Waimea girls advance at Division II state basketball championships

Menehune defeat Mid Pacific Institute 52-39 to reach semifinals

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The Waimea High School girls basketball team, seeded No. 2 in the Division II state championships, defeated unseeded Mid Pacific Institute 52-39 on Thursday to advance to the semifinals at the Hilo Civic Center on Hawaii Island.

Why it matters

Waimea's victory marks the first time the Menehune have reached the state semifinals, showcasing the strength of the Kauai Interscholastic Federation program and their ability to compete at the highest level of Hawaii high school basketball.

The details

Waimea jumped out to an early 17-4 lead after the first quarter and led 25-12 at halftime. Mid Pacific made a run in the third quarter, but Waimea pulled away again in the fourth to secure the 13-point win. Laakea Kauwe led Waimea with 12 points, while Alyssa Gummerus added 10 points.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 6, 2026.
  • The semifinals will take place on Friday, February 7, 2026.
  • The Division II championship game is scheduled for Saturday, February 8, 2026 at 7 p.m.

The players

Waimea High School

The Waimea High School girls basketball team, seeded No. 2 in the Division II state championships, represents the Kauai Interscholastic Federation.

Mid Pacific Institute

Mid Pacific Institute is an unseeded team that lost to Waimea in the Division II quarterfinals.

Laakea Kauwe

Laakea Kauwe led Waimea with 12 points, 1 assist and 2 steals in the win over Mid Pacific.

Alyssa Gummerus

Alyssa Gummerus scored 10 points, had 2 assists and 3 steals for Waimea.

Skyla Moniz-Fernandez

Skyla Moniz-Fernandez scored a team-high 14 points for Mid Pacific in the loss.

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What’s next

Waimea will face the winner of the No. 3 seed Pearl City and unseeded Sacred Hearts in the semifinals on Friday, February 7, 2026. The Division II championship game is scheduled for Saturday, February 8, 2026 at 7 p.m. at the Hilo Civic Center.

The takeaway

Waimea's deep playoff run demonstrates the growing competitiveness of Kauai's high school basketball programs and the Menehune's ability to compete with the state's top teams. This appearance in the semifinals is a major milestone for the program and the island of Kauai.