Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school football. America's source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2022 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Liona Lefau of Kahuku is the 2022 MaxPreps Hawaii High School Football Player of the Year. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior linebacker led the Red Raiders to a 12-2 record and a Division I state championship.
Kahuku shut out Punahou 20-0 in the title game. The team's only losses came against national powers No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) and No. 13 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).
Committed to Texas, Lefau had 50 tackles this season, including nine in a semifinal win over Campbell. He is regarded as the state's top Class of 2023 prospect according to 247Sports and received 26 FBS scholarship offers before deciding on the Longhorns.
Kahuku head coach Sterling Carvalho said Lefau's leadership was a big part of the Red Raiders' success this season.
"He deserves everything he’s achieved in thus far in his life because he
works at it. He doesn’t just wake up on Friday morning and decide I
want to play a game," Carvalho told KHON-TV. "He starts training all year long, every day. Every
workout that there is he is the first one there and the last one
leaving. Not just put in the time to develop his own craft, but also
help any teammate as well. That’s why we are so good because our leader
is not just leading. He’s leading by example and bringing everyone
along."
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team, which will be released January 10.
Past MaxPreps Hawaii Players of the Year2021 – Kainoa Carvalho, WR, Kahuku
Kahuku linebacker Liona Lefau is the MaxPreps Hawaii Players of the Year after leading the Red Raiders to a 12-2 season and the Open Division title. (Photo: Brian Bautista)
