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‘Just very unfortunate.’ Case over abrupt firing of Kahuku head football coach heads to court
FFootball

‘Just very unfortunate.’ Case over abrupt firing of Kahuku head football coach heads to court

  • July 19, 2025

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Former Kahuku High head football coach Sterling Carvalho appeared in Circuit Court Friday.

It was the first hearing in his lawsuit against the Hawaii State Department of Education, alleging breach of contract and defamation.

Friday’s preliminary status conference determined that the injunction hearings will take place on July 28.

The lawsuit stems from his abrupt firing in April after a complaint sent in from the parent of a Kahuku student-athlete alleged Carvalho created a toxic environment.

“Just very unfortunate and I wish everyone could play that comes to our program, but the matter of the fact is just 11 people at a time on the field,” Carvalho said. “So for that and and not allowing people to have the things that they wish, they want, I’m very sorry for that.”

Carvalho and his attorney, Eric Seitz, spoke to nearly 30 people who came to the hearing about what the next steps are, explaining that the July 28 date was to expedite the process.

As the start of the 2025 high school football season looms, Carvalho hopes to be back in place at the helm of Red Raiders football.

“That’s what I just want to get back doing, just serving the boys, serving the community, and just doing what’s right,” Carvalho said. “Hopefully we want this be resolved sooner rather than later for the betterment of coming back or not.”

Despite it being just a preliminary hearing, the courtroom was filled with supporters of Carvalho.

State Sen. Brenton Awa was in attendance along with Carvalho’s family, former coaches and current Kahuku players.

“It makes me feel very appreciative that people recognize that, you know, as a coach I try to do more than just the Xs and Os and winning,” Carvalho said. “Trying to do what’s best for our community, best for our boys so that they become better men later on in life.”

Carvalho took over the Kahuku varsity program in 2018 and won three consecutive state championships. He’s the only Red Raiders head coach to do so.

Despite the ongoing litigation, Carvalho is still employed by the DOE as a math teacher at Hawaii Technology Academy.

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