Pac-Five teammates Shazzareign Nakoa-Chun, Brazzlyn Tovio-Asato and Karley-Ann Yoshioka pose for the picture after signing their letters of intent at the PIAA spring signing ceremony. Brien Ing | SL

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WAIKIKI — About an hour after the sun rose above Diamond Head Wednesday morning, Pac-Five softball teammates Brazzlyn Tovio-Asato, Shazzareigh Nakoa-Chung and Karley Ann Yoshioka shared a special moment together.

The trio were among the nearly 50 high school seniors that took part in a national letter of intent signing day ceremony hosted by the Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance at the Waikiki Elks Club Lodge.

It was a long time coming for the triumvirate, who have been teammates since their freshman year.

"We've been together for almost four years, and to share the experience of signing with them was just unbelievable because we've played this sport that we love since we were little," said Tovio-Asato, who signed with Hawaii Pacific University. "We knew each other since before high school started and to end our last year together is just great."

Nakoa-Chung was anchored by Tovio-Asato to her right and Yoshioka to her left as they put pen to paper Wednesday morning.

"It was really great for us to all sign next to each other, but moreso that we all accomplished our goals of succeeding and getting into college," Nakoa-Chung said. "I think it was just great because I started my Pac-Five years with them and I'm so glad I got to end it with them."

Nakoa-Chung was the lone signee from Damien, while Tovio-Asato and Yoshioka were two of six signees from University Lab.

"It's great thinking that we made it through high school with each other and now we get to sign with each other for our colleges," said Yoshioka, who will play for Clark College in Vancouver, Wash. with Nakoa-Chung.

Francesca Weems, a former standout track and field athlete at both Kealakehe High School and the University of California, Berkeley, delivered the keynote address.

Weems is no stranger to the PIAA or its events. She is a former member of the non-profit organization that has helped to place thousands of student-athletes from Hawaii and America Samoa into colleges and universities across the country for more than 15 years.

"This event is not just for the student-athletes, it's for the parents, for the coaches, everybody that is coming out to support these student-athletes as they go on to the next level," said Weems, an account executive at public relations firm Communications Pacific and formerly a sports reporter at Hawaii News Now. "For me, sports played such an important role. I know that it has the ability to change these kids lives; sports creates resiliency."

Weems never got the opportunity to pen her letter of intent at a signing ceremony, but has taken time to speak at several PIAA events in recent years. She also spoke at February's signing day event along with another former PIAA member: Tennessee Titants quarterback Marcus Mariota.

"I've really fallen in love with this organization and what they do because it needs to happen all over the country," Weems said. "This is a great chance to bring all of the student-athletes together because at the end of the day we're from a small place and we need to support each other."

PIAA founder and executive director Doris Sullivan announced in February that the organization would cease operations due to a lack of funding.

In addition to its signing ceremonies — which were open to all student-athletes, not just PIAA members — Sullivan's staff of volunteers have conducted combines, provided college prep course and marketed local prepsters to college coaches of all levels, in all corners of the country. According to Sullivan, PIAA has assisted in securing more than $23 million in athletic and academic scholarships, grants and financial aid for more than 2,000 student-athletes from Hawaii.

Wednesday's signing ceremony was PIAA's last official event. It will continue to operate for current members through the end of this calendar year.

"Things like this are important for kids," Weems said. "It gets them hyped, it gets them motivated to go on and pursue a college degree but also play at the next level, so I really hope that down the line somebody will either step up to keep this going or something similar because this is a great organization. It is very bittersweet."

Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance Spring Signing Day Ceremony
Wednesday
At Waikiki Elks Club Lodge

Boys Soccer
Noa Kerr, Hawaii Baptist (Menlo)
Takahiro Kosins, Kalani (Colorado Mesa)
Isaiah Kuloloia, Mililani (Chaminade)
Chay Mattos, Campbell (Whatcom CC)
Tony Silva, Mililani (Southwestern Assemblies of God)
Elijah Smith, Radford (Whatcom CC)

Boys Volleyball
Breynt Naone Cannon-Passi, Kamehameha (Morningside)

Football
Iosefa Ameperosa, Kahuku (Iowa Western)
Kanai Eldredge, Punahou (Southern Utah)
Noah Esprecion, Campbell (Avila)
Jalvin Sato, Punahou (Willamette)
Patamo Soa, Punahou (North Park)

Girls Basketball
Tywanna Abbott, Leilehua (Lower Columbia)
Regina Dela Cruz, Leilehua (Mesa CC)
Tyra Moe, Punahou (Cal State Eastbay)

Girls Golf
Courtney Tabion, Leilehua (Oregon Institute of Technology)
Chloe Wong, Iolani (Santa Clara)
Zoe-Ann Yamamoto, Sacred Hearts (Univ. of Mary)

Girls Volleyball
Kayla Akiona, Castle (Hawaii-Hilo)
Blythe Ballesteros, Mililani (Southwestern Oregon CC)
Sierra Buscher, Iolani (Menlo)
Keila Fuatagavi-Sale, Kailua (Des Moines Area CC)
Kylee Kaaihue, Roosevelt (Blinn)
Taira Kaawaloa, University Lab (Irvine Valley)
Tyra Kong, Iolani (Lewis and Clark)
Gabrielle Lau, University Lab (Linfield)
Nikki Lum, Punahou (Army)
Erin Moss, University Lab (Western New Mexico)
Kristen Newberry, Punahou (Pacific Univ.)
Lindsey Ng, Moanalua (Vanguard Univ. of Southern California)
Nohealani Ornellas, University Lab (Hawaii-Hilo)
Noel Phillips, Radford (Northeastern JC)
Kaleialoha Puaa, Punahou (Iowa Western)
Taylor Souza, Le Jardin (Linfield)
Emily Sunada, Iolani (Menlo)
Christine Tamura, Iolani (Case Western)
Karli Uwaine, Hawaii Baptist (Lewis and Clark)
Kiakahi Vaioleti, Punahou (Concordia, N.Y.)
Siani Yamaguchi, Kalaheo (Winthrop)
Tiare Young, Kailua (Des Moines Area CC)

Softball
Hope Casarez, Pearl City (Eastern Arizona)
Shaycelynn Hoohuli, Kapolei (Midland)
Chelsea Lobitos, Leilehua (West Alabama)
Tayzha Meyers, Kapolei (Centralia)
Shazzareigh Nakoa-Chung, Damien (Clark)
Brazzlyn Tovio-Asato, University Lab (Hawaii Pacific)
Karley Ann Yoshioka, University Lab (Clark)

Track and Field
Phoebe Kirk, Sacred Hearts (Navy)