HONOLULU — It was a small moment but a telling one.
With Kamehameha trailing Punahou early in the third set of a match it had to win to stay alive in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu postseason, Warriors coach Chris Blake approached the head official and scorer’s table at Hemmeter Fieldhouse and notified them that, in fact, the Buffanblu were up an additional point.
It was corrected, and the task became slightly harder for the Warriors, who went on to fall in straight sets to the stronger host team, 25-15, 25-16, 25-18.
It was Kamehameha’s second loss in the double-elimination ILH tournament, bringing the season to an end for the two-time defending state champions – and marking the first time in 20 years of competition that the Warriors did not qualify for the state tournament.
“Whether it was in our favor or not … I’d rather it be done the right way as opposed to not being done the right way,” Blake said afterward of the score change. “That’s something we always believe in and we teach our kids that.”
Iolani and Punahou secured the ILH’s two state berths. Those two will compete for the ILH tournament title on Saturday; if Punahou wins, they will rematch, and then once more, if necessary, for the overall ILH title.
Under the meticulous Blake, who was hired in 2003, Kamehameha had never failed to not just make the state tournament, but the state final as well (not including the 2020 season that was lost to the pandemic).
Kamehameha won 11 state championships over those 20 years, including six straight from 2005 to 2010, and the two most recent editions in 2019 and 2021.
Blake expressed pride in this year’s players and wished Iolani and Punahou well in representing the ILH in states. Punahou brought an exceptional match to bear, he said, as he has come to expect from just about everybody who faces the Warriors.
“I have been fortunate to be a part of a lot of great teams and a lot of great players,” Blake said. “When you look back upon it, of course it’s disappointing to not be where we see (ourselves), but we know we’re going to get everybody’s best match, and we definitely did, against both Iolani and Punahou.”
Kamehameha last failed to qualify for states in 2001. The upcoming state tournament final will be the first without them since 2002.
After losing last year’s college-bound stars Devin Kahahawai and Maui Robins, the degree of difficulty took a leap, and the Warriors were at a clear size disadvantage to their primary league rivals.
Thursday’s match was the sixth time Kamehameha and Punahou met during ILH play. Punahou came away with a 4-2 record in those matches.
Haumea Marumoto had 13 kills and Tanea Loa 10 to help punch the state ticket for coach Tita Ahuna’s team, which steadily improved its blocking and passing over the course of the season and captured the last three meetings with Kamehameha over a span of 10 days.
Even as the Warriors stared at a double-digit deficit in Set 3 on Thursday – and had trailed 19-4 at one point in Set 2 – it was impossible to count them out. There was Blake, clapping and exhorting his team to make its comeback one point at a time. The calls of “Imua!” still rang out from the stands.
But for once, the Warriors could not find a way to avoid being the odd team out in their ultra-competitive league.
Ahuna, who coached Blake his senior year of high school and helped get him started coaching at Kamehameha, would not take the outcome for granted “until we hit 25,” she said.
She marveled at his preparation and cerebral ability to get the most out of his players year in and year out, often beyond their natural capabilities.
“I think for Kamehameha, he did a fantastic job, the 20-something years he’s been coaching,” said Ahuna, a Kamehameha alumna. “I’m so proud of him. I mean, this (defeat) cannot define Kamehameha volleyball. … I’m just so proud of that team and that program.”
Blake shook his old coach’s hand and received a lei from the Buffanblu, conducted a couple of interviews, and quietly headed out the door with his team, bound for the Kapalama Heights.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.