Iolani Tops Girls Basketball Poll; Kahuku Leads Boys
Iolani received eight of 11 first-place votes, while Kahuku earned nine of 10 in the Star-Advertiser's boys Top 10.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Basketball
Iolani is ranked No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser Girls Basketball Top 10, collecting eight of 11 first-place votes. In the boys poll, Kahuku is ranked No. 1 with nine of 10 first-place votes, while Iolani is No. 2.
Why it matters
The rankings set the early picture for Hawaii's high school basketball season, with Iolani and Kahuku both positioned as the teams to beat. Kahuku's recent wins over Iolani make their upcoming meeting a key early test.
Kahuku beat Iolani 61-49 at the Punahou Invitational and 57-50 in the state quarterfinals last season, with Kamehameha receiving three first-place votes in the girls poll. Kahuku's win margins over Iolani define the current head-to-head record between the two boys programs.
The players
Kahuku High School
Kahuku High School is a public school on Oahu's North Shore whose boys basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser poll.
Iolani School
Iolani School is a private Honolulu school whose girls basketball team is ranked No. 1 and whose boys team is ranked No. 2 in the Star-Advertiser poll.
The details
The Star-Advertiser's voting panel of coaches and media cast the first-place votes. Kamehameha is No. 2 in the girls poll, Kalani is No. 4, and Punahou is No. 3 in the boys poll under new coach Aukai Wong, with Saint Louis at No. 4.
Timeline
Wednesday: Kamehameha plays Mililani at 6 p.m. and Kalani plays Punahou at the Black & Gold Classic.
Nov. 25: Punahou begins play in Kahuku's four-team tournament.
One week from today: Iolani plays at Kahuku in the boys top-2 matchup.
Season Trajectory
The Star-Advertiser's preseason Top 10 frames the early competitive order in Hawaii high school basketball. Kahuku's head-to-head wins over Iolani last season shape how the top two boys teams are positioned heading into their matchup.
Iolani's visit to Kahuku next week will show whether last season's results carry over into the new rankings. Fans tracking the boys top-two matchup can use the poll order to gauge how the two programs stack up.
The takeaway
Early rankings only set expectations, and head-to-head results like Kahuku's wins over Iolani will shape how the top teams are judged once games begin.
What happens next
Iolani plays at Kahuku in the boys top-2 matchup one week from the poll's release.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by Honolulu Star Advertiser.
