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In 2018, Brandon Dumlao had a dream.
In 2024, the former state championship point guard still had that dream.
On Monday, it became official. Dumlao, 32, is the new boys basketball coach at his alma mater, Kamehameha.
“It’s returning home. That’s how I feel,” Dumlao said on Monday night. “We had our first practice today, and they know the standards and expectations.”
He’s already on campus. He was a substitute teacher prior to the pandemic, and became a P.E. teacher in 2022. Currently, Dumlao is interim head of the P.E. department.
“Knowing the culture of the school, how things operate and all the things that we would have to deal with off the court, my experience as an educator gave me a little bit of an edge,” Dumlao said. “Their biggest concern is to build a culture that a school can be proud of. We know how to work with kids in a very special place. That’s something I take to heart.”
His three older children attend Kamehameha. Son Kamaha‘o was on the intermediate basketball team last season, and the Dumlao ohana is expecting a baby next week.
And yet, leaving Moanalua hasn’t been easy. He has been transparent with his athletic director, Joel Kawachi.
“I told Joel that I put my application in for Kamehameha. He wasn’t surprised. Joel and (assistant coach) Col. Michael Wingfield,” Dumlao said. “I talked to the boys about it. I didn’t want them thinking I didn’t like them or they weren’t good enough. I love Moanalua. They treated me great. Kamehameha is the only place I would’ve left for.”
Speculation about the Kamehameha opening had surrounded the former Kamehameha player and assistant coach. Dumlao had been head coach at Moanalua since 2021. He applied for the Kamehameha position when it opened up in 2018, and again two years ago and was believed to be a finalist again.
“In 2018, I truly don’t think I was ready to take on the job. Now, I hope I can retire as a teacher and coach at the same time,” Dumlao said.
He replaces Ron Durant, whose contract was not renewed. This past season, the Warriors were 15-16, going 3-9 in the regular season. Kamehameha lost its opening-round game in the ILH playoffs to University, 45-43.
Dumlao was the point guard under then-coach Jesse Nakanishi as the team won the 2009 state championship. Nakanishi, now the head coach at Hawaii Pacific University, is part of the James Winchester coaching tree. Winchester’s teams were consistently relentless on defense, applying fullcourt man-to-man coverage, bringing the backside trap on tunnel-vision ballhandlers. Rotating and covering ground with tenacity and precision. Winchester’s defensive philosophy was an influence on coaches statewide.
Moanalua hired Dumlao in 2021, and his teams qualified for the state tournament in ’23 and ’25. His ’23 squad beat Mililani and Kamehameha-Hawaii to reach the semifinals, losing to eventual state champion Saint Louis.
In anticipation of a possible change, Dumlao stepped back and had his JV coach, Jeremy McClean, run workouts this spring.
“I gave my (hiring) recommendation for him,” Dumlao added.
Hawaii Prep World
For high school sports record books, visit .
Continue reading...
In 2024, the former state championship point guard still had that dream.
On Monday, it became official. Dumlao, 32, is the new boys basketball coach at his alma mater, Kamehameha.
“It’s returning home. That’s how I feel,” Dumlao said on Monday night. “We had our first practice today, and they know the standards and expectations.”
He’s already on campus. He was a substitute teacher prior to the pandemic, and became a P.E. teacher in 2022. Currently, Dumlao is interim head of the P.E. department.
“Knowing the culture of the school, how things operate and all the things that we would have to deal with off the court, my experience as an educator gave me a little bit of an edge,” Dumlao said. “Their biggest concern is to build a culture that a school can be proud of. We know how to work with kids in a very special place. That’s something I take to heart.”
His three older children attend Kamehameha. Son Kamaha‘o was on the intermediate basketball team last season, and the Dumlao ohana is expecting a baby next week.
And yet, leaving Moanalua hasn’t been easy. He has been transparent with his athletic director, Joel Kawachi.
“I told Joel that I put my application in for Kamehameha. He wasn’t surprised. Joel and (assistant coach) Col. Michael Wingfield,” Dumlao said. “I talked to the boys about it. I didn’t want them thinking I didn’t like them or they weren’t good enough. I love Moanalua. They treated me great. Kamehameha is the only place I would’ve left for.”
Speculation about the Kamehameha opening had surrounded the former Kamehameha player and assistant coach. Dumlao had been head coach at Moanalua since 2021. He applied for the Kamehameha position when it opened up in 2018, and again two years ago and was believed to be a finalist again.
“In 2018, I truly don’t think I was ready to take on the job. Now, I hope I can retire as a teacher and coach at the same time,” Dumlao said.
He replaces Ron Durant, whose contract was not renewed. This past season, the Warriors were 15-16, going 3-9 in the regular season. Kamehameha lost its opening-round game in the ILH playoffs to University, 45-43.
Dumlao was the point guard under then-coach Jesse Nakanishi as the team won the 2009 state championship. Nakanishi, now the head coach at Hawaii Pacific University, is part of the James Winchester coaching tree. Winchester’s teams were consistently relentless on defense, applying fullcourt man-to-man coverage, bringing the backside trap on tunnel-vision ballhandlers. Rotating and covering ground with tenacity and precision. Winchester’s defensive philosophy was an influence on coaches statewide.
Moanalua hired Dumlao in 2021, and his teams qualified for the state tournament in ’23 and ’25. His ’23 squad beat Mililani and Kamehameha-Hawaii to reach the semifinals, losing to eventual state champion Saint Louis.
In anticipation of a possible change, Dumlao stepped back and had his JV coach, Jeremy McClean, run workouts this spring.
“I gave my (hiring) recommendation for him,” Dumlao added.
Hawaii Prep World
For high school sports record books, visit .
Continue reading...
