Major Notre Dame Target Kahanu Kia Locks In Notre Dame Visit Dates
Recruits are having to get creative during the NCAA’s dead period, which is currently set to run through the end of this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s obviously a big deal to prospects to get an in-person look at schools they’re considering. Honolulu Punahou class of 2021 linebacker Kahanu Kia is taking matters into his own hands and will be flying to the United States mainland for a few self-guided tours.
Kia plans to head to the state of Utah Sept. 29 for a padded football camp for those who are not playing high school football, which would include the state of Hawaii.
The 6-2, 205-pounder will visit the Utah Utes’ campus Nov. 2, and stay in the Beehive State for a few days to visit family.
Kia will then head to Notre Dame Nov. 5, spend a couple of days in South Bend before flying out Nov. 8. From there, he’ll head to Los Angeles for a walk around UCLA’s campus, before going back home to Hawaii.
Kia’s Notre Dame visit will coincide with the Irish hosting Clemson Nov. 7, which is clearly the Fighting Irish’s most anticipated game of the year. If possible, Kia would love to attend the game, but tickets are limited to Notre Dame students, faculty, staff and player parents.
Soon after Kia takes these trips, he may not be far off from a decision. He has not announced a top schools list, but Kia seems focused in on Notre Dame, Stanford, UCLA and Utah. He will see three of those schools during his trip to the mainland. He visited Stanford last summer.
Kia was “speechless” to receive the offer from the Fighting Irish Sept. 1
“Shoot, it’s Notre Dame,” Kia said. “It’s the biggest brand in college football. Getting that validated a lot of hard work, plus it’s an opportunity to go to one of the best football programs in the nation. I was so excited.”
With Notre Dame’s strong connection to Hawaii, Kia knows plenty of current and former Fighting Irish players, but one bond sticks out the most.
“Honestly, the connection that plays the biggest role is Marist [Liufau],” Kia noted. “I know him the best of all of those guys. To play with him again would be a really cool thing. That plays a big part.”
Rivals ranks Kia as a three-star recruit and the No. 9 player in Hawaii.
----
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, Blue & Gold Illustrated.
• Watch our videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
• Sign up for Blue & Gold's news alerts and daily newsletter.
• Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow us on Twitter: @BGINews, @BGI_LouSomogyi, @Rivals_Singer, @PatrickEngel_, @MasonPlummer_ and @AndrewMentock.
• Like us on Facebook.