Two of the most renowned Hawai'i high school football champions will hold reunions in the coming months.

The Punahou team that won the 1961 Interscholastic League of Honolulu title will reunite Oct. 7 and 8.

The Farrington team that won the 1965 ILH title will convene Nov. 20.

PUNS' LAST UNBEATEN

The 1961 Buffanblu, the last Punahou team to go unbeaten, will be introduced at halftime of the game against Damien Oct. 7 at Punahou.

"We're just there to enjoy it and rekindle friendships," said Donnie Neves, 61, a retired assistant principal and athletic director at Highland High School in his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho.

"We invite anyone to come and reminisce with us. It's been 44 years since a lot of us has seen each other."

Other events will be held Oct. 8, including a dinner.

Neves said team members expected to attend include Buzzy Joao, Clinton Albao, Walter Macfarlane, Don Parker, Walter Harrington, Barc Johnson, Woody King, Alan Robinson, and Wayne Williams.

Williams, a running back who was the Player of the Year, lives in Boise, Idaho. King lives in Ohio and Johnson on Maui.

Punahou capped a 9-0 season with a 53-26 rout of Roosevelt in what was then the annual Thanksgiving Day doubleheader.

Neves scored two touchdowns in the game and Punahou reeled off five plays of 60 yards and longer.

GOVS' LAST CHAMPION

Nov. 25, 1965 was the day the Governors won it all, beating Kamehameha, 16-6. Who knew it would be the last time Farrington would win it all.

Farrington and the rest of the public schools left the ILH in 1970 to join the Rural O'ahu Interscholastic Association to form the OIA. Although Farrington would go on to win district and conference football titles, it has won the OIA just once, in 1990. That year, Farrington actually finished second in the OIA East, but won the overall OIA, only to lose 38-3 to Saint Louis in the Prep Bowl.

Organizers said many players, coaches and cheerleaders will attend the function, set for Nov. 20 at the Aku Bone Lounge from noon to 6 p.m.

"We gotta do it. It's the 40th, a round number," said Gordon Higa, a lineman on the team. "Our ultimate is to find 10 to 12 guys from the band. All we want is, 'Mr. Touchdown.' "

Players expected to attend are Stan Cadiente, Tom Gushiken, Gordon Higa, Gordon Hunter, Joe Gomes, Walter Rodrigues and Shea Pila.

"The team surprisingly stayed really close," Higa said. "A lot went to college together ... It's because of Stan. He had that aura about him. He's just Stan, 'Stan the Man.' "