Semisi Uluave provided the surprise of the Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance national letter of intent signing day ceremonies this morning committing to the University of California Berkeley.

Uluave, an all-State offensive lineman from Punahou School, had been heavily recruited by more than a dozen schools including Oregon, UCLA and Texas Tech.

Uluave took a deep breath, and signed with Cal. Then, he reached into a plastic bag and pulled on a Cal cap in ceremonies at the Sheraton Waikiki.

The 6-foot, 6-inch, 315-pound Uluave, said, he arrived at his decision Monday and reaffirmed it Tuesday night. “I’ve been saying a lot of prayers lately,” Uluave said.

He was rated a four-star prospect by several national national recruiting services.

Punahou receiver Kanawai Noa also committed to Cal.

Oregon, as expected, was a big winner with three commitments: defensive end Canton Kaumatule (Punahou), defensive tackle Rex Manu (Mililani) and defensive back Dylan Kane (Kamehameha). Kaumatule is already enrolled at Oregon.

In addition Matt Mariota, younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner Marcus, committed to the Ducks.

Meanwhile, as of mid-morning, nine University of Hawaii football recruits signed letters of intent.

Five Kahuku senior football players signed with the teams they had earlier orally committed to on Wednesday morning during a school-wide assembly in the gym.

Defensive lineman/running back Salanoa-Alo Wily and linebacker Soli Afalava made good on their one-day old commitments to University of Nevada-Las Vegas by signing their letters of intent to the Rebels.

Previously, Afalava had been a solid Hawaii commit, while Wily had originally committed to Hawaii and then to UNLV and then became undecided. Both made their final decisions Tuesday.

Cornerback Alohi Gilman sent his letter of intent to Navy and quarterback Tuli Wily-Matagi honored his commitment to Oregon State as a tight end.

Defensive lineman and fullback Pena Fitisemanu signed as a preferred walk-on with Utah.

Afalava will likely play strong safety for UNLV, and Fitisemanu may move to linebacker and play some fullback for the Utes.

Star-Advertiser TOP 20

(Where the top local college football prospects have signed)

Rank    Player  Pos.    Ht.     Wt.     School  College

1.      Canton Kaumatule        DE      6-7     290     Punahou Oregon

2.      Fred Ulu-Perry  OL      6-2     295     Saint Louis     UCLA

3.      Semisi Uluave   OL      6-6     315     Punahou Cal

4.      Mika Tafua      DE      6-4     238     Kamehameha      BYU

5.      Rex Manu        DT      6-2     290     Mililani        Oregon

6.      Breiden Fehoko  DT      6-3     286     Farrington      Texas Tech

7.      Dylan Kane      DB      6-3     195     Kamehmameha     Oregon

8.      Kanawai Noa     WR      6-1     185     Punahou Cal

9.      Jordan Agasiva  OL      6-3     290     Mililani        UH

10.     Tuli Wily-Matagi        TE/DL   6-3     220     Kahuku  Oregon St.

11.     Solomon Matautia        LB      6-2     215     Campbell        UH

12.     Salanoa-Alo Wily        DT      6-1     270     Kahuku  UNLV

13.     Lyle Tuiloma    OL      6-3     284     Nanakuli        Colorado

14.     Ronley Lakalaka LB      6-1     220     Punahou San Diego St.

15.     Viliamu Auwae   OL      6-6     275     Kapolei Utah State      

16.     Abiel Taito     DB      6-2     200     Campbell            ??

17.     Kamuela Borden  OL/DL   6-3     240     ‘Iolani UH

18.     Soli Afalava    DB      6-2     201     Kahuku  UNLV

19.     Ronald Matautia LB      5-11    205     Kapolei ??

20.     Alohi Gilman    DB      6-0     180     Kahuku  U. S. Naval Academy

Source: Schools, players.

UH SIGNEES

> Jordan Agasiva, OL, 6-4, 280, Mililani HS

> Kamuela Borden, OL/DL, 6-3, 240, Iolani School

> Dejaun Butler, CB, 6-0, 190, Santa Monica (Calif.) College

> Paul Harris, WR/KR, 5-11, 190, Jr. Ventura (Calif.) College

> J.R. Hensley, OL, 6-6, 320, Santa Fe HS (Edmond, Okla.)

> Solomon Matautia, LB, 6-2, 220, Campbell HS

> Eperone Moananu, OL, 6-2, 285, Tafuna HS (American Samoa)

> Alex Trifonovitch, P/K, 6-1, 180, Punahou School

> Austin Webb, OT, 6-8, 312, Highland Park HS (Dallas)

What’s more, these members of the 2015 recruiting class already are enrolled at UH:

> Dylan Collie, 5-10, 175, Oak Ridge HS (Utah)

> Dayton Furuta, LB, Mililani HS

> Sione Kauhi, DE, 6-5, 240, Wilsonville (Ore.) HS

> Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea, LB, 6-3, 240, Arizona/Kamehameha Schools

> Matt Norman, OL, 6-5,250, Fullerton (Calif.) College

> D.J. Riggins, RB, Christian Oaks HS (Calif.)

> Manly Williams, LB, Farrington HS

> Russell Williams, 6-1, 225, Sacramento City College

> Max Wittek, QB, 6-4, 240, USC

Quarterback Aaron Zwahlen and offensive lineman Gus Lavaka complete two-year church missions this spring and will join the Warriors in June.  

Correction: Punahou School offensive lineman Semisi Uluvave did not make a commitment to any school before signing a national letter of intent with California Wednesday, as was reported in an earlier version of this story.