soares, who had five digs against Moanalua, told Spectrum News.

The passionate Soares bleached his hair blond to show his dedication for the state tournament.

“Just to take them back after losing to them in ILH champions, and (them) winning all year, it’s a great motivation for us. We kind of like it,” he said. “We have one last game against them, and this game is what really matters. We’re going to take it like full throttle, empty the tank, all gone.”

For the 5 p.m. Division II final, a first-time champion is guaranteed between ILH schools University Lab (13-0) and Le Jardin (9-6).

The Junior Bows swept past Molokai in Friday’s semifinal at Kalani, while the Bulldogs eliminated Konawaena in five.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.