The number of Kahuku’s
Division I recruits up to 8

Siuaki Livai is a happy man.

With the latest verbal commitments of David Niumatalolo, Al Afalava and Spencer Hafoka, the Kahuku football coach now has eight players en route to play Division I football. Of the eight, seven are already qualifiers.

"We've had a lot of Division I recruits before, but this is the most we've had who qualified. With this group, this has been our focus more than ever," said Livai, who teaches algebra at the school.

Niumatalolo, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound lineman, will play defensive end in New Mexico State's 3-4 set. He has a 3.96 core grade-point average (4.2 overall) and an SAT score of 1180. His other numbers: a 4.9 in the 40 last summer, and a 350 max on the bench press.

"I feel relieved. Now my dad doesn't have to pay for my college education," said Niumatalolo, who may major in biology. He was also offered by I-AA Weber State, but New Mexico State joins the Western Athletic Conference this fall. "Coming back to play UH was big," he said.

Niumatalolo joins four other Red Raiders who have committed to NMSU: offensive lineman Maveu Heimuli, linebackers B.J. Adolpho and Max Fairclough, and tight end La'auli Fonoti. Heimuli was also offered by UNLV. Fairclough, a Star-Bulletin All-State second-team selection, is very close to becoming a qualifier.

Currently, Niumatalolo has been weight training and preparing for the track and field season. He competes in the discus and shot put.

Afalava and Hafoka, to no surprise, committed to BYU. Both were Star-Bulletin All-State first-team selections: Afalava as a defensive back, and Hafoka as a wide receiver. Oregon State was among the schools that recruited Afalava, and he told the Star-Bulletin two weeks ago that he enjoyed that visit, but was not committed.

Once the dust settles -- letter of intent day is tomorrow -- this might turn out to be a bellweather year for Kahuku football. There are two, perhaps three more players, Livai said, who could qualify during the spring.

"The bottom line is, as a coach, you gotta initiate this," he said, crediting athletic director Joe Whitford's efforts. Whitford contacted student-athletes at the end of last school year about their status as potential qualifiers. The ones who needed summer school were told.

"Over the years, we've added more tutors, more study halls. It's not just a one-year thing," Livai said.

Meanwhile, Hawaii was close to its allotted 25 recruits, but continued to play the waiting game for Saint Louis defensive tackle Tyson Alualu and Kevin Maher, a receiver/safety from Lake Oswego, Ore.

Alualu was still trying to decide between UH and Cal yesterday. His coach, Delbert Tengan, said he did not know if Alualu was leaning one way or another. "It's a big decision for him, so I'm letting him and his family have space," Tengan said.

Maher's coach, Steve Coury, said the player was still comparing the merits of Hawaii, Oregon State and Washington State. "He was a great player both ways for us," Coury said. "I think he's a defensive guy down the road, a safety or a linebacker with good speed and toughness."

B.J. Fruean was also in limbo, as the Leilehua linebacker awaited test scores before visiting UH.

Snap decision: One of UH's new recruits might end up as the Warriors' new long snapper, as specialist Bryce Runge has decided to transfer.

Special teams coach Mouse Davis said at least three returning players will get a look in the spring. They are starting outside linebacker Tanuvasa Moe, scout team running back David Farmer and starting cornerback Kenny Patton.

Moe was the long snapper for two seasons before Runge arrived last year, and Farmer seems like a good prospect since he isn't expected to play much on offense. Patton -- who volunteered to try out for the spot -- seems like an odd candidate for the middle of the line at 6-feet and 170 pounds, but Davis said his speed would be useful from the snapping position.

"The rules say you can't pop him, and he'd be real good at getting down there to cover the punt," Davis said. "June (head coach Jones) was there when it came up. I asked him if he'd allow that, and he said 'yeah.' I said, 'You all heard that.' "

Home and away: The Western Athletic Conference welcomes three new teams in 2005 while four leave, and the new rotation for UH football's home and away games has been set.

This fall, the Warriors play at Idaho, Nevada, San Jose State and Louisiana Tech. The four conference home games are against Fresno State, Boise State, New Mexico State and Utah State. Dates have not been set.