LAHAINA — Coming off their fourth consecutive Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II State Championship and tenth straight Maui Interscholastic League title, the Lahainaluna High School football team kicks off the 2021 campaign this Friday night, Oct. 22, as the Lunas host Maui High at Sue D. Cooley Stadium.

The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 season, and this fall has seen a series of stutter steps to navigate protocols to get back on the field. Vaccine mandates and exemptions in place have facilitated the effort, and the Friday night lights will finally shine on and Lahainaluna’s long-anticipated move up to the HHSAA D-I begins.

This move does not look to change the Lunas’ chances for success in the MIL, as they have dominated with undefeated success for ten straight years. It will, however, mark the possible rematch with traditional D-I power and Lahainaluna nemesis Iolani.

It is doubtful if any fans will be allowed to attend the opener versus the Sabers, but live-stream facilities and cameras are in place at the stadium. The link to the live-stream telecast is www.nfhsnetwork.com/support/lahainaluna-high-school.

For now, the highly anticipated opener with Maui High will be a true test of the shortened preparation efforts of both teams. Co-head Coach Dean Rickard emphasized the lack of experience will be a major factor not only for the Lunas, but for programs all across the state.

“We have ten returning seniors among the 52 student-athletes on the roster, and only five of them saw limited playing time in 2019,” he said.

“But most of them have been with us since the sixth grade with the Big Boys program, so they’re familiar with our philosophy and our system.”

Coach Dean pointed to a core group of 15 players that have been working diligently in the off-season and throughout the pandemic to set the example for the younger players, and he looks to them to lead this year’s team. The senior group includes Noah Arase, C-Jay Caguioa, Christian Clarion, Denver Duque, Shaun Kana, Koliniasi Latu, Crater Oldham, Kaelan Potter, Eelekupokeokeo Palakiko and Blare Sylva-Viela.

As always, the Lunas are not big compared to other teams across the state, and players have shown an eagerness and high energy attitude in preparing for the 2021 opener. On offense, Lahainaluna will work within their base shotgun, multi-formation schemes and packages, and operate in their traditional 3-5 hybrid scheme defensively.

Longtime Luna Co-head Coach Bobby Watson continues as defensive coordinator, joined by Mike Arakawa, Clifford Corniel and Kenui Watson with the defense. Co-head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Rickard is aided by Randy Arakawa, Jeff Kihune, Kekoa Mowat and Joey Tihada.

The prospects for a junior varsity MIL season look doubtful. In the meantime, the JV staff continues to work with the varsity. That staff includes Head Coach Aloha Kaniho, James Hapakuka, Darren Kawahara, Dal Magno, Connor Mowat, Nolle Smith and Jaysen Cabanilla.

Coach Dean concluded in saying, “So it’s business as usual, and we’ll be the same Lahainaluna team you’ve seen over the past several years. The main message we stress with our players is that the team that executes better and commits the fewest mistakes will definitely increase its chance to be successful, and this is what we concentrate on every day in practice.”