Makana Whitford Takes Up Family Water Polo Tradition
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usAs a player at Kahuku, and later at the University of Hawaii, Makana Whitford played water polo with a steady sense of urgency. And as Kahuku’s newly installed girls water polo coach, she expects to compete with the same mind-set.
“I love pressure; I’m used to it,” said Whitford, who took over the Red Raider program from Aukai Ferguson, who stepped down to spend more time with his growing family. “When I was playing,” she added with a laugh, “my dad (Kahuku athletic director Joe Whitford) used to yell at me all the time to out-perform the boys.”
Often she did just that. She also outplayed her share of the girls along the way, eventually earning her way to UH, where she played Division I water polo for three seasons. Whitford’s newest challenge is to maintain the standard of excellence set by Ferguson, her coach at Kahuku while a freshman and sophomore - no small task, considering the Red Raiders have never lost an Oahu Interscholastic Association encounter in either the regular or postseason in the five years water polo has been a sanctioned sport.
“We have the resources to win. If the kids have the desire to win, then we’ll be all right. I like passing on the knowledge and skills I learned from my own coaches. It’s fun to see kids reach their potential and have fun.”
Whitford takes over a veteran team with two of the state’s top players in Ella Aiwohi and Gina Ahue.
“Ella is awesome - I’m hoping she can play in college,” Whitford said of Aiwohi, a senior goalkeeper.“And as long as Gina has the ball in her hands, she’s going to score.
“There’s a lot of pressure right now, because these girls are really experienced and they want to win a state championship.”
The Red Raiders have made the state title game three of the four years since the state tournament was created, although they have finished as runner-up in each. Whitford credited high turnouts for water polo as a big reason for the program’s past success. Depth has always been a strength.
“One of Aukai’s main philosophies was to have as many kids as possible out for the team. It was a way of giving kids something positive to do after school. Hopefully, I can instill that, too.”
It has long been considered a bonus for a water polo coach to also hold the position of head swim coach.With that in mind,Whitford also accepted the job of both boys and girls swim coach at Kahuku. The Red Raiders are currently in swimming season.
“It’s good. I can make sure that they’re getting into condition for water polo.You have to be in shape. That’s one of the main reasons they lost the state championship game last year, I think, because they weren’t in ‘swimming condition.’ It was only 6-5 (Iolani over Kahuku) at the half, and Iolani ended up winning because they’re swimmers.
“We’re the only school that doesn’t have year-round swimmers - our kids are surfers,” she added, “but they do a good job (in water polo) for not having a lot (of year-round swimmers).”
For Whitford, taking over the girls water polo program will also mean an opportunity to coach her younger sister, Minnie, who is a sophomore.
“It has its pluses,” laughed Makana. “We have a bond - my sisters are away at college, and she and I are the only two girls still living at home. It’s easier to coach her (than the others) because I can yell at her.”
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