What a year King Kekaulike had. In February, Na Alii advanced all the way to The Queen’s Medical Center/HHSAA Girls Soccer State Championships finale.
They lost in the title game to Kamehameha 1-0, but it was the farthest the Maui school had gotten in its history.
Junior midfielder Teani Arakawa was the major spark plug of the squad, and on Wednesday, she was named the Gatorade Hawaii Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
The award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character.
The 5-foot-1 Arakawa scored 18 goals with 13 assists for coach Gundi Dancil’s Na Alii squad (11-1-1). She was a Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State first-team selection, barely missing out to the Warriors’ Kalia Kalua for player of the year honors.
According to a Gatorade release, Arakawa has a 3.94 grade-point average and has volunteered in a stadium beautification effort as well as other projects at Makawao Elementary School and Waipoli Hyrdoponic Greens farm.
“Teani Arakawa is a very skilled player with a great understanding of the game,” Lahainaluna coach Sky Delaney said in the release. “She is fearless and tenacious. She’ll battle for every ball and make the right decision in compressed areas, with two or three players pressuring her. Any team would be very lucky to have her.” Gatorade Hawaii players of the year
>> 2020: Teani Arakawa, King Kekaulike
>> 2019: Sunshine Fontes, Pearl City
>> 2018: Kaile Halvorsen, Kaiser
>> 2017: Emi Higgins, Hawaii Prep
>> 2016: Sunshine Fontes, Pearl City
>> 2015: Kristen Hori, ‘Iolani
>> 2014: Kani Halushka, Kamehameha >> 2013: Jill Shimabuku, ‘Iolani
>> 2012: Carly Neal, Kamehameha
>> 2011: Caprice Dydasco, Kamehameha
>> 2010: Mari Miyashiro, Mililani
>> 2009: Jayann Gabrio, Punahou
>> 2008: Tani Costa, Kalani
>> 2007: Mari Punzal, Kamehameha
>> 2006: Markee Nobriga, Kamehameha
>> 2005: Kelsey Baker, Punahou
>> 2004: Allison Lipsher, Punahou
>> 2003: Adria Campbell, Punahou
>> 2002: Romy Trigg-Smith, Punahou
>> 2001: Natasha Kai, Kahuku
>> 2000: Robin deHay, Kamehameha
>> 1999: Mia Moe, Punahou
>> 1998: Shaina Nishimoto, Punahou
