Maui Football In Photos: The Game Beyond The Fires

Thousands packed the War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku on Saturday to see Lahainaluna High School battle Baldwin. The game, which the Lunas won 42-0, brought the community together after the Aug. 8 fires.

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Thousands packed the War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku on Saturday to see Lahainaluna High School battle Baldwin. The game, which the Lunas won 42-0, brought the community together after the Aug. 8 fires.

Fans, supporters, students and Lahaina community members line up for the first football game of the season for Lahainaluna High School Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The sold-out game paves the little way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Fans, supporters, students and Lahaina community members lined up for the first football game of the season for Lahainaluna High School on Saturday at the War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School plays its first football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The sold-out game paves the little way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Roughly 5,000 tickets were sold almost as soon as they went on sale for Saturday’s return of Lahainaluna, which had its season’s start delayed due to the fires. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School cheerleader Michelle Arzaga, a junior, leads the squad’s pre-game cheer before their first football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The sold-out game paves the little way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School cheerleader Michelle Arzaga, a junior, leads the squad’s pre-game cheer before their first football game Saturday, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School co-head coach Dean Rickard fires up his team for their first football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The sold-out game paves the little way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School co-head coach Dean Rickard fires up his team for their first football game of the season, which saw a delayed start after their school was damaged by the wildfires that nearly destroyed Lahaina. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School captains Kuola Watson (11), Kaulana Tihada (32) and Morgan Montgomery (63) represent their team, school and community before playing against Baldwin High School Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The sold-out game paves the little way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School captains Kuola Watson (11), Kaulana Tihada (32) and Morgan Montgomery (63) represented their team, school and community before playing against Baldwin High School. “Everyone in my town was here. I was just so happy to see people come together,” said James Lukela-Kobatake, 17, who plays running back, defensive end and fullback. “When we’re united, nothing can stop us.” (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
One day after the full moon, Lahainaluna High School varsity players return to the field for the second half during its first football game of the season Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The sold-out game paves the little way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
One day after the full moon, Lahainaluna High School varsity players returned to the field for the second half during their first football game of the season. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School running back James Lukela-Kobatake (33) helps Thomas Borges (7) cross the end zone to score a touchdown against Baldwin High School Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The sold-out game paves the little way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School running back James Lukela-Kobatake (33) helps Thomas Borges (7) cross the end zone to score a touchdown against Baldwin High School. The sold-out game paves the way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School fans cheer during their first football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The sold-out game paves the little way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School fans cheered during the junior varsity and varsity games — the Lunas won both against Baldwin. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School fans celebrate a touchdown during the junior varsity game against Baldwin High School Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The sold-out game paves the little way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School fans rejoiced as their team scored a touchdown. “We needed this,” said Lahaina resident Sue Arakawa, sitting in the stadium’s upper level. “I lost everything, but this brings back something to be happy about.” (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School fans celebrate the junior varsity team’s win after their first football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The sold-out game paves the little way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School fans celebrated the junior varsity team’s win after their first football game Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School celebrate the junior varsity team’s win after their first football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The sold-out game paves the little way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
The junior varsity game, played ahead of the highly anticipated varsity match with cross-island rival Baldwin High, was a sign of things to come for the Lahainaluna High School players. The celebration was spirited when the JV team vanquished the Baldwin Bears. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School football players sing their schools alma mater Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku. The sold-out game paves the little way slowly back to normalcy after the devastating Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)
Lahainaluna High School football players sing their school’s alma mater. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)

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