Kahuku girls water polo coach Aukai Ferguson yesterday took the plunge into the pool for the final time as O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion.

He will retire after having won all five OIA tournaments.

Gina Ahue scored five of her six goals in the second half yesterday as Kahuku wore down Kapolei, 11-4, at Central O'ahu Regional Park pool.

Ferguson said he used to put up a fight after previous OIA crowns, but he went into the pool more or less willingly yesterday with assistance from a couple of his players.

"I've given up fighting," said Ferguson, who said he's retiring to spend more time with his two young children. "I used to be able to fight them all off, but now that I'm old they get me with two or three girls."

Top-seeded Kahuku (15-0), No. 3 Kapolei (12-3), No. 2 Roosevelt (13-2) and No. 5 Leilehua (8-7) had already qualified for next week's state tournament by reaching the OIA semifinals.

The Red Raiders will receive a first-round bye in the eight-team tournament at CORP.

The Red Raiders have finished runner-up to an Interscholastic League of Honolulu team at the past two state tournaments.

"We'll enjoy this over the weekend and Monday we'll look forward to states," Ferguson said.

Kahuku led just 5-4 at halftime yesterday against Kapolei. Nicole Hagi scored the Hurricanes' final three goals of the first half.

"Nicole, she can get her shot off," Kapolei coach Dexter Lee said. "She's pretty much the fastest kid in the pool no matter who we play. She doesn't get tired. She swims the most. She's the toughest."

Ahue scored three times in the third period and two more in the fourth. Minnie Whitford finished with three goals.

"Gina Ahue is one of those special players, you're just waiting for good things to happen from her," Ferguson said. "She got off to a little bit of a rough start, but I knew it was just a matter of percentage."

Kahuku goalie Ella Aiwohi stopped all five shots against her in the second half.

"I think today we were a little bit deeper," Ferguson said. "We're not as deep as some years, but we definitely worked hard on conditioning."

Ferguson has been coaching water polo at Kahuku since 1993. He added, OIA water polo started as a coed sport, became an unofficial girls sport and was sanctioned six years ago.

"He's got depth, ball-handling, speed; they're organized," Lee said. "He does a better job coaching than the rest of us, including me."

Ferguson said many of his players are strong swimmers because they surf.

"We have surfers that have to go out in the North Shore surf, and some of these girls charge 6- to 8-foot (waves) at Sunset, so they're not very afraid when they get into the pool," Ferguson said.

Aiwohi added the entire team has been playing together for the past six years under Ferguson.

"All of the girls are good players," she said. "We wanted it so bad. We've been playing together for so long."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertis er. com or 525-8041.

KAPOLEI (12-3) 0 4 0 0— 4

KAHUKU (15-0) 2 3 4 2—11

KAPOLEI GOALS

Second quarter—Alexandra Jamora (6:23); Nicole Hagi (5:27); Hagi (2:29); Hagi (0:23).

KAHUKU GOALS

First quarter—Minnie Whitford (5:46); Gina Ahue (5:00). Second quarter—Whitford (2:41); Rebecca Fonoimoana (2:16); Rosie Jaffurs (0:43, power play). Third quarter—Ahue (6:15); Ahue (3:11); Ahue (1:09); Whitford (0:38). Fourth quarter—Ahue (3:04); Ahue (0:38, power play).

THIRD PLACE

Roosevelt 8, Leilehua 4. Goals: Roos—Keola Kamakana 4, Lana Dang 2, Marissa Young 1, Gina Galmiche 1. Lei—Jenny Morihara, Liz Lukefahr, Robyn Araki, Brittany Sweeney.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.