Sometimes, a little familiarity goes a long way—especially when it comes to navigating the tricky winds of Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course. Punahou sophomore Bret Kiyuna leaned on his deep knowledge of the course to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the David Ishii/HHSAA Boys Golf State Championships on Tuesday.
Playing in the final group, Kiyuna faced the full force of Mokapu’s notorious gusts, which whipped at a steady 13 mph with occasional bursts up to 25 mph—far more challenging than last week’s girls state tournament. Despite the conditions, he carded an even-par 72, edging out Kealakehe senior Malakai Akeo, who posted a 1-over 73. A trio of players—St. Joseph freshman Leo Saito, Maryknoll’s Braylon Yamada, and Island Pacific’s Ryder Obrero-Ueno—sit two strokes back at 2-over.
Kiyuna, sporting his trusty white American Junior Golf Association hat, admitted to some nerves but remained confident. “I usually play pretty good with this hat,” he said with a smile. “I feel good, but I’m a little nervous. I played kind of good today, but I still definitely left some shots out there. Hopefully, I can fix that tomorrow.”
Though his family lives in Honolulu, Kiyuna considers Klipper his home course, playing there nearly every week. “It’s the best practice facility with the chipping green,” he noted. “Today, the wind was pretty bad.”
Starting on the back nine, Kiyuna navigated a rollercoaster of a round. “I had bogey, bogey, and then birdie, then a double (bogey). I shot 2 over on the back nine. I was actually pretty satisfied with that. I had a rough start,” he explained. He highlighted the difficulty of holes like the par-5 10th and the par-3 6th, which played 175 yards into the wind with a small green. “If you’re in between clubs, just club up. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
The front nine’s typical headwinds shifted to a left-to-right breeze, a challenge for Kiyuna’s natural fade. “I kind of just play with the wind. I don’t really try to get too fancy with my shots,” he said, a strategy honed by his countless rounds at Klipper.
That course experience set him apart from competitors like Akeo and Saito, who struggled to adapt. Just three strokes off the lead, a pack of four players sits at 75: Gunnar Lee (Moanalua), Quade Martinez (Kalaheo), Caden Kawashige (Roosevelt), and Lakota Lee (Kihei Charter).
With similar sunny, windy conditions expected for the final round, Kiyuna remains optimistic. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow because I think (the wind) probably won’t get worse,” he said. “Shout out to my coach, Coach Ian (Parrish), and also my swing coach, Coach Kevin Shimamura.”
Whether his hat brings luck or his course knowledge carries him through, Kiyuna is poised for a thrilling finish. For golf fans and apparel enthusiasts alike, it’s a reminder that the right gear and preparation can make all the difference—even when the wind tries to blow you off course.