After an offseason of turbulence, including a legal battle involving former head coach Sterling Carvalho, Kahuku's 2025 regular season got off to an ominous start.
The Red Raiders were blanked at home by defending state champion Saint Louis to begin its season. After squeaking by Kamehameha the following week, followed by a win at Konawaena, the Red Raiders looked listless in a 38-0 home loss to national powerhouse Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas.
Less than a week after playing Gorman, the Red Raiders flew to Southern California for a game against another national powerhouse, Mater Dei, the top-ranked team in the country at the time.
With starting quarterback Matai Fuiava injured, Troy Mariteragi took the reins behind center and almost led the Red Raiders to a shocking victory. Kahuku lost to Mater Dei 21-18, but the Red Raiders found their new quarterback.
"He had (won over) the team from before," Kahuku head coach Nihoa Pule said. "It's just a matter of when it was his time."
As a junior in 2024, Mariteragi began the season as the team's starting quarterback until St. John Bosco transfer Matai Fuiava took over midway through the year. Following Kahuku's game against Mater Dei in 2025, Fuiava moved back home to California to rehab his injury.
Since Mariteragi regained control of the starting quarterback position midway through the 2025 season, the Red Raiders are 5-1, their only loss to Mater Dei.
On Friday night, Mariteragi completed 10 of his 18 passes for 142 yards, two touchdowns and an interception as the Red Raiders defeated Campbell 24-6 in the OIA Open Division semifinals at Mililani, upping their winning streak to five games.
"It felt great," Mariteragi said after Friday's game. "We had a few weeks off, so we had a lot of time to make adjustments and make improvements. But that also adds a little bit of rust, so we came out a little slow, but it just felt great to get the win tonight."
The modest Mariteragi has Kahuku in the state title hunt once again with his understanding of the Kahuku offense, which involves limiting turnovers and distributing the ball to his playmakers. His first touchdown of the day was a 79-yard pass to a wide open Christian Sanford-Tupuola, a University of Hawai‘i commit.
"It's just a privilege to be able to be the quarterback of his team," Mariteragi said. "It was just me just making the most of my opportunity at doing what I can for my team."
Despite losing the starting job to Fuiava last year, Mariteragi continued to possess the trust of his teammates.
"Just learn from it," he said. "Last year, I had some opportunities when I was able to play in some games. Just gain as much experience as I can, because the more experience I have, the more I can learn and the more I can get better.
"Just taking every rep that I get in practice. That's just been my motto, is take advantage of my opportunities. Matai is a great player. He's a great guy. I have love for him. I miss him. He's a good dude. And when he was the starter, I just knew my role as the backup quarterback was to just stay ready and just play for the team."
With Friday's victory, the Red Raiders advance to the OIA Open Division championship game against Kapolei, which kicks off on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at Farrington.
Regardless of how the OIA championship goes, both teams in the finals have already clinched spots in the four-team HHSAA Open Division Tournament. Mariteragi's older brother, Jason, was the quarterback for Kahuku's 2021 state championship team.
"He's a huge inspiration," Troy Mariteragi said of his brother. "I was fortunate enough to be the water boy of that team when they won the state championship. ... It just gave me extra motivation and inspiration that I'm just carrying on my family's legacy.
"Being rooted from Kahuku, from Lāʻie, born and raised, just growing up as a little kid, that's just who you wanted to be, wanting to be a Kahuku Red Raider. So for me, it's just me living out my dream on the field. It's just a privilege."
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
