No. 83 Kahuku (HI) 2026 Football Preview | T25PS | Top 25 Public HSFB
Series
2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview: No. 83 Kahuku (HI)
A young defense and a demanding schedule will decide how high Kahuku can climb in 2026.
Top 25 Public HSFB8/8/20265 min read
Kahuku is not starting over in 2026, but it is asking a younger group to carry a program that expects to contend every year. The Red Raiders went 8-4 last fall, defended their OIA Open title and lost 15-12 to Campbell in the HHSAA Division I-Open semifinals.
David H. Stant Jr. now takes over, and the next version of Kahuku will be defined by how quickly its new leaders settle into bigger jobs.
Kahuku remains No. 83 because the floor is still built on physical defense, OIA experience and a schedule that offers real national tests. The ceiling depends on whether the offense finds enough playmakers around a new quarterback.
Team Snapshot
School: Kahuku High & Intermediate School
Location: Kahuku, Hawaii
League: OIA Open
2025 record: 8-4
2025 finish: HHSAA Division I-Open semifinalist
Head coach: David H. Stant Jr.
T25PS rank: No. 83
2026 Outlook
The defensive identity should arrive before the offensive answers. Junior linebacker Siale Reid and junior defensive lineman Puleivai Kaufusi are among the players moving into larger roles, and both are Class of 2028 players eligible for the 2026 season.
Teave Crawford gives the secondary a returning Class of 2027 piece, while Kahuku has more young talent along the defensive front. Reid already showed up in big moments last season, recording 8.5 tackles in the OIA Open title game and returning a punt in the state semifinal loss to Campbell.
Your team. Your state. Your T25PS.
Make the national coverage more personal.
Save your home state and favorite team, then choose whether to receive major rankings and coverage updates. The account is free.
The question is how much support the defense gets from the offense. Kahuku produced 265 total yards against Campbell, including 169 through the air, but managed 96 rushing yards and lost two of three fumbles.
The Red Raiders now have to replace their 2025 quarterback and find new playmakers who can keep the offense on schedule against a difficult slate.
That is the shape of the 2026 team: a defense with a chance to become the strength, an offense that needs new answers and a coaching transition that will be tested immediately.
Players to Know
Siale Reid: LB, Class of 2028
Reid is the central name in Kahuku’s defensive transition. The junior brings range and physicality to the second level and has already shown he can matter in high-leverage games.
Puleivai Kaufusi: DL/EDGE, Class of 2028
Kaufusi will be asked to turn a young defensive-line role into consistent disruption. His development will be important because Kahuku cannot expect the secondary to solve every problem.
Teave Crawford: DB, Class of 2027
Crawford is one of the Red Raiders’ most important returning defenders and gives the team a legitimate piece to build around in the back end.
Blake Alo: RB, Class of 2027
Alo ran 10 times for 59 yards in the Campbell semifinal and remains one of the clearest returning options for a team trying to stabilize its offense.
Aliimalu Tan: ATH, Class of 2027
Tan gives Kahuku an athletic option to move around the formation as the offense looks for a new identity.
Brandon Tailele: OL, Class of 2027
Tailele’s experience up front matters as Kahuku replaces production elsewhere and tries to create a more dependable offensive foundation.
Bodhi Kaanga: WR, Class of 2028
Kaanga is a younger receiving option who could become part of the answer if Kahuku needs more playmaking on the perimeter.
Carson Graham: DL, Class of 2028
Graham adds size and youth to the defensive front and could help Kahuku maintain its physical edge as the season moves into OIA play.
Schedule Breakdown
The schedule does not allow Kahuku a long runway. Saint Louis comes to Kahuku in the opener, followed by Waiʻanae, Kamehameha-Kapālama and Punahou.
The next stretch is the national measuring stick. Kahuku hosts Junípero Serra before traveling to St. John Bosco, giving the Red Raiders two major tests before the heart of OIA play.
Mililani, Leilehua, Kapolei, Campbell and Kailua then provide a series of games that should clarify whether Kahuku’s young core is ready for another state-title run. Campbell on Oct. 9 is especially notable because the Sabers ended Kahuku’s 2025 state run.
Complete 2026 Schedule
Aug. 8 - Saint Louis
Aug. 15 - at Waiʻanae
Aug. 22 - Kamehameha-Kapālama
Aug. 29 - Punahou
Sept. 4 - Junípero Serra (CA)
Sept. 11 - at St. John Bosco (CA)
Sept. 18 - at Mililani
Sept. 26 - Leilehua
Oct. 3 - at Kapolei
Oct. 9 - Campbell
Oct. 17 - Kailua
Biggest Question
Can the offense mature before the schedule forces it to?
Kahuku can win games with defense and field position, but that formula gets stressed by Saint Louis, Junípero Serra, St. John Bosco and Campbell. The Red Raiders need a quarterback to settle in, an offensive line to create clean downs and at least two reliable playmakers to emerge.
If those pieces arrive by OIA play, Kahuku has enough defensive talent to make a state run. If they do not, the schedule will expose the gap quickly.
Want to put your company in front of high school football audiences nationally, in Western Pennsylvania or across Georgia? Email alex@t25ps.com to discuss T25PS sponsorship and advertising opportunities with partnered brands.
T25PS Prediction
Regular season: 8-3
Postseason: HHSAA Division I-Open finalist
Kahuku has too much defensive potential and too much schedule experience to slide far, but the opener and California test create a narrow margin for error. I see the Red Raiders finishing 8-3 and returning to the state championship game.
Bottom Line
Kahuku is No. 83 because the program’s floor remains high, but the 2026 version is not built around a finished veteran roster.
Reid, Kaufusi and the young defensive front give the Red Raiders a foundation. The offense must find the rest of the team. If it does, Kahuku can turn a transition year into another serious state-title push.
Thanks for reading,
Alex | T25PS
Want to stay up to date and get notified every time we release a new team preview?
Create a FREE T25PS account, and check the newsletter box to follow the full 2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview Series, national rankings, team features and public-school football coverage from across the country.
You can also follow T25PS on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok: @Top25PublicHSFB
