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For the first two seasons of the Tyson Valle-Dennis Diaz football coaching regime at King Kekaulike High School, Na Alii have not played any preseason games in the state of Hawaii.
This fall, they are set to play two.
In a tentative Maui Interscholastic League football schedule obtained by The Maui News, King Kekaulike is scheduled to open the prep slate in Maui County with an Aug. 3 game against McKinley on the new artificial surface at King Kekaulike Stadium.
"Last year we played a (preseason) game in Japan, but as far as actually setting up two preseason games for the season, I don't think we've had that in a while," Valle said Sunday.
Na Alii are set to play at Hawaii Preparatory Academy on the Big Island on Aug. 11.
King Kekaulike is winless in its last 31 games dating back to a 23-13 win over Kamehameha Maui on Sept. 5, 2014.
"It's going to be huge for our kids this year," Valle said of the two preseason opportunities.
"It's going to allow us to see what we have actually done in the offseason before we get our (MIL) season games. It is going to allow us to make the adjustments, maybe move some players around. Some key players may do better in other positions, so a better look as far as what we're going to go into the season with."
Two-time defending Division II state champion Lahainaluna will play its only nonleague game on Aug. 4 at Kapaa. The first game at War Memorial Stadium will be defending MIL D-I champion Maui High facing Kauai on Aug. 10.
Baldwin, winner of 12 of the last 14 D-I MIL crowns, will play Alaska state champion Bartlett on Aug. 11 at War Memorial, and Kamehameha Maui will play its only preseason game at Kanaiaupuni Stadium on Aug. 17 against American Leadership Academy of Arizona.
"They kind of fit our purposes in that they are a run-oriented team," Baldwin coach Pohai Lee said of Bartlett. "We wanted to kind of get that early in the season, with Maui teams going more towards the run -- that's what we want to stop first."
Baldwin will open MIL play against Lahainaluna on Aug. 17 at War Memorial.
"Only six days to prepare, it's always a challenge to face Lahainaluna right off the bat," Lee said. "So, we'll get an early look and see how we come out of it."
Lee will be looking to largely replace several position areas -- linebacker, offensive line and three-time MIL Offensive Player of the Year Chayce Akaka at quarterback.
Maui High claimed the MIL D-I state tournament berth last season behind two wins over the Bears. Lee said he expects about 20 returnees and a young roster when fall camp begins -- there were just under 40 turning out for spring ball after a signup of about 140, Lee said.
Running back Naia Nakamoto, a rising junior, will be back to lead the Sabers after gaining 621 yards and eight touchdowns on 78 carries last year. Nakamoto was impressive at the Polynesian Triangle camp last weekend.
"I know Nakamoto's back, obviously," Lee said. "So, for two more years they're going to be tough, you know, whenever they've got that kid."
Valle said Na Alii had about 38 players out for spring football and pointed to the start of the school's Big Boys program for 8th-graders, also with about 38 players, as a key to the road to success.
"We've got a strict feeder (program) coming to Kekaulike now, so we get an eyeball on those kids early," Valle said. "Get them trained for high school. Our JV is going to have pretty good numbers as well, probably about 40 kids."
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.
2018 Maui Interscholastic League Football Season
PRESEASON
Friday, Aug. 3
McKinley at King Kekaulike 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 4
Lahainaluna at Kapaa, time TBA
Friday, Aug. 10
Maui High vs. Kauai at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 11
King Kekaulike at Hawaii Prep, 11 a.m.
Baldwin vs. Bartlett (Alaska) at War Memorial Stadium, time TBA
Friday, Aug. 17
American Leadership Academy (Arizona) at Kamehameha Maui, 7 p.m.
REGULAR SEASON
All games start at 7 p.m.
FIRST ROUND
Friday, Aug. 17
Baldwin vs. Lahainaluna at War Memorial Stadium
Saturday, Aug. 18
Maui High at King Kekaulike
Friday, Aug. 24
Maui High at Kamehameha Maui
Saturday, Aug. 25
King Kekaulike at Lahainaluna
Friday, Aug. 31
Baldwin vs. Kamehameha Maui at War Memorial Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 1
Maui High vs. Lahainaluna at War Memorial Stadium
Friday, Sept. 7
Baldwin at King Kekaulike
Saturday, Sept. 8
Kamehameha Maui at Lahainaluna
Friday, Sept. 14
Baldwin vs. Maui High at War Memorial Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 15
Kamehameha Maui at King Kekaulike
SECOND ROUND
Friday, Sept. 21
Maui High vs. King Kekaulike at War Memorial Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 22
Baldwin at Lahainaluna
Friday, Sept. 28
Lahainaluna at King Kekaulike
Saturday, Sept. 29
Maui High vs. Kamehameha Maui at War Memorial Stadium
Friday, Oct. 5
Baldwin at Kamehameha Maui
Saturday, Oct. 6
Maui High at Lahainaluna
Friday, Oct. 12
Lahainaluna at Kamehameha Maui
Saturday, Oct. 13
Baldwin vs. King Kekaulike at War Memorial Stadium
Friday, Oct. 19
King Kekaulike at Kamehameha Maui
Saturday, Oct. 20
Maui High vs. Baldwin at War Memorial Stadium
Friday, Oct. 26
Division I playoff, if necessary, at War Memorial Stadium, time TBA
Saturday, Oct. 27
Division II playoff, if necessary, at War Memorial Stadium, time TBA