Saints confirm QB Akana returning

There is risk and there is reward.

St. Francis senior Bubba Akana is rolling on risk and reward. The talented three-sport letterman has an offer on the table to play baseball for Hawaii.

When a football teammate recently mentioned that Akana would sit out to focus on baseball, Saints football (and baseball) coach Kip Akana -- Bubba's father -- cleared the air.

"When he gets back (from a mainland baseball tournament), he'll rejoin the football team as he has all these years. I want to make it clear," Coach Akana said. "UH is very supportive of high school athletes participating in any sport."

That news is huge for the Saints. Akana, the two-year starter at QB, is among the most experienced returning signal-callers in the state. The Saints also have a promising slinger in Jonan Aina-Chaves, a strong-armed junior.

"We are pleased with the work that Jonan has done. He is more than capable to guide this team to a championship," Coach Akana said.

Aina-Chaves' brother, Bubbah (with an 'h'), was prolific as a sophomore running back last season. But what is perhaps equally astonishing is the way Bubbah can dominate from the edge defensively. His acceleration during a scrimmage at Farrington was phenomenal, and when tackles protected the edge, Aina-Chaves used sheer power and leverage to knock them backwards.

For a program big on heart, not so big in numbers, that Ironman mentality is a necessity. From the backfield to the trenches, where linemen Siotame Haunga and Fa‘aope Laloulu form one of the best left sides in the state, St. Francis is formidable. 

"Every year, if you look on paper, not too many people match up with size. Bubbah is a special athlete who'll get spot play, play both sides of the ball, special teams," Coach Akana said. "It's like our baseball players, we don't who are position players or pitchers only. We want to save them but we've learned that the best-laid plans don't always last."

St. Francis and the rest of the state began practice today.

"No pads," the coach said. "We'll end up high 30s, low 40s."