WAIPI'O — As tough and impenetrable as Punahou's defense was, there remains a higher level that might surface today.

Aisha Price scored five goals, Kulani Jenkins and Shayna Price had three each and top-seeded Punahou played its usual brand of tenacious defense to beat No. 4 Lahainaluna, 14-4, in today's semifinals of Local Motion Hawai'i High School Athletic Association state water polo championship at the Veterans' Memorial Aquatic Center.

After winning the first two state titles in 2004 and 2005, then not qualifying for state tournament the past two years, Punahou (10-0) plays Kamehameha (8-3) in tomorrow's championship game. Kamehameha won the 2006 title, but didn't qualify for states last year.

"I think we can do a better job, though," Jenkins said of her team's defensive intensity. "We didn't hold them as well as we should have in the middle there."

The Buffanblu got off to a 4-0 lead and their defense gave few looks for the Lunas (11-1) the entire match.

"Punahou brings such a high-skill level, such intensity," said Lahainaluna coach Will Hutchison, whose team was fourth at states last year. "We had a hard time matching that intensity. It's not that we didn't play hard, they are a special team."

Lahainaluna's Moana Tuipulotu scored with 35 seconds left in the first quarter to make it 4-1. Aisha Price scored 15 seconds later to make it 5-1 and the Buffanblu scored twice in the second quarter for a 7-1 halftime lead.

Jenkins and Aisha Price each scored in the third to give Punahou a 9-1 lead.

"We wanted to send a message," Aisha Price said. "We knew what we wanted to do and executed it well. Our defense is the most important aspect of our game this year."

Tuipulotu scored two goals for Lahainaluna, which faces Kahuku (17-1) in today's third-place game. Alana Hendrickson and Kayla Wall each added a goal.

KAMEHAMEHA 8, NO. 2 KAHUKU 5

Kehau Ai scored the go-ahead goal in the third quarter as the Warriors held off the Red Raiders in a semifinal game.

Ai scored with 2:07 left in the third quarter on a penalty shot that made it 5-4.

Iikea Snow's goal on a power play gave Kamehameha a 6-4 lead with 5:45 left in the fourth.

Taniya Sifton scored for Kahuku with 3:48 left to cut the deficit to 6-5. But Nanea Fujiyama scored the next two goals for Kamehameha, both on plays with her back towards the goal to make it 8-5.

Fujiyama then came up with a key steal with 2:12 left.

"The shot, the more I take it, it just seems more accurate," said Fujiyama, who led Kamehameha with four goals.

Gina Ahue led Kahuku with three goals.