The North Shore continues to be a steady talent pipeline for power conference football programs.

An especially strong year for Hawaii high school football prospects was epitomized by Kahuku’s crop of five signees on Wednesday.

Linebacker Liona Lefau (Texas), linebacker Leonard Ah You (Oregon State), receiver/utility player Kainoa “Kaikai” Carvalho (Utah), safety Brock Fonoimoana (Utah) and defensive lineman Stanley Raass (Utah) put pen to paper together in a ceremony at the school.

“It was a great turnout, actually,” Carvalho, the 2021 state offensive player of the year, told Spectrum News. “The parents put on a great decoration, posters and stuff like that. A lot of people showed up. It was a great atmosphere and great experience.”

Carvalho and Lefau committed before the first game of their senior season. Kahuku, which hasn’t lost to another Hawaii team since 2020, went on to win its second straight state championship.

Lefau said in a message, “Man, it’s a great day to be a Longhorn! I’m so excited for this new journey not only for me but for some of my close friends who were also able to find a new home today. I feel great about my decision to join the Texas family and I’ve been getting so much love since. Overall, I’m just excited and blessed.”

Kahuku was far from the only Hawaii high school to send off players to prominent programs. Mililani safety Gavin Hunter (Arizona), Farrington offensive lineman Iapani Laloulu (Oregon) and Kapaa two-way standout Solomone Malafu (UCLA) were just a few of the others.

“I think this class was really special,” Carvalho said. “We have a lot of highly recruited kids in this class, and a lot of people going to different colleges. I think this class put the state on the map for sure, and the power of social media nowadays, the exposure that we brought to the islands, it’s going to help future generations for sure. Now that people realize what Hawaii ball has to offer and we’ve got some real talent in the state.”

Carvalho was a legacy recruit. His father, Stewart, was a running back and special teams player for the Utes in 1999 and 2000.

He said Utah stuck with him through the ankle injury that cost him most of his senior season.

“The culture and foundation there is something special,” Carvalho said. “They don’t just talk about it, they’re living proof of family, the Polynesian culture and treating the boys right. So it all fell together perfectly that Utah was the fit.”

As for the University of Hawaii, it received five signings from local players among its class of 26.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.