The University of Hawaii football program recently enjoyed a successful recruiting weekend in which it hosted a variety of players for official visits and landed a trio of commitments in Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) wide receiver Brandon Gaea, Campbell linebacker Aisiah Paogofie and Farrington linebacker Zaden Mariteragi.
In addition to previous commitments of Saint Louis receiver Titan Lacaden and Bishop Gorman offensive lineman KJ Hallums, all five of UH’s Class of 2025 commitments have strong Hawaii ties, as Gaea and Hallums are both former Hawaii residents.
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For Mariteragi, his ties with the Rainbow Warriors run deep. His father, Rocky Savaiigaea, played for Hawaii from 2005 to 2009.
“It’s really a blessing getting to carry on my dad’s legacy, Rocky Savaiigaea, but also just a blessing to create my own name, creating my own legacy and planning for the whole thing,” Mariteragi told KHON2 sports director Rob DeMello. “It’s always been a dream. It’s truly an honor to be a part of this, this brotherhood that they have. They really have something special going on.”
Mariteragi chose Hawaii over offers from Washington State, Nevada and Army.
“It reminds me of home, like the bond I have with my siblings, the one I had with my family over the last three years,” he said. “I know coach Timmy Chang and coach Chris Brown have been doing something good over there.
“I feel like the state of Hawaii is built around football, and if we can all bring together the whole thing, I look forward to striving with this program and being being the best over there.”
After playing the first three seasons of his high school career at Kahuku, Mariteragi will play his senior year with Farrington, where he will play for a handful of coaches close to his family.