True enough, Big Red doesn’t rebuild after losing 15 starters from last year’s unbeaten squad.

Kahuku simply reloads. The Red Raiders got a stalwart performance defensively, limiting Waianae to 44 total yards of offense en route to a 26-0 nonconference win Friday night at Carleton Weimer Field.

Kahuku, ranked No. 2 in the Star-Advertiser Preseason Top 10, got interception returns for touchdowns by Bronson Beatty and Kawehena Johnson before a somewhat subdued audience of about 2,500.

It was the first game for Kahuku since the Oahu Interscholastic Association unceremoniously barred the team from the league playoffs last season due to a player who was later ruled ineligible. The league has never offered justification for the ouster, and Kahuku’s season came to an abrupt end after 10 wins in 10 games.

This time, the Red Raiders are forging a new identity with a new season. It will probably come mostly from the defensive unit. That made coach Walter Santiago, filling in for currently suspended head coach Reggie Torres, wear a big smile.

"I’m tired. Exhausted, but I feel really good for the kids," Santiago said. "I’m just stepping in for Reggie."

Viliami Livai, making his first start at quarterback, passed for 156 yards (8-for-15). He and his young offensive line seemed to jell with each snap.

"We’ve got a junior and two sophomores (on the offensive line)," Santiago said. "They’re just getting better, making a big improvement."

Livai admitted having some nerves.

"My line kept apologizing to me after every play, but it’s all good, " he said. "We’re learning how to execute."

It wasn’t flawless by any means. Waianae’s defense, led by first-team All-State tackle Kennedy Tulimasealii, limited Kahuku to 68 rushing yards on 32 carries and recovered three Red Raiders fumbles. Kahuku also had 126 yards in penalties.

"We’ll be back here at 8 in the morning," Santiago said. "We need to work on all the little things."

The Red Raiders defense swarmed on Waianae’s wing-T and shotgun sets from the start. Meanwhile, the new-look offense — with just two returning starters — endured a bigger test than expected after starting tailback Aofaga Wily injured an ankle last week. The first play from scrimmage was a flea flicker that would’ve been six points if not for a drop downfield.

After a Waianae turnover on the game’s opening series, Kahuku came up with a big play on special teams. Polikapo Liua’s recovery of a muffed punt return by Waianae gave Kahuku the ball at the 25-yard line. Seven plays later, Mason Kualii-Moe blasted over from the 1 to give Kahuku a 7-0 lead with 5:33 left in the first quarter.

Kahuku’s young offensive line did just enough to fend off a fierce Waianae pass rush. One play after Tulimasealii sacked Livai, the junior heaved a 58-yard touchdown pass to Mekeli Fiso for a 14-0 lead with 9:38 to go in the half.

Waianae’s deepest penetration of the half came in the final 2 minutes, but Kekoa Kaluhiokalani’s long pass was picked off by Evan Ramirez, who returned the pigskin 80 yards for another Kahuku score.

The Red Raiders led 21-0 with 1:14 remaining in the first half.

Beatty then picked off a pass near the sideline and returned it 28 yards to paydirt for Kahuku’s final points with 12 seconds left in the third quarter.

Waianae played without quarterback Devon Seabrooks and running back Jaylen Mitchell.

At Kahuku

Kah–Mason Kualii-Moe 1 run (Kekahu Aluli kick)

Kah–Mekeli Fiso 58 pass from Viliami Livai (Aluli kick)

Kah–Evan Ramirez 80 interception return (kick failed)

Kah–Bronson Beatty 28 interception return (kick failed)

RUSHING–Waianae: Leighton Panui 9-24, Sean Stevens-Sadamaru 3-20, Dido Stevens 1-1, Lexun Kamealoha 2-0, Koali Opunui 1-0, Jason Towne 3-(-4), TEAM 1-(-8), Kekoa Kaluhiokalani 6-(-26). Kahuku: Sterling Moe 7-36, James Kahele 9-22, Devailo Motuga 7-17, TEAM 4-3, Brandon Leiataua 1-2, Kualii-Moe 2-(-1), Livai 2-(-11).

PASSING–Waianae: Kaluhiokalani 7-20-2-37. Kahuku: Livai 8-15-1-156.

RECEIVING–Waianae: Panui 2-0, Lawrence Akana 1-16, Stevens 1-8, Austin Reese 1-8, Stevens-Sadamaru 1-4, Opunui 1-1. Kahuku: Spencer Nagy 3-27, Norman Solomon-Unga 2-26, Mekeli Fiso 1-58, Kawehena Johnson 1-26, Rashaan Falemalu 1-19.