On Nov. 26, Waipahu High School’s football team faced the Konawaena Wildcats in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division I Football Championship. It was a tense game to observe and kept spectators on the edges of their seats. The Marauder football team was defeated as the score came to be 28–38. This allowed Konawaena High School to be named this year’s Division I football champions. 

Waipahu defensive back Aaron Dumaslan mentioned that coming to terms with the final score was more difficult than the game itself as he knew he couldn’t do anything to change it.

Fellow defensive back Keon Cabrera added that he would describe the game as challenging: “I knew this game wasn’t going to be easy. Both sides […] fought over who wants it more and who is going to put their all through the end. When I saw the final score I felt hurt, but I know that I gave it my all and my brothers [did] too.”

Wide receiver Chazen Rodillas-Vesido emphasized the overwhelming amount of support he and the rest of the team received throughout their season from family, friends, and the Waipahu community. “The support the community has given the team even when we lost was amazing. People in our community are wonderful and I am grateful for their support and also grateful for [their] taking time out of their day to support us. Knowing we had their support and a lot of people care about our team was great.”

Despite the loss, the Waipahu Marauders celebrated many achievements this season, one being winning the Division I State Championship semifinals against Iolani School 35-10 on Nov. 19. 

Previously, the team defeated Aiea High School 38-30 in the OIA Division I Championship on Oct. 29. They then beat the Kapaa Warriors 49-41 in a Nov. 11 first round game of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division I Football State Championships.

The Waipahu community is proud of the players for fighting through a challenging and lengthy football season.