Kihei and Keanu Akina hauled their own golf clubs up and down the slopes of Oahu Country Club on Tuesday. With much of their family at a cheer camp they manage annually at UH-Manoa, the Akina brothers served as their own caddies at the Manoa Cup. While some struggled to find footing, the Akinas, Kahuku natives who moved to Utah eight years ago, stood unfazed, negotiating soft greens and 15 mph winds as they piled up birdies and notched big wins.
Kihei and Keanu Akina, Kahuku natives who moved to Utah eight years ago, hauled their own golf clubs up and down the slopes of Oahu Country Club. While some struggled to find footing, the Akina brothers trod unfazed, step by step. Soft greens and 15 mph winds were the norm Tuesday.
Their footprints trailed birdies and big wins, no less. Much of the Akina family found themselves at a cheer camp they still manage annually at UH-Manoa, so Kihei and Keanu doubled as golfer and caddie. The round of 64 results suggested the added work took no toll, each advancing one stride closer to a possible rematch with Josh Hayashida, reigning Manoa Cup champion.
Kihei, named USA Today’s Boys High School Golf Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2023, furthered his return bid to the Manoa Cup match-play championship with a 6-and-4 win over Ross Mitsutani of Hilo. Keanu, who recently wrapped up his college career at BYU and graduated, concluded his matchup with George Fox senior Noah Koshi in 5-and-3 fashion. “Me and Kihei are pretty competitive,”.