It took awhile for the 'Iolani girls water polo team to get in the flow yesterday. Once it did, Kahuku had no answer.

'Iolani scored six consecutive goals over a 9:14 span of the second half in an 11-4 victory over Kahuku in the final of the Local Motion/HHSAA Girls Water Polo State Championships at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

'Iolani, making its first state tournament appearance, got four goals from Dara Tawarahara and three from Jade Look. Ashley Nickle and Aja Kusao each added two second-half goals.

"They just needed to settle down in the beginning," 'Iolani coach Linda Look said. "There were a little nerves, but the nerves went down and we started running our plays and they executed them well."

'Iolani (10-1) is the third Interscholastic League of Honolulu school to win a state title. Punahou won the first two and Kamehameha won last season.

"It feels great. We've been waiting for this," Tawarahara said. "We knew what we had to do at the beginning of the season, and it feels great to accomplish it with this group of girls."

Tawarahara, who scored 12 goals in three matches, was named tournament MVP.

"Dara did great," Linda Look said. "She's a strong player. We have to remind her of that. She did what she was supposed to do, good positioning, and started putting the ball in the cage."

Nickle (12 goals) and Kusao (nine) also made the all-tournament team for No. 1 seeded 'Iolani, which had six senior starters.

It was the final match for Kahuku coach Aukai Ferguson, who is retiring to spend more time with his two young children. Assistant Makana Whitford will replace him next season.

Kahuku, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion and No. 2 seed, has lost in the last three state tournament finals.

Kahuku (14-1) got within 5-4 on Gina Ahue's goal with 6 minutes remaining in the third period. Then it was all Raiders.

Nickle (5:32), Kusao (3:08), Tawarahara (2:00) and Nickle (1:13) scored in the third for 'Iolani. In the fourth, Kusao assisted on a goal by Jade Look (4:13), who returned the favor by assisting on a goal by Kusao (3:18).

"We just picked up our rhythm and got our game going, and we ended it how we wanted to end it," said Jade Look, the coach's daughter.

After Ahue scored, Kahuku only managed three shots on goal with many attempts coming from long range and sailing over the goal.

"They were giving us that opportunity and we felt if our outside game was clicking that would be able to keep us in the game," Ferguson said. "I thought we had a lot of good looks at the goal, but nerves, a lot of fatigue in there."

The Red Raiders took a 3-2 lead with 6:21 left in the second period after Rosie Jaffurs scored from 15 feet out on the right side. It was the first time 'Iolani trailed in the tournament. The Raiders outscored their previous two opponents, 33-9.

"We practiced for 'Iolani and the last couple of days we ran a few of their plays," Ferguson said. "They stopped their man-up (power plays), but it was just a little bit too much speed."

KAHUKU (14-1) 2 1 1 0— 4

'IOLANI (10-1) 2 3 4 2—11

Kahuku goals: First period—Rosie Jaffurs (4:10, power play); Noe Wicker (0:50). Second period—Jaffurs (6:21). Third period—Gina Ahue (6:00). 'Iolani goals: First period—Dara Tawarahara (4:42); Jade Look (3:08). Second period—Look (5:19); Tawarahara (2:17); Tawarahara (0:03). Third period—Ashley Nickle (5:32, power play); Aja Kusao (3:08); Tawarahara (2:00); Nickle (1:13). Fourth period—Kusao (4:13); Look (3:18).

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.