Kamana helps keep family title tradition going

Tim Kamana's electrifying 93-yard interception return for a touchdown was a key early turning point in Punahou's 24-17 victory over Kamehameha. Greg Yamamoto | SL

It's hard enough following in your father's footsteps when they led to a standout career in the Big Ten Conference. But Punahou senior safety Tim Kamana has also shouldered the added pressure of wearing the same helmet and jersey colors of his uncle, a former two-sport All-State performer for the Buffanblu who later starred at Southern Cal.

Last night, Kamana blazed his own trail in the form of an electrifying 93-yard interception return for a touchdown that was a key early turning point in Punahou's 24-17 victory over Kamehameha for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu football championship.

It comes 32 years after his dad, Carter, won an ILH title with Kamehameha and 34 years after his uncle, John, helped the Buffanblu win the league crown. Both dad and uncle were in the Aloha Stadium crowd last night to watch Tim's shining moment.

Tim's grandfather, John "Squeeze" II, played at Roosevelt and USC.

"This feels great," Tim Kamana said shortly after the game ended with a pulsating goal-line stand. "Football is a big thing in our family, and I'm striving to keep the tradition going."

Were it not for his big play early in the second quarter, the game may have taken a much different turn.

The Warriors were ahead, 7-0, and driving for another score while facing third-and-3 on the Punahou 15-yard line. That's when quarterback Nephi Stevens threw a pass over the middle intended for tight end Keoni Bush-Loo, but it was deflected by defensive end DeForest Buckner and Kamana picked it off.

"(Bush-Loo) was running a three-yard drag (route), and when DeForest tipped it, that allowed me to make a break on the ball," Kamana said. "Once I held onto it, I just charged full speed ahead."

Kamana found a seam upfield and then veered to the left sideline before out-racing two Kamehameha pursuers to the end zone.

"We were down 7-0, but our defense prides itself in starting the momentum and setting the tone," Kamana said. "We knew we had to make a play."

Kaimi Fairbairn's extra point tied the score at 7-7, and the Buffanblu later added a 53-yard TD pass from Larry Tuileta to Malik Johnson and a 37-yard field goal by Fairbairn to go up, 17-7, with 2:50 remaining in the half.

They stretched the lead to 24-10 midway through the third quarter and then held on after the Warriors closed it to 24-17 in the fourth and came within inches of another touchdown as time expired.

The ILH championship won by Carter Kamana's 1979 Kamehameha team was also won in a winner-take-all playoff -- like last night's -- against Pac-Five.

"Tim has lived in our shadows, but he loves tradition and he wants to live up to expectations," said Carter, who went on to start at cornerback for Michigan State. "This season, he's been holding his own."

It's been a team effort, as Carter helped Tim prepare this week by watching film together every night and staying up to date on what happened at practice each day.

Punahou coach Kale Ane, who had some big footsteps to follow himself left by All-Pro father Charlie, said it's not an easy path.

"It's hard because you want to carry on the great things they did," Ane said. "Tim's got some great bloodlines, and I'm happy to see him step up like he did tonight."