You know that feeling when the stadium lights start humming and the air gets just a little bit cooler? That’s Friday night in Hawaii. If you’ve been hunting for hawaii hs football scores lately, you already know the 2025 season was a total fever dream. We saw giants fall, new kings crowned, and a level of parity we haven't seen in years.
Honestly, it wasn't just about the numbers on the scoreboard. It was about how those numbers got there.
The Night Campbell Finally Broke Through
For a long time, the Open Division was a private party hosted by Kahuku and Saint Louis. Everyone else was just invited to watch. But the December 5, 2025, title game changed that forever. James Campbell High School—the Sabers from Ewa Beach—did the unthinkable.
They took down Kamehameha-Kapalama in a 26-23 overtime thriller at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.
It was absolute chaos. Campbell head coach Darren Johnson finally got to hoist that trophy after years of being "almost" there. This wasn't a fluke. They earned it by edging out Kahuku 15-12 in the semis just to get a seat at the table. If you were looking for the biggest shocker in the 2025 hawaii hs football scores, that OIA vs. ILH showdown was it.
Why the Division I Scoreboard Felt Different
If the Open Division was about a new power rising, Division I was about a long-overdue "first."
Kailua High School had never won a state football title. Not once. But on November 28, 2025, they went into Mililani’s John Kauinana Stadium and took it. They played Kapa’a—the defending champs from Kauai—and it was a defensive slugfest.
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The final? 13-9.
Kailua was trailing 9-6 late in the fourth quarter. They were pinned at their own 5-yard line. Most teams would fold there. Instead, the Surfriders marched 95 yards. Tayvin Kahele caught a 24-yard touchdown pass with about three and a half minutes left, and the east side of Oahu went absolutely wild. Keoki Cypriano sealed it with a late interception.
Seeing Hau’oli Wong, the Kailua coach, celebrate that win was something else. He started his tenure there going 0-7 years ago. Talk about a rebuild.
The Dynasty on the Valley Isle
Over in Division II, it’s basically become the Kamehameha-Maui invitational. They’ve gone back-to-back now.
They faced Waimea in the final—the same Waimea team that beat them in 2023. This time, there was no drama. KSM won 48-24. Zedekaiah Campbell was a man possessed, putting up 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
When you look at the hawaii hs football scores from the MIL (Maui Interscholastic League), it’s clear the gap is widening. KSM finished the year 11-1. Their only loss? A 31-30 heartbreaker to Punahou way back in September. They were the most consistent team in the state regardless of division.
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Standouts and Stat Stuffers
It’s impossible to talk about the scores without mentioning the kids who made them happen.
Talanoa Ili from Kahuku was named the MaxPreps Player of the Year for a reason. The USC-bound linebacker was a nightmare for offensive coordinators. He had 11 sacks on the season. Even when Kahuku lost 21-18 to national powerhouse Mater Dei in California, Ili was everywhere.
On the offensive side, Campbell’s Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele finished his career as the state's all-time passing leader. He passed Dillon Gabriel’s record. Think about that for a second. We’re talking about a kid who threw for over 10,000 yards in high school.
Breaking Down the Leagues
The OIA (Oahu Interscholastic Association) really asserted its dominance this year. Usually, the ILH (Interscholastic League of Honolulu) holds the "prestige" card, but the OIA took both the Open and Division I crowns.
Here’s a look at how the regular season win-loss totals shaped the postseason:
- Kahuku: 8-4 (OIA Open Semifinalist)
- Campbell: 9-3 (Open State Champs)
- Kailua: 12-3 (Division I State Champs)
- Kapa'a: 8-2 (Division I Runner-up)
- KS-Maui: 11-1 (Division II State Champs)
Konawaena also had a massive year in the BIIF, finishing 10-3 overall. They fell to Kailua in the state semifinals, but their 504 points scored across the season led the state. They were basically a points-scoring machine until they hit that Surfrider defense.
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What to Watch for Next
The 2026 season is going to be weird.
A lot of the "big" names like Sagapolutele and Ili are heading to the mainland for college. We’re going to see a massive shift in talent. Keep an eye on the freshman and sophomore quarterbacks who got playing time this year—names like Hunter Fujikawa at Punahou. If the Buff 'n Blue can find some stability, they might be the ones crashing the party next year.
Also, don't sleep on the KIF. Kapa'a is losing some seniors, but their program is so well-coached that they’ll likely be right back in the state final.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’re trying to stay on top of hawaii hs football scores for the upcoming 2026 season, here’s how to do it right:
- Follow the specialized sites: ScoringLive is still the gold standard for live play-by-play. They get the box scores up faster than anyone else.
- Watch the OIA vs. ILH crossover games: These usually happen in August and September. They are the best indicator of who will actually win the state title in December.
- Don't ignore the neighbor islands: As KS-Maui and Kapa'a proved, the best football in Hawaii isn't always played on Oahu.
- Track the recruiting trail: Sites like 247Sports can tell you which juniors are about to have breakout senior years.
The 2025 season showed us that history doesn't always repeat itself. Kailua waited decades. Campbell waited for the right quarterback. In the end, the scoreboard doesn't care about your school's history—it only cares about who "sells out" for those final 24 minutes.
To keep up with next season's schedule, check the official HHSAA calendar which usually drops in late spring.