Kohala Goes 12-0 in BIIF, Downs Pahoa 77-48 for Fifth Title

Kohala put together a commanding performance at the Hilo Civic, beating Pahoa 77-48 to secure its fifth straight BIIF Division II championship and close conference play unbeaten at 12-0. The Cowboys improved to 22-4 on the season and left little doubt about their island dominance.

Kohala opened a clear margin early and stretched the lead through balanced scoring and physical rebounding. Photographer Tim Wright captured Kohala freshman James Wong in the thick of the action; a photo caption reads, "Kohala freshman James Wong attacks the basket through triple coverage," underscoring the freshman’s aggressive play in the title game. Teammate Estavon Garcia Morales powered through traffic to snag critical rebounds, and Laydon Kauka rose for shots in key stretches. After the final horn, Kauka was presented the "K-5 Player of the Game" award in recognition of his performance.

The Daggers reached the final by beating Honoka‘a 78-61 in Monday’s semifinal but could not find an answer for Kohala’s pressure. Pahoa entered the island final averaging nearly 61 points per game in conference play while allowing 56.3 points per contest, yet the Daggers went 0-3 against Kohala this season. Despite the championship loss, Pahoa will advance to the state tournament; as of Thursday afternoon the official HHSAA bracket had not been released.

The island finale was part of a busy night at the Civic. Konawaena edged Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii (KSH) 57-56 in the Division I final, a back-and-forth game decided by clutch free throws by a freshman and described by observers as a thrilling one-point finish that avenged last year’s championship loss to KSH. Together, the two title games reinforced the Civic’s role as the center of island basketball and set up a competitive state postseason for Big Island teams.

For Kohala, five consecutive BIIF Division II titles and an unblemished conference slate are tangible markers of sustained program strength for players, coaches, and the wider Kohala community. The continuity of success, the black and gold’s repeated finishes atop the island, also matters to local youth sports, from increased visibility for younger players to potential boosts in community support that can affect travel budgets and fundraising for postseason play.

What comes next is postseason planning and preparation. Pahoa will head toward the state tournament, while Kohala’s players and coaches will assess matchups and recovery before any state-level assignments are confirmed. For Big Island fans, the Civic’s results signal a crowded field of contenders and another spring of island programs representing the community on the state stage.