In just its second year of existence, the Polynesian Bowl, a high school football all-star game, has become a high priority for seniors not just in Hawaii but nationwide.

“This is definitely a special thing,” Punahou offensive lineman Alama Uluave said. “Last year I had a bunch of teammates on the Polynesian Bowl teams and they kept telling me how it was the best time of their lives — the best week of their senior years — and so I felt like I really want to see it for myself and really wanted to come out.”

Thirty players from Hawaii have been joined by 70 of the top players from around the country to participate in Saturday’s game at Aloha Stadium.

Five of the top 32 players in the country according to 247Sports are expected to play, including Bishop Gorman linebacker Palaie Gaoteote, who signed with Southern California.

The nephew of Ma’a Tanuvasa, Gaoteote played his freshman season at Mililani before transferring to Las Vegas for his final three years of high school.

“As a Hawaii boy, I can tell you there’s no place like home,” Gaoteote said.

Gaoteote is one of four players invited to sign with USC. The Trojans are tied with Ohio State for the second-most signees in the game, behind Washington’s six. The Huskies contingent includes Pearl City defensive lineman Zion Tupuola-Fetui.

Notre Dame, UCLA, Oregon, Boise State and national champion Alabama all have three signees selected to the game.

In between practice days at pristine Kunuiakea Stadium on the Kamehameha campus, the players spent Wednesday on the North Shore. Practice was held at Kahuku High School, where Red Raiders senior Samson Reed enjoyed showing his teammates how they do things in Laie.

“(They were) complaining about the dirt and mud and how crazy it was and potholes everywhere, but I love the field no matter what,” said Reed, who has signed with Virginia. “That’s my field. I cherish it. I was laughing, though, because this is every day for us.”

Fourteen Hawaii high schools are represented in the game. Kamehameha is represented by safety Kalamaku Kuewa and defensive end Jonah Kahahawai-Welch.

Kahahawai-Welch provided the biggest surprise of signing day locally in February when he changed his commitment from Navy and signed with Hawaii.

“I took my visit to Navy on Nov. 11 to watch the SMU game,” Kahahawai-Welch said Tuesday. “I loved it there, came back home and decided to go there. As soon as that happened, Hawaii came into play and asked if I wanted to go on a visit. Home state, who wouldn’t want to? After that I did the pros and cons of each school, and the military wasn’t my thing. We’ve got a bunch of Hawaii guys going to UH — (wide receiver) Jonah Panoke, (quarterback) Chevan Cordeiro, (defensive back) Kai Kaneshiro. Good football players and local boys staying home. It’s going to change the program a lot, for sure. Coach (Nick) Rolovich told us that staying home is going to be a great cause for the state of Hawaii. He was super stoked when I told him I committed.”

Cordeiro is one of three quarterbacks for Team Mauka. Brevin White is a four-star prospect from Lancaster, Calif., who will attend Princeton. The third is UCLA commit Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the No. 2-ranked dual threat quarterback in the nation who prepped at Bishop Gorman.

Konawaena’s Austin Ewing, who led the Wildcats to the Division II state final, was a late addition to the game as the third quarterback for Team Makai. Devin Leary is a four-star recruit from Timber Creek, N.J., who signed with N.C. State, and Tanner McKee from Centennial (Corona, Calif.) is the No. 3 pro-style QB in the country and uncommitted. McKee has offers from Alabama, Stanford, Texas and Washington, among others.

TEAM MAKAI

Palaie Gaoteote, LB, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)

The nephew of Ma’a Tanuvasa, he is a 6-foot-2, 235-pound five-star recruit and ranked as the No. 2 inside linebacker and No. 22 overall prospect in the country by 247Sports. Gaoteote, who played as a freshman at Mililani before transferring to Bishop Gorman, signed with Southern California during the early signing period and will be teammates with Waianae alum Kana‘i Mauga, who has already enrolled at USC. Finished with 232 tackles and 41 1/2 tackles for loss in three years with the Gaels.

Ricky Slade, RB, C.D. Hylton (Woodbridge, Va.)

The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Penn State signee has been clocked at 4.48 in the 40-yard dash and is the top-ranked recruit from Virginia and No. 2 overall all-purpose back in the country, according to 247Sports. He rushed for 3,529 yards and 42 touchdowns in three years. Despite holding 26 offers, his only official visit was to the Nittany Lions.

Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Lindenhurst (N.Y.)

The 6-foot-6, 238-pound four-star recruit is the top tight end in the country, according to 247Sports, and signed with Ohio State. In two years of varsity football, Ruckert caught 118 passes for 1,618 yards and 15 touchdowns. A physical presence who can also block, Ruckert has no plans to redshirt as a freshman with the Buckeyes.

TEAM MAUKA

Chevan Cordeiro, QB, Saint Louis

The 6-foot, 175-pound Hawaii signee broke out of Tua Tagovailoa’s shadow in a big way this season, leading the Crusaders to a state title.

Hawaii was his only offer and this game is a huge opportunity to show where he stands among some of the best players in the country.

A good showing will only add to the excitement most hometown fans feel about landing the top QB prospect from the islands this season.

Brandon Kaho, LB, Reno (Nev.)

The 6-foot-2 232-pounder recently received his fifth star from 247Sports and jumped up all the way to No. 21 overall in the class of 2018 as the top-rated inside linebacker.

Kaho, who is one of six players in the game who signed with Washington, is versatile, can play a number of positions, and has seen his stock rise as much as any prospect this late in the evaluation process.

Isaac Taylor-Stuart, DB, Helix (Mesa, Calif.)

The 6-foot-2, 187-pound five-star recruit is the 35th overall prospect in the country, according to 247Sports, and is uncommitted. Alabama, Texas A&M and USC appear to be the favorites to land the talented Southern California prospect who has legitimate 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash and picked off six passes in his senior season.