It didn't take long for Randy Manewa to make a name for himself last year.

In 2014, the junior earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in the Oahu Interscholastic Association's Division II and was named to ScoringLive's All-Hawaii First Team defense. Manewa anchored the Nanakuli defense from his middle linebacker position and helped the Golden Hawks to their first league title since 1983 last season.

So how does he plan to follow that up in this, his senior campaign?

"(That championship) affected us a lot, because it makes us push even harder because we have a big target on our back and we know that other teams are out there working hard to beat us, so we have to work even harder and we can't come back with the same mentality as last year," said Manewa, who stands 6-foot and weighs 190 pounds.

To be sure, the Golden Hawks are hardly resting on their laurels.

"One thing we're very careful about is not to be complacent with how the season went last year," said Keala Watson, who enters his third season as head coach of his alma mater. "We're always looking for areas to improve and ways to take these guys to the next level."

Part of getting to the next level for Nanakuli would surely include a state-tournament win, something it has yet to achieve under Watson. The former University of Hawaii defensive lineman is optimistic about their chances this fall.

"I think one of the biggest thing is to get into our guys mentally," Watson said. "Before last year happened — you can call it a block in everyone's minds — and the doubt would set in all the time that ‘we can't do this, we're just the little guy, we don't do anything,' but last year proved to all of them, and maybe to myself as well, that we belong on the same field as everybody as long as we're willing to do what's necessary and do the things that need to be done, we can get whatever we want as long as we work for it."

The Golden Hawks reached the D2 state semifinals in 2012 — falling to Lahainaluna, 28-0 — but missed out on the tournament a year later. Last season, a week after winning the OIA crown, they suffered a season-ending 42-20 loss at Nanakuli in the first round of states.

"The biggest question is how they're going to approach this next season," Watson said. "I preach the non-complacency all the time, but it's up to them whether or not they take it to heart. They've proven to themselves that they can stand up against the best and we'll see this season if they can put two and two together and realize that we've got the opportunity to build ourselves something special here, maybe even a dynasty."

If Watson's squad is to take the proverbial next step in 2015, Manewa will surely have to play a big part in it.

"A lot of the leadership has got to come from Randy; he's got to have a breakout year," Watson said. "He has the experience and he's been the leader last year as well, so for him to repeat that — getting everybody up when they're down, knowing the situations and how tough we need to push through to finish games — everybody is going to have to rely on him."

It's an undertaking that Manewa isn't taking lightly.

"That just puts another target on my back because i've got to worry about more people counting on me, pushing me and trying to make me work even harder," Manewa said. "We're putting in a lot of work. We don't put in all this work for nothing, so it's going to pay off for this season."

Manewa's work ethic this offseason has reflected his comments, Watson said.

"The offseason he understood what it's going to take for him to comeback and improve on this next year," said Watson, who doubles as the defensive coordinator.

Manewa has bulked up about 15 pounds since the end of last year and Watson says his speed has increased as well, which will allow him greater versatility this season.

"We want him to get into different positions; Not just the middle ‘backer, but the outside and safety spots, so he can diversify his playing skills and maybe at the next level, fill into one of those spots as well," Watson said. "We're continuously trying to develop guys at all sports and for Randy it's going to benefit him. There are (colleges) out there looking at him as a safety, there are schools out there looking at him as a middle, and so if he can either player one of those spots, even better for him."

Watson — and the Nanakuli community — are anxious to see what Manewa and the Golden Hawks will do for an encore in 2015.

"The community support is tremendous out here; Everybody is excited for the new season," Watson said. "What compounds that is also the new facilities we're getting. This place is starting to turn around and look like any other place on the island. It's good to see; Our guys deserve it. I think the work that we put in this year and for the years to come will benefit not just the school and the team, but also the community. Our guys are going to grow up, leave here and become leaders wherever they go and they won't be afraid to tackle on the biggest challenges in life. These guys are the future and I'm excited to see what they do."