With success came a bigger microscope, so Kai Kamaka and Pearl City parted ways.

Kamaka, 38, was released as the Chargers’ football coach last Wednesday.

His third and final season was the best and worst for Pearl City football: an unbeaten regular season in the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference (8-0) and visits to the principal’s office.

The Chargers, playing a fiery brand of football that epitomized Kamaka’s high-energy approach, went 9-3. They finished second to Waipahu in the White Conference playoffs.

The Chargers lost 7-0 to Kapaa in the state tournament.

Kamaka said a meeting last Wednesday left both sides agreeing to disagree.

“They didn’t fire me. We both felt we had philosophical differences, two different visions,” he said Tuesday of Pearl City’s decision not to renew him for another year. “(Athletic director Reid Shigemasa) said there was some stuff we could’ve improved on.”

Though Kamaka said there wasn’t a specific event or incident that triggered the decision, he was called in for a meeting with Shigemasa after a 35-29 win over Kalani at midseason. In that game, his team was flagged for more than 200 yards in penalties, including several for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“There were questions about the character of our players, how they act,” Kamaka said. “But people don’t know, we’re really hard on them. Our principal talked to the kids. They turned around.”

Kamaka disciplined players for the infractions, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy Shigemasa, who was not available for comment. Kamaka, a former mixed-martial arts fighter, is still involved in coaching at the school as an assistant for the wrestling team. His son is a sophomore who plays football and wrestles.

“I’m still plugged in. I really don’t want it to be like the school is bad. The administration is great. I tried to do my best, and we as a staff did our best,” he said. “It’s just not meant to be for me right now.

“I just hope we did a lot at Pearl City so the next guy can come in and get the job done.”

Kamaka met with his assistant coaches on Sunday to talk about the decision.

“Back to the old days, I was taught to play a certain way, to coach with a certain amount of energy every single day at practice,” he said.

That fine line between intensity and self-control was tested this year on the field.

“I need time to reflect,” he added.

The Chargers were 3-5 in his first season, missing the playoffs after an overtime loss to Kalaheo. Last year, they went 6-4, reached the playoffs and missed the state tournament after a 14-13 loss to Kaimuki.

In all, Kamaka was 18-12 as head coach at Pearl City.