The Hawaii football team wasted little time in securing the first commitment of Norm Chow’s two-week tenure as head coach.

Leo Koloamatangi, a lineman from Sacred Hearts Prep High School in Northern California, told the Star-Advertiser he has accepted a scholarship offer from the Warriors. The three-day contact period for recruiting opened Wednesday.

Koloamatangi is 6 feet 5 and 255 pounds. He played on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Gators. He said it has not been decided which position he will play for the Warriors.

“My whole attitude is wherever I can help the team, and wherever I can help them win a bowl game, that’s where I’ll play,” he said.

Koloamatangi said he was recruited by Washington State, Boise State, Oregon State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Cal Poly, and Sacramento State.

He said he chose the Warriors because of UH assistant coach Lewis Powell, who is a long-time family friend, and Chow.

“When I found out that Norm Chow took the head-coaching position at Hawaii, that sold me right away,” Koloamatangi said. “Who wouldn’t want to play for Norm Chow? He’s a great coach. And he’s humble.”

Koloamatangi said his uncle, Starling Latu, and Powell’s older brother were football teammates at Oregon State.

Koloamatangi said he lives a block away from the house where Powell was raised.

“It’s definitely a relationship that will make me feel more comfortable going out to Hawaii,” Koloamatangi said.

He is scheduled to visit Hawaii the weekend of Jan. 13. It will be his first time in Hawaii. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and raised in California.

He said he wants to play in Hawaii because of a “cultural type of thing. I’m Polynesian. The thought of Hawaii brings me back to my cultural roots.”