Fans of drama in Hawaiian sports have had it in spades in 2024.
Whether it’s a highly controversial decision by the University of Hawaii administration, controversies and rivalries on the prep scene, or a high-stakes international competition, there is rarely had a dull moment in the last 12 months.
Below are some of Spectrum News’ picks for the top news stories of the year. But first, a few honorable mentions:
1. Hawaii becomes a full Mountain West member, but AD Craig Angelos is cut
What should have been a long period of celebration for University of Hawaii athletes for their move to full membership in Mountain West and the removal of future travel subsidies for opponents has turned into a situation of dismay. On November 19, UH President David Lassner fired athletic director Craig Angelos ‘due to his performance’ about a month after UH secured the MWC move for 2026. Associate AD Lois Manin was elevated to the top job on an interim basis, but said she would not seek the permanent position.
At the December Board of Regents meeting, his last as president, Lassner defended firing the person he hired 18 months prior facing intense criticism online and from UH student-athletes amid an outpouring of support for Angelos. Lassner, UH’s representative on the Mountain West board, downplayed Angelos’ role in the Big West’s transition to MWC.
New president Wendy Hensel will lead the search for a new AD sometime after taking the reins in the new year.
Uh, I’m going remain in the Big West as an affiliate in four sports: men’s volleyball, women’s water polo, men’s swimming and diving and beach volleyball.
A rendering by Aloha Halawa District Partners was presented at the Stadium Authority meeting in December. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
2. NASED moves forward with a single team of bidders
Ultimately, the state had only one choice of suitor for its proposed 98-acre multi-purpose complex that would be built around a new 25,000-seat stadium in Halawa. Aloha Halawa District Partners, a consortium of local, national and international developers, was the last bidder standing and became the “preferred offeror” for the new Aloha Stadium entertainment district.
The leaders of AHDP presented its vision to the public for the first time at the final Stadium Authority meeting of the year. They brought renders for “Aloha Live!” ,” the Downtown Disney-style shopping and dining area they envision around the new stadium. As for the stadium itself, AHDP intends to build on the concrete foundation of the existing Aloha Stadium to save on some development costs beyond the $350 million the state has incurred for the construction. They promised about 4,000 housing units and proposed ideas like a school on the land.
Members of the Stadium Authority asked questions of executives, including Stanford Carr of Stanford Carr Development, but AHDP did not respond to questions from members of the media in attendance. The envisaged horizon facing Pearl Harbor and the processes of discovery of human remains were raised as problems.
NASED has set a deadline of June 2025 for execution of a full contract, with demolition of the old stadium expected to begin around that time.
Hawaii men’s volleyball star Spyros Chakas took his fateful swing against UC Irvine at the Outrigger Invitational in March. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
3. Hawaii men’s volleyball season disrupted by star injury
Expectations were high in 2024 for the Hawaii men’s volleyball team, which had reached the final four NCAA championship matches and had its All-America hitter Spyros Chakas return for his senior season.
But everything changed in an instant on March 10. In one of the final games of the evening in a tense five-set battle with Big West rival UC Irvine, Chakas scooped up a difficult ball near the right pin, completed his swing and landed awkwardly on his left leg. His knee buckled and he fell onto the TaraFlex surface and the Stan Sheriff Center fell into dead silence as everyone present seemed to recognize the gravity of the moment.
Two days later it was revealed that it was indeed, an end to an academic career for the Greek star. UH was still largely competitive without him – it was 23-7 – but UH saw his home season ends in Big West semifinalsa radical defeat against the same UCI team with AVCA player of the year Hilir Henno. Chakas, on crutches, was visible supporting the team throughout the sequence.
First-year Saint Louis head coach Tupu Alualu, center, has led the Crusaders back to the top of the prep football mountain. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
4. Saint Louis returns to prominence in Hawaii prep football
Saint Louis was at a crossroads. The Proud Men of Kalaepohaku entered 2024 into a rare slow period in Hawaii high school football, appearing for the final time in a state tournament in 2021. Enter former Crusaders running back Tupu Alualu, who was hired in February to succeed his former coach, Ron Lee.
things started off difficultas the Crusaders missed a field goal to win their opener at Kahuku and made costly mistakes at Mililani the following week to fall to 0-2.
But in the end, the The Saints marched to their eighth state titleand first since 2019, with a 17-10 victory over their legendary rival, the Red Raiders, who were denied their fourth consecutive championship under Sterling Carvalho.
Titan running back Lacaden, bound for the University of Hawaii, was the linchpin for the Crusaders as he carried the ball 31 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
In the state semifinals, Saint Louis came back to beat Campbell and Hawaii high school career passing leader Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutelewho suffered a rib injury before halftime. Sagapolutele moved from Cal to Oregon on signing day and will look to follow in the footsteps of notable Hawaii quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Dillon Gabriel.
Kapaa won its first championship at the Division I level while Kamehameha-Maui broke through to D-II.
5. John John Florence wins 3rd WSL title; Landon McNamara takes on “The Eddie”
For John John Florence, the road to the top was long. The Oahu North Shore native won the World Surf League men’s championships in 2016 and 2017, but the seven-year gap until 2024 has been fraught with challenges.
Florence, 31, recovered from her injuries, however, was the best surfer on the Championship Tour and took the top seed for the WSL finals in Lower Trestles, California, in September. He became the rare No. 1 to retain his position in the WSL’s tiered bracket, beating Brazilian Italo Ferreira in straight sets for his third career WSL championship.
Then, in December, it was announced that “The Eddie” would be leaving. The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, known as the Super Bowl of Surfing, was officially given the green light in Waimea Bay on December 22, only December 11.th moment in history when wave conditions were met.
Eddie’s former champion, Florence, participated, but she was a compatriot from the North Shore Landon McNamara who won in front of thousands of people on the sand and many others watching live from afar. He won $50,000 and a total of 600,000 Hawaiian Airlines miles for winning not only the overall event, but also the best ride.
The Oahu North Shore natives have won the last three Eddies: Florence in 2016, lifeguard Luke Shepardson in 2023 and McNamara.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.