Kahuku All-State defensive lineman Kaniela Tuipulotu accepted a football scholarship Thursday from the University of Arizona.

"I went with my gut instinct," Tuipulotu said.

Tuipulotu, who was named to the 2006 Advertiser All-State first team, also received offers from Hawai'i, Utah and Oregon State.

"I took a look at UH last week," said Tuipulotu, who is 6 feet 1 and 280 pounds. "I enjoyed my time there, but it was better for me to go off island."

NAVAL ACADEMY

Kapolei High's all-purpose athlete Aaron Santiago will attend the Naval Academy, said his coach Darren Hernandez.

"He can play corner, slot, receiver," Hernandez said. "He played some quarterback; he was also our punter and kicker. In fact, in practice he's kicked a 54-yarder."

Santiago, a 5-foot-10, 170-pounder, also helped the soccer team advance to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association boys final.

"He can do it all. He's very athletic," Hernandez said.

Hernandez said Santiago will attend a Naval Academy prep school first.

Kapolei alum Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada is Navy's starting quarterback.

"I don't think that had a whole lot to do with it," Hernandez said. "He's a 4.0 kid, very smart. He was wowed by the facilities."

Santiago got to meet coach Paul Johnson, a former University of Hawai'i assistant coach, along with former UH players Ken Niumatalolo and Ivin Jasper.

WEBER STATE

Kahuku High linebacker Sifa Heimuli and defensive tackle Malone Fiso Thursday accepted football scholarship offers from Weber State.

Heimuli, who is 5 feet 11 and 210, is projected to compete at rover. Fiso is 6-1 and 260.

"They have a good engineering program there," Heimuli said. "I really want to go into that. They have good facilities, too. I like the atmosphere."

Heimuli said he bonded with defensive line coach Chad Kauha'aha'a, a former Baldwin High School head coach. "It was funny talking to him," Heimuli said.