Top Hawaii high school football RBs, who will have best 2025 season? Vote

A look at the top high school football running backs in Hawaii ahead of the 2025 campaign. Vote for which RB you think will have the best season!

Kahuku takes on Mater Dei in a nationally-ranked high school football showdown. / Heston Quan

What better way to prep for the high school football season than looking at which players are worth watching on Friday nights?

Hawaii high school football will kick off August 9 (a Saturday), which is just under two weeks away. So, as we gear up for the bright lights, loud crowds and big-time plays, High School On SI will break down Hawaii's top players by position heading into the 2025 season.

Not only does this preseason coverage highlight the best returning players ahead of the fall, but it allows the Hawaii high school football community to VOTE on which player could have the biggest 2025 season.

Could it be a rising sophomore? A highly-touted prospect? Could it be a player not listed below?

Some of the players might not be the most highly touted, recruited or covered, but their numbers indicate they are performing at their respective level — and likely impacting victory for their programs.

Below is a list of Hawaii's top running backs to watch ahead of the 2025 season based on a few factors: stats from the previous season (from MaxPreps.com), recruiting status (from 247Sports), and the discretion of the reporter (Tarek Fattal).

TOP RUNNING BACKS IN HAWAII

(Athletes listed in alphabetical order | Voting poll at bottom of page)

1. Blake Alo, Kahuku, Jr.

Alo rushed for 293 yards and two TDs as a sophomore behind a lead back Malosi Fiatoa, who handled most of the load. Now Alo will likely step into a big role at tailback as a junior.

2. Tenari Fuamatu-Maafala, St. Louis, So.

Fuamatu-Ma'afala is the son of former Ute star Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, who played seven years in the NFL. As a freshman in 2024, he ran for just 166 yards and a TD, but 2025 is expected to be a breakout year for the youngster.

3. Kauanahe Kalahiki-Gohier, Castle, Sr.

Kalahiki-Gohier carried the ball just 56 times in 2024, but scored nine TDs. He also rushed for 466 yards while eating up more than 8 years each time he touched it. Kalahiki-Gohier played just seven games as a junior.

4. Brady Kim, Kaiser, Jr.

Kim scored 10 rushing TDs as a sophomore in 2024. He tallied 657 yards on 115 carries in 12 games. Kim didn't have one 100-yard game last season, but look for that to change in 2025.

5. Nainoa Melchor, Kamehameha, Sr.

Melchor rushed for 556 yards on 116 carries with two TDs as a junior. The rushing mark was the second best in the Open Division, according to ScoringLive.com.

6. Charleston Salazar, Keeau, Jr.

Salazar rushed for 834 yards and eight TDs in just eight games last season, averaging 7.7 yards per carry and 104 yards per game.

7. Shaeden Sexton, Roosevelt, Jr.

As a sophomore, Sexton ran for 524 yards and 10 TDs in 133 rushing attempts. He ran for 99 yards in October against Castle.

VOTING POLL

The voting poll will close on Monday, August 4 at 8 p.m. (PT).

2024 HSFB HAWAII RECAP

As a refresher, here's what happened during the 2024 high school football season in Hawaii.

Saint Louis returned to glory in the Open Division, Kapā‘a captured its first state crown in Division I, and Kamehameha Maui won Division II.

ST. LOUIS BACK ON TOP

After watching rival Kahuku run the state for three straight seasons, St. Louis reminded Hawaii who built the Open Division standard. Behind a bruising ground attack and a big-game defense, the Crusaders beat Kahuku 17–10 to win the Open Division state championship at Clarence T.C. Ching Complex.

Junior back Titan Lacaden ran like a man on a mission — 31 carries, 155 yards and two touchdowns — helping St. Louis control tempo and flip the script on Kahuku’s recent dominance.

It was Saint Louis' first state title since 2019.

KAPA BREAKS THROUGH IN DI

In one of the season’s best endings, Kapā‘a outlasted Konawaena in overtime, 10–7, to win its first-ever Division I state title. Micah Rapozo’s 33-yard field goal was the walk-off winner in a gritty, defensive slugfest.

KAMEHAMEHA-MAUI ROLLS THRU DII

For the first time ever, Kamehameha-Maui hoisted a football state title trophy, steamrolling Kaiser 37–14 in the Division II final. Junior star Zedekiah Campbell ran for 239 yards on just 18 carries.

The Warriors scored 17 unanswered in the second half and left no doubt.

QB BREAKS STATE RECORD

Quarterback Jaron‑Keawe Sagapolutele of Campbell High put together a jaw-dropping season: 3,404 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, just three picks. His final career tally? 10,653 yards — a new Hawaii state record, passing Dillon Gabriel, the former Oregon and Oklahoma standout.

Sagapolutele was named the Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year.

CARVALHO OUT AT KAHUKU

One of the stunning storylines out of Hawaii came in the spring when Sterling Carvalho stepped down from being the head coach at Kahuku with a 59-18 record. Carvalho was 59-18 in his six seasons at the helm and took the Red Raiders to four straight state championship finals. He won three Open Division state titles in a row from 2021 to 2023. (STORY)

Kahuku won 32 consecutive games against Hawaii opponents starting in 2021, but the program's greatest feat under Carvalho was when the Red Raiders stunned top-ranked St. John Bosco (CA) — the defending national champions at the time — 30-23 at home in September of 2023.

FAVORITES FOR 2025?

There are two programs to keep an eye on in 2025: Kahuku and St. Louis. The two storied programs in Hawaii are favored by various media outlets to be the Open Division state champion by the end of the 2025 season.

On3 Massey has Kahuku No. 1, citing its elite defense and experience at QB. ScoringLive Hawaii has St. Louis as its No. 1 team, leaning on its returning championship roster, high-level offense and a winning pedigree.

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