Moanalua ripped up the script at Pearl City High on Saturday, knocking off powerhouse Punahou in a five-set thriller, 14-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-19, 15-13, to claim the Division I state championship. It is the program’s first boys volleyball state title and the first time a public-school team has taken the D-I crown since Roosevelt in 1979. When the final point dropped, players and fans flooded the court as the Na Menehune soaked in an upset that is going to echo around the islands for a long time.
The official bracket at the HHSAA site records the championship match at 14-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-19, 15-13. The page lists Moanalua as the 2026 Division I champion and lays out the full tournament path, including Moanalua's run through the semifinals into Saturday’s shocker.
Final Point And Standouts
Match point came off the right arm of Jarryn McCutcheon, who put away the title-clinching kill on a set from Kawaa, according to the play-by-play. ScoringLive's game summary credits Lionel Gannon with 18 kills and McCutcheon with 17 for Moanalua, while Punahou's Cameron Porter led all scorers with 25 kills. After trading the first three sets, momentum swung to Moanalua in the fourth and carried into the fifth, where the Na Menehune held their nerve to close out the tiebreaker 15-13.
Historic Milestone For Public Schools
Moanalua's breakthrough ends a long title drought for public and OIA programs. The HHSAA record book lists Roosevelt as the last public-school Division I boys champion in 1979. That history underlines how uncommon it has been in the modern era for an OIA squad to wrestle away the state boys volleyball crown, which makes this win a landmark moment for Moanalua and its community.
What’s Next For Both Programs
Moanalua closes the year unbeaten and gets to carry an immaculate record into the offseason. The game page at ScoringLive lists Moanalua at 16-0 and Punahou at 15-1. Punahou's season ends with just a single blemish, setting up a motivated return next year. Both programs walk away from Pearl City with plenty of respect after a final that showcased some of the best high school talent in the state.
Photographers were all over the big moments, from the trophy lift to key swings by Moanalua standouts like Lionel Gannon and Darric Abe. A full set of images is available in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser photo gallery for fans who want a closer look at the scenes from Pearl City.
