Fehoko becomes
more popular after
committing to Utah

The Farrington senior receives
an offer from Bosie State with
more expected to come

Christmas is arriving quite early for Whitley Fehoko.

Then again, the Farrington senior has earned every gift, and then some. The 6-foot-1 1/2, 298-pound lineman received his second scholarship offer, with more are on the way.

Yesterday, Boise State became the second university to offer Fehoko a full scholarship. Nearly two weeks ago, after attending a camp at Utah, he made a soft commit to the Utes.

If it seems like he is being untrue to Utah, that perception is quite the contrary. He is in clear understanding with the Utes that he will continue to receive potential suitors until letter-of-intent day in February.

At this weekend's Hula Bowl camp on Maui, Fehoko will likely receive an offer from Colorado. He is already an NCAA qualifier.

"I'm looking forward to Maui and meeting more coaches," said Fehoko, who plays offensive line at Farrington. He's projected as a potential defensive tackle, however, at the next level. At Utah's camp, he bench-pressed 225 pounds 25 times.

"I really like Utah a lot. I felt at home. There were a lot of Polynesians there. The guys from Hawaii said a lot of good things about the school," Fehoko said. "Utah laid it on the table for me."

Utah finished the 2004-05 season ranked fourth in the AP poll and fifth in the ESPNUSA Today rankings.

Boise State was ranked in the top 10 until losing to Louisville in the Liberty Bowl. The Broncos finished at No. 12 in the AP poll and 13th in the ESPNUSA Today list.

Fehoko's dream schools are Utah, Nebraska, Arizona State, Oregon and USC.

Of those that have shown interest, he includes Hawaii among the top five.

"They're second or third," he said.

Nebraska, Colorado, Utah and Boise State round out his top-five list of schools.

"When I was a little kid, I wanted to get away, but as I get older, I want to play in front of my family and friends," said Fehoko, whose father Vili is the unofficial mascot of the UH athletic program. "I've seen the program grow. We see a lot of things that we like."

Fehoko works out at UH as much as four times per week. Strength coach Mel deLaura helped him prepare for the recent Nike camp.

"I was really looking forward to Hawaii, but Coach Cav said I wasn't really what they're looking for," he said of former offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh. "I'm still hopeful about hearing from them. I hope they send a letter to me to give me some hope."

The possibility of playing for Hawaii, with his father pumping up the crowd at Aloha Stadium, is a plus. "I would be real happy to run out of the tunnel and see my dad there," he said.

Since returning from Utah last weekend, Fehoko has hit the iron and the pavement, sticking to a brutal conditioning regimen.

Wherever Fehoko lands, he is serious about one more thing: studying sports medicine.

National honors for Kiyuna: Former Hawaii High School Athletic Association executive director Ed Kiyuna has been out of the spotlight for nine years, but a national honor is coming his way today.

The National Federation of High Schools, meeting for its annual conference this week in San Antonio, Texas, will award Kiyuna with a citation for 46 years of work with Hawaii's youth. He served as a teacher, coach, athletic director, counselor, vice principal and principal at Aiea Intermediate School, Aiea High, Waianae Intermediate and Mililani High.

He was chief of the HHSAA for 18 years before retiring in 1996, also serving on the NFHS executive committee, appeals board and competition committee.

"It's a tremendous and well-deserved honor for Mr. Kiyuna," said HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya, who will accept the award on Kiyuna's behalf. "It's nice that he's recognized for his years of dedication to Hawaii's kids."