In a surprising late-season development, three-time defending state football champion Kahuku is set to welcome a new quarterback—Matai Fuiava, formerly of national powerhouse St. John Bosco in California.
Fuiava, who started for the nation’s second-ranked team this past Friday, has left St. John Bosco and relocated to Oahu, enrolling at Kahuku High School. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound, three-star recruit is expected to finish the season with the Red Raiders.
However, per Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) regulations, Fuiava will need to appeal the state’s mandatory 10-to-14 day heat acclimatization period which is possble. His availability for this weekend’s highly anticipated matchup against top-ranked Campbell remains uncertain at this time.
National recruiting analyst who broke the story, Greg Biggins of 247Sports weighed in on Fuiava’s move, calling it a significant boost for Kahuku as they prepare for the playoffs.
“From a football standpoint, he’s ready to go,” Biggins said. “He’s a legitimate Power Four prospect. He has great velocity, can move around well, and throws accurately whether he’s rolling left or right. Stylistically, he checks all the boxes.”
Biggins added that the transition off the field should also be smooth. “His dad has family out in Hawaii, and Matai’s already comfortable with the players. It’s a good fit on and off the field, and I’m excited to see how it plays out.”
Kahuku is scheduled to face undefeated Campbell this Saturday night on the North Shore, a key matchup as the regular season winds down. Tune in to “Cover2: Hawaii High School Football Weekly” on KHON-2 this Thursday at 9:30 p.m. for a full preview of the game and more.