Paipai Falemalu and Alema Tachibana commit to the Warriors!

About committing to the Warriors, Paipai said:
"I wanted to stay home and play." (HA)


About committing to the Warriors, Alema said:
"I talked it over with my family, and this is where I want to be." (HA)

HA Note: "Both players appeared to be headed to Mainland colleges. Falemalu had visited California, Washington and Oregon State. Tachibana had verbally committed to Utah, and head coach Kyle Whittingham made a strong late pitch. But both players were won over when Greg McMackin, the Warriors' newly hired head coach, and defensive coordinator Cal Lee made the historic visit to the North Shore last week. In the previous 12 years, UH head football coaches have met with Kahuku High prospects on the North Shore, but never in their homes on official recruiting visits."

About how Mack's home visit was a big event, Paipai said:
"No disrespect to the other coaches, but they never came down here in a long time. When people heard coach Mack was coming here, everybody was getting excited. 'UH never comes down here.' That really showed they wanted us. That was a big plus." (HA)

About how UH entered the picture 2 weeks ago for both Kahuku athletes, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said:
"Nobody from UH was coming. To be honest, the Mainland coaches were doing a better job." (HA)

HA Note: "But then McMackin was hired as June Jones' successor, and Lee was designated as the point recruiter for Kahuku players. The two previous UH coaches in charge of Kahuku recruiting, Dan Morrison and Jeff Reinebold, joined Jones at Southern Methodist University."

About how Mack made a big impression on both players, Torres said:
"The kids knew about Cal. But the fact that Mack came down made a big impression. McMackin is genuine. The kids feel that way about him." (HA)

About the coaching staff at UH, Paipai said:
"There's something about the coaching staff. They made me feel good about staying home." (HA)

HA Note: "In turn, the Warriors are receiving two multi-skilled athletes with potential to improve physically. Falemalu is 6 feet 3 and 225 pounds. Tachibana is 6-3 and 200. Last season, the Red Raiders implemented a 3-5 defensive scheme in which Falemalu and Tachibana were aligned as outside linebackers, usually about 4 yards off the line of scrimmage. In some situations, Tachibana was used as a defensive end, setting up in a three-point stance. In zone-blitz schemes, the safeties would storm the backfield, and Falemalu and Tachibana would retreat, serving as safeties."

About using both LBs as pass defenders at times, Torres said:
"They were good enough to play (pass) coverage. We moved them all over the place. Our defensive coordinator did a good job." (HA)

HA Note: "Pac-10 schools were sold on Falemalu's potential, believing he could easily develop into a pass-rushing defensive end. But Torres knew Falemalu wanted to remain in Hawai'i."

About how Paipai wanted to play for UH, Torres said:
"Paipai grew up as a UH fan. His uncle (Keala Santiago) played for UH. He's a major influence in his life. He grew up around those UH games and tailgates. His family has been major fans." (HA)

"Keala (Louis) has been training Paipai and helping him get ready for college. The whole family (are) UH supporters. Paipai grew up a Rainbows fan." (HSB)

About how Mack promised that he'd be there for the whole time he'd be a Warrior, Paipai said;
"Coach Mack guaranteed that he'd definitely be here until I graduated. That meant a lot. I like that coach Mack is a head coach who is defensive-minded. I'm going to a program with a lot of good linebackers to look up to as role models." (HA)

HA Note: "Falemalu visited UH this past weekend. He verbally committed Saturday, but wanted to talk with his parents yesterday morning before confirming his decision. He said Kahuku alum Vili Nauahi and 'Aiea alum Rocky Savaiigaea were his hosts during the visit."

About how Vili and Rocky hosted him, Paipai said:
"They were real down to earth. They told us how they felt about coach Mack, how he is a really good guy. He's very sociable." (HA)

About Paipai, Torres said:
"He's a good kid, a coach's dream, a humble kid. He works very hard. He's a great student. He never gets in trouble. " (HA)

Praising Alema as a "model" player and student, Torres said:
"Alema enjoyed his trip to Utah, but he wanted to stay home because of his family. I know Utah made a push." (HA)

About why he didn't want to leave Hawaii, Alema said:
"I wanted to be around my family." (HA)

HSB Note: "As for Tachibana, a medical condition being endured by his father may influence him to stay home, Torres said."

HA Note: "Tachibana's older brother and father were former Kahuku players. In his spare time, he hunts for wild pigs in the area behind his house."

Hawaii was the only school to offer scholarships to both players and Paipai said:
"we want to play together." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Torres said he thinks Tachibana (6-3, 220) can develop into a rush end in UH's 4-3 defense, and Falemalu (6-4, 215) "is good enough of an athlete to play anywhere." "

About how he wants to stay at LB, Paipai said:
"Outside or inside, either one." (HSB)

Paipai said that he knows that the Pac-10 schools will "keep coming" at him, but:
"I'm pretty strong to UH." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Torres said Falemalu and Tachibana would make 11 former Kahuku players either on the UH roster or trying out for it in the fall, including his son, cornerback Richard Torres."

About all of the Kakuku players that will be at UH, Torres said:
"Especially if those two guys go there, it's great. The meetings with Coach (Greg) McMackin last week (at Kahuku and the players' homes) were great. They feel like they'll get an honest shot." (HSB)