Kulanihakoi plans to play eight-player MIL football in fall
KIHEI — Kulanihako’i High School athletic director Rachael Blair announced that the second-year school will join the Maui Interscholastic League eight-player ranks in the fall.
The plan is the start of a path to the regulation 11-player game in the future. The $245 million Department of Education school hopes to add a gymnasium soon and a football stadium in a future phase, both to be on-campus facilities.
Blair’s announcement of the plan to start at the eight-player level, which came as an email to The Maui News and subsequent interview on Tuesday, has been a long time in coming.
For the first season, at least, the Manta Rays plan to practice the sport at an on-campus field next to its outdoor basketball court and it will play games at Seabury Hall’s field adjacent to the Erdman Athletic Center in Olinda.
“After months of planning, preparation, and anticipation to ensure that all necessary safety measures are in place, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the football program at Kūlanihāko;i High School,” Blair said in her email. “We couldn’t be more excited to bring this new opportunity for our student-athletes to excel both on and off the field.
“We believe that it will not only enhance our athletic program but also contribute to the overall development of our students.
I am looking forward to working with our students, coaches, faculty and community in laying the foundation for something truly special.”
The school is now accepting applications for head football coach
“We are currently seeking a head football coach who prioritizes education-based athletics and values the overall development of student athletes both on and off the field,” Blair said.
Interested applicants should email their resumes to Blair at rachael.blair@k12.hi.us Deadline for applicants is May 8.
The Manta Raya will be joining the MIL eight-player ranks that included Molokai, Seabury Hall, Lanai and Hana in 2023. Molokai, the seven-time defending champions in the eight-player league, is moving to the 11-player ranks in the fall.
“Football has the power to bring people together, instill discipline and teamwork, and will create lasting memories for our student-athletes and our Kihei community,” Blair said. “We will be joining the 8 man MIL schedule including Lanai, Seabury and Hana and working with the County of Maui for temporary practice and competition space as we await the exciting future phases of our athletic complex.”
Blair said the dream of football games on the mauka side of Piilani Highway in an on-campus stadium is now on its path to possible fruition.
Making sure that all the necessary logistics were in place — safe practice space, a fully-functional athletic trainers room, ice machine, among other things — had to be in place before comitting to the sport.
“Yes, that’s the big goal and that’s the dream for the community of Kihei to have a place to come together and celebrate a sport like football,” Blair said. “That is in the works to have a beautiful stateof-the-art sports complex that will include a football stadium.
“That is in the future is in a future phase, but our goal in the meantime to work to becoming an 11man program. And we’;re hoping to do that sooner than later.”
Blair said the school’s fall sports lineup will include girls volleyball, air riflery, cross country and cheerleading.
Matt Ruiz will head the girls volleyball team and be assisted by Lauren Vander Veen, who played NCAA Division 1 volleyball at the University of Massachusetts. Cross country head coach Sage Sarchet will return for his second season with the Manta Rays.
The school has head coaches in place for the following sports for the 2024-25 academic year: Shawn Donohue, varsity boys and girls swimming and girls water polo; Michelle Baysa, girls basketball; Ollie Myrick, boys basketball; Kehau King and Charlie Fleck, boys and girls paddling; Zach Kuykendall, boys and girls golf; Kelly Potts and Ryan Jung, boys and girls surfing.
Blair said that baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, wrestling, bowling, judo, tennis, and boys volleyball will also be offered
Blair is also seeking head coaching applications for air riflery and cheerleading for the fall season. Deadline to apply is May 10.