Hawaii Prep senior Malia Camero may have gone unnoticed when she walked on the volleyball court. After all, she is a setter and stands 5 feet, 4 inches.
But her ability to distribute the ball and her other skills stood out to BIIF Division II champion Ka Makani, who landed four players in the first team, including junior outside hitter Parker Lewis, freshman hitter Margot Lewis and sophomore setter/opposite Kahena samurai .
Camero was named the BIIF Player of the Year, in a vote by the league’s coaches and the Tribune-Herald.
“I really can’t believe it. It’s unreal and I’m so grateful,” she said. “I tried to bring positivity and energy. This season has been so difficult with COVID and injuries. Sometimes we didn’t know what we were fighting for. A BIIF game could be gone. But I tried to give positivity and energy every game.”
The other All-BIIF first team players are Konawaena junior middle blocker Chelsea Velez, junior hitter Braelyn Kauhi and sophomore hitter Tiffanie Alo.
HPA’s Sharon Peterson was selected as the BIIF Coach of the Year after leading Ka Makani to their fourth Division II title.
“Malia was our best player and our captain,” said Peterson. “She was great in training and in games. She had a great leadership. She really committed to the season. Without her we won’t win the title. Setters are not often recognized, but Malia deserved it very much.”
Setters are like offensive linemen. They do the hard work that goes unnoticed and only draws attention when a quarterback is fired.
Peterson should know about setters because she was a great one herself. The NAIA and UH-Hilo Hall of Famer played on the 1964 U.S. Olympic team.
In fact, BIIF setters are rarely recognized. The last setter to be the BIIF Player of the Year was Ashia Joseph van Waiakea in 2010, when there was an All-BIIF East-West format.
One of the nation’s best all-time setters is USC’s Debbie Green, who took home a silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Those who remember Green know that she was 5-4, the same height as Camero, who was mentored by two great volleyball players, Peterson and Kauwila Lavea-Garmon, a Honokaa graduate, who played at UHH, Academy of Art and Vanguard.
“I tried a few sports when I was young, but nothing stuck. In third grade, volleyball was my only sport,” Camero said. “I started at Parks and Recreation, a local high school club team, and started playing high school.
“I entered the Kamuela Volleyball Club in eighth grade. Coach Garmon taught me about perseverance. We played great Hilo club teams and traveled to Las Vegas. It’s a completely different game there. Coach Sharon taught me about having a strong mindset. It not only helps you, but also your team. That’s a big part of the game.”
Camero received an All-BIIF honorable mention in 2019. She made a huge leap up the performance ladder, playing front row for the first time.
“It was very intimidating. Until last season I never played on the front row,” she said. “Coach Sharon taught me to be smart with my placement of the ball. I had to play smart on the net.”
After graduating from HPA, Camero plans to study nursing and play volleyball at a West Coast school.
“That’s my other goal, to come back to Hawaii,” she said. “I know there will be a lot of opportunities. That’s another big factor.”
For those still figuring out why the surname Camero sounds familiar, it’s because her brother is Kalan Camero, a 2015 HPA graduate and guardian of the basketball team that won Ka Makani’s first state title in 2014.
Her other brother, Colby, was interested in theatre. Her father, Fred Camero Jr., grew up on Lanai, where he played basketball, volleyball and ran cross country. Mom Alyce was a cheerleader.
For fun, there’s only one thing Malia Camero likes to do.
“I like to spend time with my friends and family,” she says. “We live 15 minutes from the beach in Waimea. My father and I like to go to the beach on Saturdays to play volleyball.”
All-BIIF Division II Girls Volleyball
first team
Malia Camero HPA Setter 12
Parker Lewis HPA OH 11
Margot Lewis HPA OH 9
Kahena Samura HPA OPP/S 10
Chelsea Velez Kona MB 11
Braelyn Kauhi Kona OH 11
Tiffanie Alo Kona OH 10
Player of the Year
Malia Camero, HPA
Coach of the Year
Sharon Peterson, HPA
Honorable Mention
Honokaa: Taylor Guerrero, Kristen Ragasa
HPA: Elaina Head, Tiffany Bento, Kailana North, Tiana Edwards
Kohala: Mahea Pang
Kona: Marina Nitta, Liberty Tuifua, Alexis Dullam, Kailee Llanes-Kelekolio
pahoa: Rieshel Haili, Hayden Quihano, Hope Kamakeeaina
parker: Jade Kaiawe-Masuda, Kaelyn Juan, Briana Head