Hawaiian Football’s U23 Squad Draws with UH Hilo Men

Jun 24

WAILUKU, MAUI — Hawaiian Football’s U23 Men’s Talent Center Selection kicked off a “first of its kind” match against the University of Hawai‘i Hilo Men’s Soccer Team last month at Vulcan Soccer Field. Maikalani Warner struck a well-placed shot from just beyond the top of the penalty area, beating Hilo goalkeeper Adam Frank. The match, which ended in a 1–1 draw, marked the conclusion of UH Hilo’s 2024–25 spring season.

Commenting on UH Hilo, Hawaiian Football President Vernon Kapua‘ala credited Men’s Head Coach Diego Marroquin for being a “valued supporter and friend of Hawaiian Football since taking the helm for the university.” For Hawaiian Football, the exhibition was an essential step in a broader journey of preparation for national and international representation in future tournaments. “Opportunities like this are exactly why we actively maintain a pool of more than 300 players,” Kapua‘ala explained. He hopes other local colleges will consider adding Hawaiian Football to their spring schedules in the near future.

The U23 Selection featured a dynamic cohort of athletes drawn from Hawaiian Football’s National Team pool—all Hawaiians actively competing at the collegiate and high school levels across the Islands. The exhibition match marked a significant step in advancing global football as a unifying force within our communities. With local talent represented on both sides of the pitch and ‘ohana gathered in the stands, events like this stand as powerful expressions of Hawaiian culture, national identity, and the growing development of football in Hawai‘i.

23 NĀ KĀNE TALENT CENTER ROSTER

First Row: Maikalani Warner—Baldwin High School, Caleb Yap-Texeira—Chaminade University, Kanilauilanamalie Tolentino-Perry—University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Kawainui Anderson—Chaminade University, Channing Oda—Hilo High School, Riley Blake—Kamehameha Schools Kapālama.

Second Row: Ian Mork—Head Coach / Technical Director, Justin Drew—Kohala High School, Royal Kekuewa—Hawai‘i Pacific University, Kayden Medeiros (K)—Chaminade University, Tyson Norr—Hawai‘i Pacific University, Kala‘iakea Duncan (K)—Chaminade University, Edward Hudcovic—Chaminade University, Masen Heu—Chaminade University, Jacob Aiona—Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i, Trent Paleka—St. Louis School.

ABOUT THE FEDERATION

Founded in 1975, Hawaiian Football (Hui Kanaka Pōwāwae) is a Maui-based nonprofit organization committed to representing Hawaiians on the global football stage. Guided by the values of pono (righteousness), aloha ‘āina (love of country), and aloha kānaka (love for humanity), the Federation’s mission is to strengthen the overall well-being and resilience of Native Hawaiians for generations through the global platform of football. Its vision is to cultivate a strong sporting nation rooted in Hawaiian national character and identity, with its teams serving as modern symbols of culture, unity, and pride.

Hawaiian Football’s National Teams—Nā ‘Ālapa Hawai‘i—provide a powerful platform for Hawaiian athletes to showcase their talents and represent the Hawaiian State with distinction. Through its programs, the Federation integrates Hawaiian language, history, and cultural education, using football as a vehicle for global engagement and the collective expression of national identity.