The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Red Raiders and Crusaders are the only teams to win a Hawaii Open state title since their inception in 2016.

“It’s a renewed old rivalry,” Kahuku head coach Sterling Carvalho said Monday. “Everyone wants to see private vs. public, city vs. country, Kahuku vs. Saint Louis. There will be a great game on Friday evening.

“When we train in the off-season, it’s always for this moment. The path we have taken this year is perhaps a little different than previous years. The losses were somewhat greater and the adversity even greater. But to be back here in this place and play in the championship game just shows resilience and the way you overcome adversity.

First-year Saint Louis head coach Tupu Alualu has led the Crusaders back to the state championship game after a two-year absence from the state tournament. As a former Saint Louis running back, he is well aware of the significance of Friday night’s match.

“I am very happy to be here as a UH graduate. When we were here it was Cooke Field. It’s beautiful. But I’m here on business. I’m here to take care of business,” Alualu said. “Whatever atmosphere they give us, they will give us. I will continue to focus on what we do in all three phases in relation to our situation and our game. We’re here to play.”

The Red Raiders were recently informed that they will be without standout linebacker Fale Atuaia, who was ejected for targeting during the team’s 8-6 semifinal win over Mililani. According to HHSAA rules, a player who is ejected for targeting also misses the following game.

“The preparation was great, but let’s not hide the fact that we are a little sad about what happened with the suspension of our player,” Carvalho said, pointing out that the call-up of a Mililani player in 2023 was timely was successful in the state championship game. “The same thing that happened last year, this player was allowed to play compared to our player this year with the same complaints and allegations that were dismissed last year, to now perpetuate it against our player this year. “It will not distract us , but we are very saddened by the HHSAA’s decision to uphold this decision. We will fight it and our community will continue to fight it because it is not pono. We want transparency, we want consistency, we want fairness.

“Our preparation will be to go out to win, but we are sad for one of our teammates because every player is important to our family as a team.”

With or without Atuaia, Carvalho knows the team on the other sideline will be eager to end their program’s title streak. It’s the same position Kahuku was in when the Red Raiders beat Saint Louis in the 2021 title game.

“Three years ago we wanted to play against him, right? We wanted to play against the reigning state champions. Saint Louis probably has the same attitude,” Carvalho said. “They want to beat the reigning state champions. We understand the magnitude of this game and the importance it has on both sides of the ball. They have their game plan, we have our game plan. It’s about making it happen on Friday night.”

After serving as an assistant coach at Saint Louis for over a decade, Alualu brings the Crusaders back to the championship game in his first year, securing the team’s most recent ILH title. But as he reiterated Monday, his team isn’t satisfied with just reaching the state finals.

“You don’t think back until you’re done with the season,” Alualu said. “We are happy to be here, but we are not just happy to be here. We’ll be ready to go. Let’s go.”