Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Hawaii
The recruiting race for the Class of 2026 is already heating up — not just on the field, but in the increasingly complex ecosystem of modern college football, where NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are reshaping how programs and players navigate early recruitment. For elite underclassmen, talent alone is no longer the only factor drawing attention; marketability, social media presence, and brand potential are now playing pivotal roles in how offers are extended and decisions are made. The top recruits in the 2026 cycle are not only physically advanced and highly skilled — they're entering high school with endorsement potential and media savviness.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Hawaii using data from 247Sports. Players are ranked by the 247Sports Composite ranking. Here's the players from Hawaii set to dominate Saturdays (and potentially Sundays) for years to come.
#18 (tie). Benjamin Honebein (Edge)
- Position rank: #163
- College: UC Davis
- Offers: UC Davis, Hawaii, Nevada, Air Force, Army
- High school: Kailua (Kailua, HI)
#18 (tie). Jordan Nunuha (WR)
- Position rank: #304
- College: not committed
- Offers: Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, San Diego State, Washington
- High school: St. Louis (Honolulu, HI)
#18 (tie). Matai Fuiava (QB)
- Position rank: #131
- College: not committed
- Offers: UNLV
- High school: Kahuku (Kahuku, HI)
#16 (tie). Jahren Altura (ATH)
- Position rank: #162
- College: Hawaii
- Offers: Hawaii, Colorado State
- High school: St. Louis (Honolulu, HI)
#16 (tie). Kamuela Wilhelm (OT)
- Position rank: #163
- College: San Jose State
- Offers: San Jose State, Hawaii, San Diego State
- High school: Punahou (Honolulu, HI)
#14 (tie). Uluaki Tatafu (OT)
- Position rank: #156
- College: Colorado State
- Offers: Colorado State, Hawaii, San Diego State, UNLV, UTSA
- High school: Kailua (Kailua, HI)
#14 (tie). Tainoa Lave (ATH)
- Position rank: #137
- College: San Diego State
- Offers: San Diego State, UNLV, Boise State, UC Davis, Hawaii
- High school: James Campbell (Ewa Beach, HI)
#13. Packs Ahovelo (OT)
- Position rank: #153
- College: Colorado State
- Offers: Colorado State, Arizona State, California, Hawaii, San Diego State
- High school: Kailua (Kailua, HI)
#12. Trehsyn Fesili (LB)
- Position rank: #152
- College: not committed
- Offers: UNLV, Boise State, Arizona State, Missouri Southern State
- High school: Mililani (Mililani, HI)
#10 (tie). Ejay Tapeni (DL)
- Position rank: #155
- College: not committed
- Offers: Arizona, Boise State, Colorado State, Hawaii, Minnesota
- High school: Mililani (Mililani, HI)
#10 (tie). Malaki Soliai-Tui (LB)
- Position rank: #119
- College: UCLA
- Offers: UCLA, UNLV, Boise State, California, Central Michigan
- High school: Kahuku (Kahuku, HI)
#9. Esaiah Wong (OT)
- Position rank: #105
- College: California
- Offers: California, BYU, Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State
- High school: Kailua (Kailua, HI)
#8. Madden Soliai (S)
- Position rank: #88
- College: UCLA
- Offers: UCLA, UNLV, Colorado State, Arizona, Boise State
- High school: Kahuku (Kahuku, HI)
#6 (tie). Nainoa Lopes (QB)
- Position rank: #49
- College: California
- Offers: California, San Jose State, Arizona Christian, Florida Atlantic, UAB
- High school: St. Louis (Honolulu, HI)
#6 (tie). Koloi Keli (IOL)
- Position rank: #79
- College: Oregon
- Offers: Oregon, Hawaii, California, Michigan State, Arizona
- High school: Farrington (Honolulu, HI)
#5. Kamo'i Huihui-White (IOL)
- Position rank: #60
- College: California
- Offers: California, SMU, Arizona, Arizona State, BYU
- High school: St. Louis (Honolulu, HI)
#4. Kekua Aumua (TE)
- Position rank: #40
- College: Florida
- Offers: Florida, Ole Miss, Washington, California, North Carolina
- High school: Kahuku (Kahuku, HI)
#3. Taimane Purcell (TE)
- Position rank: #26
- College: California
- Offers: California, BYU, SMU, Oklahoma State, Arizona
- High school: Kamehameha (Honolulu, HI)
#2. Malakai Lee (OT)
- Position rank: #13
- College: Michigan
- Offers: Michigan, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Arizona
- High school: Kamehameha (Honolulu, HI)
#1. Talanoa Ili (LB)
- Position rank: #5
- College: USC
- Offers: USC, BYU, UCLA, Arizona, California
- High school: Kahuku (Kahuku, HI)