The construction of the University of Hawai'i football team's new-look defense starts with the nose.

David Hafoka, a defensive tackle from College of San Mateo, yesterday pledged his allegiance to the Warriors.

Hafoka, who already has earned his associate degree, will enroll at UH-Manoa in January, and participate in the offseason conditioning program and spring practice.

"Everything is good to go," Hafoka said.

Hafoka received offers from Utah and Arizona.

But, he said, "Hawai'i seemed like a place where I would fit in. I feel comfortable there."

San Mateo head coach Larry Owens said the Warriors are "getting a great young man. They'll be very proud to have him in their program."

Hafoka is 6 feet 2 and 310 pounds.

He is capable of bench pressing 375 pounds.

In the Bulldogs' 3-4 defensive scheme, Hafoka was aligned across from the center.

"His job was to dominate the center every down," San Mateo defensive coordinator Tim Tulloch said. "He won a lot more than he lost. He was a big part of the reason we finished (number) 1 or 2 in rushing defense."

Tulloch described Hafoka as a nose tackle "who can control the line of scrimmage. He's extremely physical. He's great with his hands. He can hold the point and anchor down. And he can put pressure on the quarterback. He really fits the Warrior mode."

Hafoka started every game in 2006. That year, his San Mateo teammates were future Warriors Ray Hisatake, Francis Maka and Calvin Roberts.

He missed the 2007 season because of an infection in his right leg.

Hafoka started every game this season at nose tackle.

He visited Hawai'i the past weekend. It rained during all but six hours of his visit.

Still, Hafoka said, "I had a nice time. I didn't mind the rain."

Hisatake served as his host.

"He's a really good guy," Hafoka said. "He told me a lot of good things about the program and the coaches."

The San Mateo coaches, in turn, have praised Hafoka's character.

"David is one of the great kids," Owens said. "He's an awesome kid, someone you'd like to have in your family."

Owens said that Hafoka, despite a soft-spoken demeanor, earned respect from teammates.

"Whatever you ask him to do, he does," Owens said. "I hold him to a high standard. He's a guy you love to have around. He's a hard-working kid. He just wants to excel. We've had a great experience with him."

Hafoka will help replenish a Warrior defense that will lose several key defensive tackles.

Seniors Keala Watson, Josh Leonard, Fale Laeli and Maka — all of whom have started this season — complete their UH eligibility after the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. Hafoka has drawn comparisons to Laeli.

FUNAKI MAKING GRADE

After eight semesters at the University of Hawai'i, quarterback Inoke Funaki is prepared for graduation — on and off the football field.

Funaki is completing work on his bachelor's degree in psychology and will participate in Saturday's commencement ceremony.

Funaki, who returns for his senior season in 2009, also is prepared to graduate to, possibly, a new position.

With Greg Alexander set as the starting quarterback, and Brent Rausch progressing strongly, all indications are that Funaki will move to running back or slotback in the spring.

"Maybe (the coaches) feel with my athleticism, they could use me elsewhere," Funaki said. "Maybe they don't want me sitting on the side. ... I expressed it to coach (Greg McMackin): 'If you want me to move, that's fine. If you want me to stay and battle it out and try to get better and push the competition, I'll do that, too.' I want to contribute to the team."

Funaki has started six games this season, including the upset against Fresno State. But he acknowledged that Alexander, who is taller and has a powerful passing arm, is better suited for the Warriors' four-wide passing offense.

"He's really running the offense," Funaki said of Alexander. "When I came on (at quarterback), they tweaked things, adjusted things for me because of certain things that weren't my strengths and certain things that were my strengths. He's been a better fit for the offense. He's really come a long way."

But McMackin has said Funaki is a "playmaker" who needs to be on the field. Funaki averages more than one broken tackle per non-sack scramble this season.

"I'd have to get used to it," Funaki said of the possible position change. "It's a different kind of running between being a running back and a scrambling quarterback. Maybe I could be a scrambling receiver?

"Honestly, I'm open to suggestions," he added. "If the coaches feel I can be of use, even if it's moving to this position to do some kind of a block or something, I'm not complaining."

When Funaki first enrolled at UH in 2005 after serving a two-year church mission following his graduation from Kahuku, he suggested switching to another position.

He told Dan Morrison, who was the quarterbacks coach at the time: "If you want me to move to another position, really, I don't mind. It's your decision."

In 2006, Jerry Glanville, who was the defensive coordinator at the time, suggested a move to strong safety.

"I can't tackle," Funaki said, smiling. "The last person I probably tackled was my brother, when we were little kids playing in the living room. I've never played defense before. I can hit the books — sometimes."

To be sure, Funaki has been a resilient student. He will be among 18 current and former Warriors who will participate in Saturday's graduation ceremony.

"Just taking care of business, man," Funaki said.

Growing up in La'ie, Funaki harbored aspirations of following the life path of his father, a psychology professor at Brigham Young-Hawai'i.

"My dream is to teach at BYU-Hawai'i," Funaki said. "I loved being in La'ie. I always saw myself living there. I'd see my dad walk to school, come home, do his thing, never really having to leave that bubble. I like that idea. If I worked at BYU-Hawai'i, it's close to home."

Funaki said he will register as an unclassified graduate in January. He is not sure in which field he will pursue a master's degree.

Funaki said he is appreciative of the coaches giving him an opportunity to pursue an advanced degree.

"They're helping me out with school," Funaki said. Playing football is "my way of giving back."

ESCAPING DAMAGE

Funaki's family's house incurred some flooding during the past Thursday's storm.

While the water level was knee-high outside, it was only a few inches inside.

"It was getting close to where the socket level was," Funaki said.

Funaki, who was not at home at the time, said family members raised "everything when the water level was getting high. They lifted things up so there wouldn't be too much damage."

Funaki said it was fortunate there was a cement base underneath the carpet.

"We're not that rich to be having nice wood floors," Funaki said, smiling.

Later, when he toured the neighborhood, he noted that it "looked like everyone was having a garage sale. Everybody brought their stuff to the side of the road to throw away or air out."

After the water was drained and the carpets taken outside, Funaki said, family members rested on Tongan mats.

"My dad was sleeping on the ground," Funaki said. "They looked like refugees."

UH defensive lineman Tuika Tufaga, who also lives in La'ie, said the "whole community came out and helped each other. We put sandbags by everybody's doors. We pulled out furniture. After that, the bodyboards came out, and the football came out. Everybody was playing tackle football in the rain. Instead of cars, you saw people in kayaks. It turned into something positive."