Kahuku Eyes Rival Kapolei For Dominance In The Water
By Jack Danilewicz
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When it comes to girls water polo, Kahuku can practically sign its own figure to the OIA checkbook, having captured all five league titles.
That kind of success might have a first-year coach on guard for a let-down, but Makana Whitford knows the pursuit of a larger goal will keep her team’s work ethic steady.
“The seniors have been playing for so long, and they’ve been playing together for so long, that they’re really motivated and focused this year,“said Whitford.“They have that goal - they want to win a state championship. The results will come if you work hard, and they’ve gotten faster and fitter. It should be fun watching them play this year.”
Kahuku,who’s made the state title game three years in a row, opened its 2008 regular season last week playing Moanalua. On Wednesday, they resume action with a game against Pearl City at 6:30 p.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Aquatic Center, with a much-anticipated matchup with Kapolei to follow on Saturday. The Hurricanes finished second to Kahuku in the OIA last season.
The Red Raiders’ preseason was one of transition as Whitford took the reins of the program from Aukai Ferguson, who stepped down after leading the program since the 1990s when it was considered a club. A former standout under Ferguson as a Kahuku player, Whitford went on to play three seasons for University of Hawaii.
“It is hard (for the girls) to switch,” said Whitford, who is assisted by former UH teammate Malia Johnson (formerly Malia Tarayao). “They’ve had Aukai for their entire water polo careers.”
As in past years, the team figures to benefit from its depth and experience. Of the 28 players on the roster, 20 also are competitive swimmers, and Whitford is their head swim coach.
Among the returnees from last year’s OIA title team are goalkeeper Ellen Aiwohi, driver Rosie Jaffurs, whole-set Taniya Sifton and all-around ace Gina Ahue. Seniors all, the foursome played big roles a year ago in Kahuku’s postseason run. The loss to Iolani in the state title game was the only blemish on the schedule as it had ended a string of 15 straight victories.
No one played a bigger role than Aiwohi, who kept the Red Raiders in the mix in that Iolani game.
“Iolani must have taken 30 shots against her,” Whitford said of her performance in last May’s state title game, which Kahuku had trailed only 6-4 at intermission before losing, 11-4. “She blocked so many goals that she was the reason they didn’t score more. Her experience is her strength. She has long arms and really good hand-eye coordination, and she wants to do her best at every moment.”
Ahue entered 2008 as one of the state’s top scorers, meanwhile, having tallied 54 goals alone during the OIA portion of last spring’s play.
“She’s a go-to person for us. At 5-(foot-)4, she’s not that big, but she always seems to get open. She’s more of our team leader in the water. She takes the initiative and makes plays.”
In addition to Ahue, Jaffurs and Sifton also bring strong leadership to the lineup. “Rosie is quick and a fast swimmer,” Whitford said of Jaffurs. “She’s our ‘surprise attack player’- she always seems to make a play out of nothing.
“You have to be tough to play the hole-set position, and Taniya is an aggressive girl,” she added.
As is the case with a lot of successful water polo programs,the Red Raiders have benefited greatly from having a roster dominated by players who had moved directly from competitive swimming in the winter to water polo in the spring.
“I’m able to put the two (sports) together, and that helps,” she admitted.“The girls have to know the game well enough to be able to play it themselves. Experience is huge for us. Our skill level is good. They’re working hard, so, hopefully, we can pull it off this year.”
Kahuku’s game against Kapolei starts at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Veteran’s Memorial Aquatic Center.
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