KAILUA-KONA — Hilo High’s girls water polo team needed one more goal.
The Vikings had already done the impossible — scoring three unanswered goals against Kealakehe over the final three minutes to tie Saturday’s BIIF Water Polo Championship 8-8 as the final buzzer sounded. Both teams traded goals over the next two overtimes, but Hilo’s Lilinoe Tonelli decided that enough was enough.
Triple overtime began, and the next goal would win. Within 15 seconds of the new period starting, Tonelli caught a pass near the left goalpost. With Waveriders goalie Alana Mast floating near the left side of the net, Tonelli smartly lobbed a rainbow shot over the outstretched hands of Mast, and the ball sank calmly into the right-hand corner of the goal.
The final whistle sounded, and the Hilo faithful packed in the Kona Community Aquatic Center bleachers erupted. The Vikings were officially champions.
The game-winning shot was sort of a full-circle moment for Tonelli. According to head coach Kanoe Lyons — also Tonelli’s mother — shooting lobs was all she loved to do when she first started playing the sport.
“I saw an open shot, and I really love lobbing it, so I went for it,” an excited Tonelli told the paper after the 10-9, triple-overtime win. “We just never give up and we know we can always come back. We knew it wasn’t over.”
But even Lyons had some doubts late in the match. After going up 2-0 early in the game, Kealakehe ramped up their defensive pressure and gave the Vikings fits, going up by as much as three. For most of the second half, it was all Waveriders — and as the clock kept narrowing, it looked like Kealakehe would hoist its first BIIF banner in program history.
But the Vikings had other plans.
“When I first started with this team three years ago, their mental strength was their weakest part of their game,” Lyons explained. “So to now see how much grit and strength they have to push through adversity is just amazing.
“To be honest, when we were down three points, I was ready to give (a different postgame speech) to the girls.”
Even when down big late, it’s hard to doubt the Vikings — especially after a marquee championship performance like this one. After all, their resume speaks for itself: a perfect 10-0 conference record, 115-66 scoring margin and a ticket to the HHSAA tournament as the BIIF’s top seed.
Lyons credits Hilo’s success in 2026 to their vast disposal of weapons, as their depth spans from the seniors all the way down to the freshmen, Uniquely, the Vikings have just two seniors this season.
“Everyone can be a threat,” Lyons said. “Nobody’s afraid to shoot the ball, nobody’s stuck in a specific position. They’re all willing to help and adjust.
“I think a lot of teams that we’re used to on the Big Island have one or two star players, and we can kind of pick them out in the game. What I like about our team is that we don’t put that pressure on one or two players. We’re able to stretch to 10-11 players that I can put in any role, and they’re willing to step up.”
Hilo’s complete roster consists of seniors Ryah Calicdan and Emma Iwashita, juniors Tess Hagan, Noelani Moleni, Stella Raye, Teuila Barclay and Terangi Moleni, sophomores Tonelli, Kitiara Kua, Ariana Sibayan, Harmonee Afong, Malia Kusch, Madilyn Rutan and Sativa Primacio and freshmen Joy Shaffer, Kainahe Goo, Daisy Kawaihae, Keawehiehie Alona and Maya Buckley.
With the state tournament beginning May 4, Hilo believes they have the pieces to make a run and shock the state. But both Lyons and Tonelli agreed that it will take a complete team effort.
“We’re taking the approach as if we have nothing to lose,” Lyons said. “We want to take this opportunity to go to Oahu and see how we can compete. It will be a great experience.”
“We just need to keep playing how we’ve been playing,” Tonelli added.
While Kealakehe (6-5) fell short of the island crown, the ‘Riders will still compete in the state tournament, just as a lower seed. The blue and white have had an incredible turnaround season after winning four combined games over the last two years. Kealakehe has scored BIIF-best 123 goals thus far.
Ka Makani places third, punches state ticket
91直播 Preparatory Academy clinched the last BIIF spot in the HHSAA water polo tournament after winning the third-place match Saturday at KCAC — beating Kamehameha-91直播 12-10 in overtime.
Ka Makani finished the conference season 6-4, while the Warriors’ season is officially over — finishing 2-8.
HPA’s Keira Brewer was the star of the show, scoring a game-high seven goals. Teammate Reece Lustik added two goals, while Maggie-Lyn Marti, Rosey Wawner and Victoria Lopez-Fando Monzon each logged one.
Veda Lee led KSH with four goals, while teammate Koali Pu‘uohau had three. Kaopualani Puniwai-Ganoot, Kawehi Kiko and Aubrey Kajikawa rounded out the remainder of the Warriors’ goals with one each.
The official HHSAA state tournament bracket is yet to be released. Stay tuned for the official first-round matchups.
