Former Kahuku football coach Sterling Carvalho and 30 of his family members packed into a small courtroom Friday for the first hearing of his lawsuit against the state.
Carvalho was Kahuku High School's head football coach since 2018, leading the Red Raiders to five HHSAA championship games and three consecutive state titles.
But on March 31, Carvalho was suddenly fired from his position following an investigation into his conduct involving a former player in 2023 — conduct that allegedly involved threatening and intimidating language to the player and a family member.
On Monday, Carvalho sued the DOE, complex area superintendent Samuel Izumi, and the Hallums: former player Tavian "Manoa" Hallums and his father Kalani Hallums. In his suit, he alleged both breach of contract by the DOE and Izumi and defamation by the Hallums.
According to the lawsuit, the DOE advised Carvalho in Dec. 2023 of an investigation into allegations that he had threatened the father of a player and subsequently created a hostile environment for that player. Despite those allegations — which are not described with any specificity in the suit — Carvalho continued as head coach through the 2024 season and was rehired on contract to coach the 2025 season.
Instead, Carvalho found himself summarily fired in March, with Izumi reportedly finding that "progressive discipline" was insufficient punishment because Carvalho's conduct "did not reflect ethical principles and failed to provide a caring environment conducive to the well-being of students," according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit argues that Carvalho was fired without due process — which would require a hearing, legal representation and an opportunity to cross-examine witnesses — and based on "absolutely false, misleading and defamatory statements made by persons who behaved disgracefully and had no credibility under the circumstances."
Carvalho seeks a court judgement declaring his termination wrongful and an injunction preventing the defendants from interfering with his contractual rights to coach the Kahuku football team during the 2025 season.
The Hallums did not appear in court Friday for a hearing on the lawsuit. However, some 30 members of Carvalho's family did.
The actual hearing turned out to be a largely inconsequential status hearing, with attorneys for both parties called out of the courtroom for the better part of half an hour. When they returned, O‘ahu Circuit Court Judge Jordon Kimura announced that the actual court date will take place July 28.
The hearing was then adjourned, to some grumbles from the packed audience.
Carvalho's attorney, Eric Seitz, told the family afterward that Kimura had expedited the process — "hopefully, out of recognition that we need a resolution soon," he said.
Carvalho told media after the hearing that he hopes to return as head coach at Kahuku and clear his name, both for himself and for other coaches facing false allegations.
"If my intentions were misconstrued, if I came off as intimidating or hostile, I apologize," Carvalho said. "I wish everyone could play, but there's only 11 people who can be on the field."
Carvalho suggested that the expedited process might allow him to return to coaching before the football season kicks off, but said he can only "trust the process" for the time being.
But, if he is unable to return to coaching, Carvalho said the program is "in good hands" under his deputies.
