A 1967 press clipping describes Kala Ka‘aihue as “one of the few outstanding three-sport men in the (ILH).” His resume can attest to that – three varsity letters each in football and baseball and two in basketball.
But it’s the box score from that 1967 article on Punahou’s 24-14 victory over Damien that drives the point home. Trailing 14-0 at halftime, he led the Buff ’n Blue back in the second half, connecting on a 37-yard field goal, tossing a lateral to set up a touchdown and scoring on a 1-yard keeper (in which he also kicked the extra point). Never mind that he was playing out of his natural position: linebacker.
Football may not even have been his best sport. As a catcher, Ka‘aihue helped Punahou baseball earn three ILH championships and two state titles. He played professionally at the minor league level for eight years, reaching as high as AAA with the Hawaii Islanders in 1975 and 1977.
Once described as Punahou’s “most inspirational player,” Ka‘aihue was named senior male athlete of the year in 1968.