On Saturday, May 16, 2026, Moanalua High School made history as they won three HHSAA Division I state titles in one night. The victors included the Boys Volleyball team, Girls Flag Football team, and finally, the Boys Track and Field team. The following Monday, on May 18, 2026, Principal Martin called a special assembly to congratulate the teams, allowing each captain a chance to express their gratitude to their teams, athletic directors, coaches, and more. It was an opportunity for the school to recognize the hard work and dedication of these student athletes, with the gymnasium filled with pride, school spirit, and joy.
Beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Moanalua’s Boys Volleyball team faced Punahou in a final match to capture the HHSAA Division I Boys Volleyball State Championship. Held at Pearl City High School, the game consisted of five sets, with Moanalua scoring 14-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-19, and 15-13, resulting in a winning score of 3-2 for Na Menehune. To say the victory was monumental would be an understatement; it was the first time Moanalua had won the boys volleyball state title in history and also the first win by an OIA school since 1979, when Roosevelt was crowned champion.
Just an hour later at 7:00 p.m., Moanalua’s Girls Flag Football team rallied against Mililani in a race to claim the HHSAA Division I Girls Flag Football State Championship. The game took place at Mililani High School, with Mililani scoring six points in the first quarter, then a draw for quarters two and three, and finally, Moanalua scoring a whopping 13 points in the final quarter. Quarterback Breidi-Ann Higa shares her experience during the game. “The last couple of seconds, Millilani was running, and Styralynn saved us by pulling a flag. Then we won it.” This boost of energy secured Moanalua’s spot as state champions, making history as the second-ever victors of the program, which kicked off in the spring of 2025. This win was triumphant, especially considering the many adversities this season’s team faced. Briedi-Ann Higa shares her thoughts reflecting this season. “The most crucial adversity we faced was losing the OIAs, it hurt us a lot. But we didn’t let that stop us and end our story there. We pushed through as a team and used our loss as motivation. The team worked together and fought through it to win states together.” The team’s win highlights the values and teamwork our Menes represent on and off the field; these girls really highlighted what it means to be a Moanalua High School student athlete.
Kicking off Saturday morning and running late into the evening was the 2026 Island Movers Track and Field State Championships meet, held at Kamehameha Schools’ Kapālama Campus. The meet consisted of a diverse range of events, testing skills such as sprinting, distance running, jumping, throwing, and more. These events took place over the course of those two days, allowing girls and boys from across Hawai’i to put themselves out there and leave everything on the track. “Once the meet started, you could feel the energy from the team and everyone was supporting each other throughout the day,” recalled long and triple jump athlete Elijah Taylor (12). After a long meet filled with hard work and high spirits, Moanalua’s Boys Track and Field team claimed their state title for the second year in a row with a final score of 87 points. The second-place winner was Baldwin High School with a score of 54 points, followed by Mililani High School with 46.5 points. Taylor states that this back-to-back win “felt amazing,” adding, “It really shows how much work the team has put in and how dedicated everybody has been all season.”
These wins aren’t just titles; they’re the culmination of months of hard work, dedication, and training. These student athletes have spent this time not only honing their skills, but also balancing homework, social lives, work, and even more. This is no small feat—it’s truly impressive, and it’s important to acknowledge all of the effort and resilience that allowed them to claim these victories. With these state titles under their belt, it’s only a matter of time before Moanalua dominates the brackets once again.
