KAILUA-KONA — It was an emotional postgame celebration for Kealakehe’s water polo team.
Tears were shed, hugs spread throughout the players, coaches, friends and parents. Head coach Hannah Tomlinson was playfully pushed into the pool in celebration. Pure joy erupted from the Waveriders fanbase in the Kona Community Aquatic Center bleachers once the clock hit zero, as the blue and white had just beaten 91直播 Preparatory Academy 13-4 in Thursday’s BIIF semifinal. Kealakehe officially punched its ticket to today’s island championship.
Heading into the matchup, the game was considered a tossup. The ‘Riders beat Ka Makani 10-7 earlier in the season, but HPA avenged them 12-6 on April 15. It was anyone’s match, but thanks to Kealakehe’s suffocating defense and sheer will to win, the ‘Riders dominated — perhaps more than anyone thought going in.
“It feels like all of (the hard work) was worth it,” coach Tomlinson told the paper postgame. “We’ve had so many ups and downs, and it was so nice to see them come out on top. They had to stay locked in, and they did everything that they were supposed to do out there.
“They played like a team, and it showed.”
The ‘Riders had an egalitarian scoring approach in the win. Hannah White led the ‘Riders with four goals, while teammates Mele McMichael and Naomi Nikolai added three each. Sola Laliberte, Macailey Lund and Lilinoe Daniel-Barnes each scored one.
Goalie Alana Mast was excellent between the posts — securing eight saves. Kealakehe’s aggression and stamina on the defensive side forced Ka Makani into tough shot attempts and turnovers, and only Keira Brewer (3) and Rosey Wawner (1) could muster goals for HPA.
“Our goal going into hard games is to focus on our defense and let the offensive opportunities come,” Tomlinson said. “I think we play our best when we shut the other team down and tire them out. In turn, that gave us more strategy.”
But the postgame emotion wasn’t just all about the culture-changing win. The ‘Riders commemorated the veterans on the team through a unique senior-night celebration. White, Mast, McMichael, Lund and Daniel-Barnes — who fittingly all played key parts in this win — were showered with leis before each senior jumped back into the pool with a parent or sibling for their ‘final goal.’ The person who joined each honoree in the water was given goalie duties, as all five seniors took turns firing into the net.
This year’s senior celebration felt a bit different, however — especially considering how the 2026 season has gone for Kealakehe. All five players have been a part of the Waveriders’ program since their freshmen seasons, and it hasn’t been easy. In 2023, they won four games; in 2024 they won zero. Last year, Kealakehe won four games again.
But in 2026, everything changed. The Waveriders have gone 6-4 through 10 games, including matching their win total from 2025 just three weeks into the season. Kealakehe has been playing with a different edge, and the five seniors are at the forefront of that.
“These seniors made it easy for me to coach,” said Tomlinson, who is in her third season coaching the team. “They always ask for more and how they can be even better. They have built this program, and it’s given the younger girls something to follow and look up to. They’re trailblazers.”
The seniors have definitely set the tone for the season, but it’s taken a complete buy-in effort from every player. Every morning, the entire team runs a mile before swimming laps at KCAC from 6:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Once the girls are done with school, they return to the pool for two-hour practices.
In a sport where one is constantly moving their entire body, conditioning is everything in water polo. Tomlinson — who played for the ‘Riders from 2014-18 — understands the physical grind of the season better than almost anyone, and wanted to make sure the girls had the proper stamina to compete with every school on the island.
This year, the blue and white started training about a month earlier than they typically do, competing in Iolani’s off-island tournament for the first time.
“I think our grit and determination to show up really sets us apart,” the senior White said. “Morning and afternoon practices are very physically demanding, but I think we were all ready to push and achieve the goals that we set for ourselves.”
Laliberte, who is a junior, has noticed a change within the team this season, too.
“I love the determination and pride of our team,” she added. “We’ve learned and grown a lot, and we’re still building skill.”
Another factor in Kealakehe’s recent success has been team camaraderie, even with a strong mix of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. From the long bus rides to early-morning practices, the vast amount of time they’ve spent with one another has allowed the girls to create lasting friendships that will go well beyond this particular season.
“The winning has been great, but I really like how close we’ve gotten with one another — this year especially,” Mast said.
The community has also recognized a shift in the ‘Riders program, and has fully backed the team in a variety of ways. Kona Cape Dogs raised over $700 for the team through concessions. Imua Iron has hosted strength and conditioning programs for the ‘Riders to partake in. Even a local physical therapist came to talk to the girls about physical rehab techniques and taking care of their bodies.
All in all, a feeling of community surrounds this Waveriders team, and everyone recognizes it.
“The girls are really starting to see that the community cares,” Tomlinson said. “The stands are so packed this year, and these girls are feeling it and know they can do great things — the difference has been seeing everyone show up for them.”
For Tomlinson, the experience of her leading these girls has been a full-circle experience. A Waverider alum herself, she returned home to West 91直播 after graduating from UH-Manoa in 2023. Returning to her alma mater to give back to the girls of her home community has been not just fulfilling, but humbling for Tomlinson.
“The whole reason I wanted to come back to the Big Island was to give back to my community,” she said. “It’s rewarding for me because of how well they’ve done and how much they’ve improved. Looking at the way we played my first year here to now…people have said it’s night and day.
“I can’t take all the credit, because they are the ones putting in the work.”
With a big semifinal win under the belts, Kealakehe has a special opportunity in front of them. If the ‘Riders are able to beat Hilo at 11:30 a.m. in today’s championship, they will clinch their first BIIF title in program history — something Tomlinson didn’t even do as a player.
But the challenge won’t be easy, as Kealakehe is 0-2 against unbeaten Hilo this season. But both losses have been close, and the ‘Riders have been playing with even more fire since the two teams last matched up. It’ll be a game for the ages — where anything can happen.
“We have to remain present,” Tomlinson said. “We knew BIIFs would be a fight, but I think we want it more. I think if we stay on that mentality and keep everyone locked in, we will do great. We need to play our own game, no matter what is happening on the outside. You never know what can happen.”
The senior Lund agreed with much of Tomlinson’s thoughts.
“We just need to work together,” she added. “Communication is a big part of water polo, and it’ll be important to share the same mindset with everyone.”
But no matter what happens in the championship, the memories of the 2026 Kealakehe water polo season will live on throughout the program’s history. Win or lose, the ‘Riders proved they’re here to stay as contenders.
Vikings vanquish Warriors
On the other side of the BIIF water polo playoff bracket, Hilo High handled business against Kamehameha-91直播 on Thursday at KCAC, winning in a 16-6 rout to improve to 9-0 this season.
The Vikings had four different goal scorers — Terangi Moleni (4), Lilinoe Tonelli (4), Madilyn Rutan (2), Emma Iwashita (2), Noelani Moleni (2), Tess Hagan (1) and Teuila Barclay (1). Maulihiwa Weissman also recorded a save between the posts.
The Warriors were led by Aubrey Kajikawa and Koali Pu‘uoahu with two goals each, while Kaopualani Puniwai-Ganoot and Veda Lee each added one. Goalie Kaimaliaokalenakai Harbottle recorded one save.
While Hilo and Kealakehe will match up for the island title, KSH (2-7) and HPA (5-4) will play in the third-place match at 10 a.m. this morning at KCAC.
Ks Makani is 2-0 against the Warriors this season.
See the paper next week to read the results from the BIIF water polo championships.
