Kamehameha's Alohi Robins-Hardy signs her letter of intent for Brigham Young University Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Former Kamehameha two-sport standout and current head varsity baseball coach Billy Pieper was the guest speaker. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Iolani's Christian Donahue signs his letter of intent for Oregon State University. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Family, friends and supporters gathered for the PIAA National Letter of Intent Signing Day event at the Elks Lodge. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Student athletes pose for a group photo at the PIAA Fall National Letter of Intent Signing Day event held at the Elks Club Lodge in Waikiki. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Over thirty student athletes from eight different sports signed letters of intent to the school of their choosing at the Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance National Letter of Intent (NLI) signing day event held at the Elks Club Lodge 616 in Waikiki.

Mililani's Alyssa Tobita, who signed with the University of Oregon, needed to get an especially early start to make it in time for the 6:30 a.m. ceremony.

"I had to wake up at like 4:15, and left the house at 4:45 to get here, so I was really, really tired, but now the adrenaline is rushing a little bit." laughed Tobita.

"I'm really, really excited to go to college and play at a high level (university)." said the three-time state champion in tennis. "Academically, I'm really excited too because they have a really good physics program there, which is what I think I'm going to be going into."

Punahou School was well-represented at the event, with eight athletes putting pen-to-paper.

Among them, Mackenzie Feldman, who signed with the University of California-Berekley to play sand volleyball, one of the first, if not the first ever from Hawaii to do so.

"Just being the first sand volleyball recruit not only for Cal, but from Hawaii is super exciting," said Feldman. "They are just starting up their program so its neat to be there when it starts."

The sport of sand volleyball, new to not only Hawaii but also at the national level, looks to be gaining some momentum in the islands already.

"Next weekend they are having the first state tournament (for sand volleyball) so its definitely taking off," added Feldman.

Buffanblu baseball had three notable Division I signings, with Beau Branton (Stanford) and Kainoa Harrison (Oregon State) making their commitments to Pac-12 programs, while Dylan Combs signed with Harvard out of the Ivy League.

"Its kind of been the goal since I was little to sign with a college where I fit in a best which was Stanford, was really a dream come true." said Branton.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing other, but hopefully in the long run we'll be able to play against each other and its going to be awesome." said Harrison of the propsects of facing teammate Branton on the diamond during Pac-12 play.

Heading much further east than teammtes Harrison and Branton will be Combs, whose decision was for him was based a little more on aspirations in the classroom rather than on the mound.

"I think the decision was mostly about academics, but also really good baseball (program at Harvard)." said Combs. "Its nice to know that hard work in school and in baseball paid off."

The lone neighbor island attendee was Waimea softball standout Sienna Santiago, who made the trip over from the Garden Isle to sign a letter of intent with Hawaii Pacific University.

"Just wanted to get recognized and represent Kauai." said Santiago. "It was really exciting, especially seeing how many other athletes are recognized for their sports, and I hope to take what I'm doing (in softball) and better myself at the next level."

Santiago will be joined by Pearl City's Tanner Tokunaga, who also signed with the Sea Warriors.

Oregon State signed three athletes, which included Harrison and Iolani's Christian Donahue in baseball, as well as Kaiser swimmer Corrine Shigeta.

Billy Pieper, a 1996 Kamehameha graduate and two-sport standout, was the guest speaker.

FULL LIST OF SIGNEES

BASEBALL

Beau Branton, Punahou (Stanford)
Dylan Combs, Punahou (Harvard)
Christian Donahue, Iolani (Oregon State)
Kainoa "Kj" Harrison, Punahou (Oregon State)
Joshua Inouye, Iolani (Santa Clara University)
Dylan Sugimoto, Waipahu (San Jose State )
Tanner Tokunaga, Pearl City (Hawaii Pacific University)
Jordan Yamamoto, Saint Louis  (University of Arizona)

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Skylan Kelly Kulani Engleman, Maryknoll (Grand Canyon University)

CREW

Nicole Fong, Punahou (Loyola Marymount)

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Adora Anae, Kahuku (Utah)
Melissa Behrens, Punahou (Manhatten College)
Mackenzie Feldman, Punahou (U of Cal Berkeley)
Remo-Louise Gaogao, Punahou (Southern Utah )
Savannah  Kahakai, Farrington (University of Hawaii)
Pualehua Keola, St. Francis (CSU Pueblo)
Alohi Robins-Hardy, Kameahmeha (Brigham Young University)

GOLF

John Oda, Moanalua (UNLV)

SOFTBALL

Cyanne Malia Fernandez, Moanalua (Texas A&M Commerce)
Fahren Glackin, Kameahmeha (UNLV)
Erica Inagaki, Maryknoll (Austin Peay State U)
Sienna Arianna Kawehi Santiago, Waimea (Hawaii Pacific University)
Jadelyn Yadao-Valdez, Mililani (UNLV)

SWIMMING

Taylor Bogdhan, Kaiser (Western State Colorado)
Jasmine Mau, Punahou (U of Cal Berkeley)
Corrine Shigeta, Kaiser (Oregon State)
Ryan Stack, Kameahmeha (University of Wisconsin- Madison)

TENNIS

Cory Cummings, Mid Pacific (Savannah College of Art & Design)
Alyssa Tobita, Mililani (University of Oregon)