KEA‘AU — The Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii football team finished 7-5 during the 2025 campaign, earning another BIIF DII Championship along the way. After a state quarterfinal victory over Pac-5, the Warriors’ journey ended in the HHSAA semis with a loss to the eventual champions, Kamehameha Schools Maui, last November.

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KEA‘AU — The Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii football team finished 7-5 during the 2025 campaign, earning another BIIF DII Championship along the way. After a state quarterfinal victory over Pac-5, the Warriors’ journey ended in the HHSAA semis with a loss to the eventual champions, Kamehameha Schools Maui, last November.

While the average fan would consider that a successful season, the KSH coaches and players wonder what could have been if their entire season wasn’t influenced by the closure of Pai‘ea Stadium for track renovations.

According to KSH head coach Kealoha Wengler, having only one home game all season was just one of the effects the field closure had on the team and coaching staff. The disruption of having to practice across campus on an open middle school field affected every aspect of the team’s preparation.

“It’s great to be back at Pai‘ea Stadium, this is where we belong,” Wengler told the paper. “It helps us with our routine, we have our meetings and workout room here, and it is just so much better now.”

In 2026, the Warriors will need all the continuity that having Pai‘ea Stadium open again will provide as they embark on their first season competing at the DI level. While the team played mostly DI competition during the BIIF regular season, when the playoffs started, the Warriors played against DII competition.

“It’s just better to be in Division I,” Wengler continued. “We face better teams, our players get more exposure and there will be more attention on what we are doing. It’s a good thing for us.”

The Warriors went on to win the 2025 BIIF DII championship in a barn burner over Honoka‘a. However, if they are to compete for the DI title in 2026, it is likely we will see a return to the recent past where KSH would play island powerhouse Konawaena three times a year to decide who would be the champion in DII.

The Warriors have a lot of returning talent to help them make the transition to DI, including offensive swiss army knife Chanse Kaaua-Long. The senior will line up primarily at half back, while also stepping into the quarterback role in short-yardage situations — where Kaaua-Long’s abilities in the run-pass-option offense make it difficult for teams to defend.

“It’s gonna take a lot of hard work, which we have been putting in all summer, to compete at that level,” Kaaua-Long said of the team’s transition to DI. “We need to start games strong and finish.”

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The other players to watch on offense include sophomore quarterback Kahikili Makekau, junior running back Dallas Enriquez and senior receiver Chaseton Wong.

Makekau, who was a part time starter at quarterback in 2025, enters his sophomore season with more confidence and a desire to become a better leader.

The Warriors defense has a lot of depth, and the coaches expect contributions from a number of key players. Junior linebackers John Sanborn and Joziah Bertelmann, along with defensive backs senior Kanoa Honda and junior Tanotoa Muskat, are just a few of the players to keep an eye on.

The Warriors kicked off the 2026 season last weekend with a preseason matchup against OIA DI foe Waianae at Pai‘ea Stadium. The matchup gave Kamehameha a chance to see how it stacked up against other DI competition.

The Warriors got off to a great start with Makekau connecting with Iokua Toci-Hookano and Wong for first-half touchdowns. Jordan Dinkle added a field goal when a long drive stalled, and the defense kept the Seariders at bay to take a 16-8 lead into the half.

Kamehameha had difficulty getting anything going in a very wet second half, and gave up 14 unanswered points to Waianae — resulting in a 22-16 loss. The Warrior players and coaches would be the first to admit that it was missed opportunities and mistakes that cost them the win. However, the performance should give KSH a good dose of confidence heading into their first year of DI competition.

The Warriors will have another chance to prepare for the upcoming BIIF season when they host Kailua at 5 p.m. Saturday at Pai‘ea Stadium. Wengler and the coaching staff are looking forward to having another opportunity to iron out the wrinkles before the BIIF regular season begins.

For more information follow Kamehameha Hawaii athletics on Instagram at @kshathletics.

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