Kahuku’s Aiden Manutai commits to Cal to continue Hawai’i recruiting pipeline

The Hawai’i-to-Cal pipeline continues.

Kahuku defensive back Aiden Manutai became the third Hawai’i high school football player in the class of 2025 to make a commitment to play for the University of California, Berkeley, when he made his decision known at a live-streamed event at the Ko’olau Plantation Estate in Ka’a’awa Friday afternoon.

Manutai will join fellow Red Raider Lebron Williams, an edge rusher, and Campbell quarterback Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele, who made his commitment last Monday, in this recruiting class cycle.

“Jaron and Lebron played a huge part in my commitment,” said Manutai. “I didn’t want to go (somewhere with) people who weren’t in the same mindset (as me). I know they have the same goal, same mindset. I met some of the other recruits before so they had the same (mindset) so that kind of made me make the commitment to Cal.”

The Golden Bears started to become a finalist for Manutai in March. They were in Manutai’s list of top five schools that included Arizona, Nebraska, Tennessee and Washington.

“We took an unofficial (visit) in March. I loved the environment, the vibes around there so I told my parents I wanted to take an official (visit) and come back to Cal and we went from there. Met the coaches, the whole coaching staff and from there it was just a family environment so I felt like that was the place I needed to be,” Manutai said.

Manutai added that his commitment was a huge relief off of his shoulders as he can now focus on helping the Red Raiders repeat as Open Division state champions.

“Very happy and grateful for everybody that’s here and the opportunity,” he said. “I’m glad to get this off and focus on winning another state championship.”