A “Soaring with Pride” micro-film capturing the sounds, sights and spirit of our Hawai‘i public schools.

Situated a touchdown’s throw from the blue Pacific, Wai‘anae High School’s Raymond Torii Field was ranked the third-best prep football field in the nation in USA Today’s 2019 poll — and that was before the stadium’s $6 million renovation was completed in 2025.

Anchored squarely along the meandering, rugged shoreline joining mauka to makai, the field is where the Coast, school and proud football tradition meld together. “If you live on the Coast, you go to school on the Coast,” Principal Bandy Yagi said. 

Established in 1957, the school has graduated generations of Westsiders. The sense of place grounds students in the rich history, legacy and stories of Ka Moku o Wai‘anae. 

“While I was coaching, these young kids, all they wanted to do was put on that Waiʻanae uniform,” Kendall Maeda, vice principal of Waiʻanae High and former Waiʻanae football coach said. “They looked forward to the day when they’re in ninth grade, to play football for Coach Larry Ginoza,” he added, referring to the legendary coach and namesake of the school athletic complex, who passed away in June at the age of 89. 

The Seariders were state football champions in 1973 and again with back-to-back titles in 1977 and 1978.

The Waiʻanae football program is a community builder. “We try to instill in our student-athletes from day one — to be proud of their school. They represent their families as well as the community,” Kekoa Kaluhiokalani, athletic director, said. 

“Pride, discipline, tradition and the ‘next man up’ mentality, I use that in my everyday life,” Daniel Peterson, a Waiʻanae High and football alumnus, Searider Football Boosters president and Westside business owner said. 

“The boosters are like a bridge for the community and the school. Unfortunately, a lot of our kids on this side can’t even afford cleats. So we make sure they all get the same shoes so nobody stands out. That’s a big part of our tradition: everybody looks the same, everybody plays the same, has the same discipline.

“It’s a proven fact: when Wai‘anae football is doing good, the community is doing good. That’s one thing about our community, they come out and they support no matter what,” Peterson said. 

“A lot of people can stereotype and label us as bad people, but on the football field, it’s just another way to show them and prove them wrong,” Titan Kia Cox Bongo, a defensive lineman, said. “Waiʻanae football brings so much positivity to this community.”

Home football games draw vibrant crowds of family, community and supporters looking to connect under bright Friday night lights and a shared Coast culture. 

“Grandpas, grandmas, keiki, moms, dads, aunties and uncles. You know, a lot of them scream for their personal family members, but again, it’s community pride. There are a lot of families that have nobody in their family playing anymore. They’re cheering for the whole team,” Richard Des Forge, a football alumnus and parent, said.  

“Not every time it’s going to be a win, but the community comes together to support the young men that are out there battling to become the next story of Waiʻanae history football.”

I mua, Team Wai‘anae!