Editorial illustration: Pearl City Local. Created with AI.

Waipahu beat Aiea 42-7 on Friday night, Nov. 6, to win the OIA Division I football championship at Pearl City High School's Edwin Bino Neves Stadium.

Both teams had already clinched berths in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Championships, so the Na Alii season rolls on.

Aiea's lone touchdown came on a 16-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Caizel Jesus-Kapesi to Keola Spruill at the pylon.

That score capped an 85-yard, nine-play drive and pulled Aiea within 8-7 with 11:54 left in the first half.

Waipahu answered with two rushing touchdowns by Arona Liaina before halftime for a 20-7 lead.

Waipahu sophomore quarterback Jake Garcia passed for 247 yards and three touchdowns, including scoring strikes of 51 and 56 yards to Jayse Braun.

The Marauders' defense held Aiea to 77 rushing yards on 23 carries.

Jesus-Kapesi finished 18-for-31 for 137 yards with two interceptions.

Waipahu built a 42-7 lead late in the third quarter, which started the 35-point mercy rule running clock.

“Last year we made it to the (OIA D-I) championship, and lost. This year, Waipahu got the dub. They wanted it more. Now we get ready for states,” Jesus-Kapesi said.

“It’s a good group of boys we have and I love them all.”

Aiea is now 8-3 heading into the state tournament, and Waipahu is 11-1.