Kahuku Enters Title Round To ‘Do It For Coach Fernandez’

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The Kahuku girls water polo team takes a perfect season
into this week’s state championships: (front row, from
left) Kelsey Krebs, Minnie Whitford, Ella Aiwohi, Gina Ahue,
Rosie Jaffurs and Taniya Sifton; (back) coach Makana
Whitford, Shannon Ching, Kaneolani Wicker, Megan Smith,
Jackie Demoss, Rebecca Fonoimoana and coach Aukai
Ferguson. Photo courtesy of the team.

Two weeks ago, the Kahuku girls water polo team sent its seniors off in impressive fashion by completing an unbeaten regular season for the fifth straight year.

This week they’ll try to do the same for outgoing coach Aukai Fernandez. A fixture in water polo for more than a decade, he announced in February that he would step down at season’s end to spend more time with his wife Heidi and their multiplying family.

“I’m trying to enjoy every day for sure,” admitted Ferguson. “It is definitely going to be hard to let go. But the program will do well. It’s worth giving it up to someone like (probable successor) Makana (Whitford).”

The last stop on Ferguson’s “farewell tour” is this week’s Local Motion Girls State Water Polo Championships. Kahuku was the state runner-up the last two years, losing to Punahou (13-1) and Kamehameha (5-3), respectively. Should they make it over that final hurdle, it would be a fitting end to his tenure. The team was seeking its fifth straight Oahu Interscholastic Association title last weekend during the conference tournament. They’ve gone undefeated in the regular season nine years in a row under his watch, dating back to the late ‘90s when water polo was not yet sanctioned by the OIA.

“The first year we celebrated just being there,” Ferguson said of state tournament play. “Last year, our goal was to make it a game. This year, we have a lot of returnees who believe they can win it. That (a state title) is the goal, for sure.”

Count Kapolei’s Dexter Lee among the believers.

“It could be Aukai’s year,” said Lee. “That program is ready (to win a state title).”

As in past years, the Red Raiders have overwhelmed their opponents with a balanced attack. Heading into the OIA’s post-season tourney, Kahuku had outscored its opponents 187-40. But while it would seem on paper as if the Red Raiders might not be battle-tested after rolling up big scores, they got all they could handle in the season finale versus Kapolei. Kahuku trailed 2-0 before coming back to win 12-10. It was the closest call for the school in OIA-sanctioned competition.

“It was an epic battle,” admitted Ferguson of that April 28 game. “There was some pressure there - it was senior day, and there were about 200 people (in attendance).”

The Red Raiders also were without senior goalkeeper Ella Aiwohi, who was in Washington, D.C., on another school-related activity. It fell to freshman Amy Bangerter to step into the lineup.

“She’s mentally tough - a really smart girl,” Ferguson said. “That was a lot of pressure for a ninth-grader. She handled herself so well that afterward we gave her a game ball. We had never done that here before.”

Aiwohi is back in the fold and will get the call for Kahuku during the state tournament. Her experience could go a long way for the Red Raiders, whose forte has always been solid defense.

“Ella makes up for a lot of lapses. She covers our defense. Our defense has been the most consistent part of our game. Playing tough defense also allows you to get the early-game jitters out.”

Offensively, the Red Raiders have thrived through the years by limiting their turnovers and wearing the opposition down by constantly being on the attack.

“We’re a water polo team first, and a swim team second,” he said. “We strive for ball control. We have to control the tempo.”

Kahuku is led by Gina Ahue, the team’s leading scorer (39 goals on only 57 shots) and a seasoned supporting cast that features Noe Wicker, Rosie Jaffurs, Rebecca Fonoimoana, Shannon Ching, Taniya Sifton and Minnie Whitford. Fonoimoana and Ching are co-captains.

“We’ll rotate about eight (next week),” Ferguson said. “We have a lot of state tournament experience, and we can have balance with our inside and outside game.”

Pairings for the state tournament were to be announced over the weekend.