Over 70 student-athletes pose for a group picture following the conclusion of the Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance signing ceremony held at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel. CJ Caraang | SL

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WAIKIKI — Taiana Tolleson and Toleafoa Auwae already had one thing in common coming into this week as both had given verbal commitments to accept athletic scholarships from Vanderbilt University.

Now, the pair — both of whom signed with the Commodores at the annual Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance National Letter of Intent Signing Day Ceremony Wednesday morning — share a common friend: Tennessee Titans star quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Mariota, a 2010 Saint Louis School alumnus and former PIAA member himself, was one of two keynote speakers at the event, which took place once again at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Former Hawaii News Now anchor/reporter Francesca Weems, who was a standout track athlete at both Kealakehe High School and the University of California, Berkeley, delivered the other keynote address.

Tolleson, a Konawaena goalkeeper, was one of 16 members of the Hawaii Surf Soccer Club to take part in the signing ceremony that featured nearly 70 high school seniors in the sports of football, softball and boys and girls soccer. She made the trip over from the Big Island for the day.

"I felt the need to be here because I felt like I owed it to my club coach and the girls that I got recruited with so much because we've been on this journey together for four years," said Tolleson, the lone neighbor island signee.

The 6-foot Tolleson gave a verbal commitment to Vanderbilt as a junior last year.

"When I went there I felt like I was right at home," Tolleson said. "It was different than other places that I've toured and been to. It's just such a blessing to be able to say that I'm going to such a big school and it's really far away from home but I know that with all the hard work, nothing is impossible."

Tolleson, who has family in the state of Florida that she is close to, will have at least one familiar face around in Nashville in Auwae, who also signed with the Commodores Wednesday.

Auwae, who plans to major in economics with a minor in business marketing, said the chance to compete against top-tier competition was part of the appeal of Vanderbilt.

"That was a big draw because I always wanted to play in the best conference and at first it was all just football for me, so that's why it was really hard to pick between Mississippi State and Ole Miss as well, but then I realized the education that Vanderbilt brings is second to none and it tops all the other schools in the SEC," said Auwae, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman who earned First Team Division I All-Hawaii honors as a senior.

While there was a fair bit of drama surrounding some of the other signees Wednesday — most notably Mililani running back Vavae Malepeai, who signed with Southern California despite previously committing to Oregon — there was little of that for Auwae, who verbaled with Vandy on Christmas Day.

"I was pretty solid on the commitment, but last week (Kapolei) coach (Darren Hernandez) came up to me and said that Miami and Georgia were trying to get in the mix, but I already knew that Vanderbilt was the place I wanted to go from the start," Auwae said. "I just wanted to get to signing day and just sign it already."

Both Tolleson and Auwae had the same answer when asked if they have any ties to the Nashville area or the state of Tennessee.

"Marcus Mariota?" Tolleson laughed.

Signing day proved to be a reunification for Mariota and Auwae, who had a chance encounter in Salt Lake City late last year.

"I was going to the (Semper Fidelis) All-American Bowl and I was getting a pretzel and my mom pointed him out," Auwae said. "So I just hoped over the pretzel line and I said hi. We started talking and I told him how I'm going to be in Nashville and that I'm going to Vanderbilt and they showed me where he lives. He said for sure when I get up there he'll look out for me and hook up with me. It's such a coincidence, but it was good and it'll make it feel a little more like home."

As for Mariota, it was just six years ago that he took part in the very same ceremony at the very same venue.

"I just wanted to come by and just say thank you to (PIAA founder) aunty Doris (Sullivan) and PIAA because without them I don't know where I would have been," Mariota said. "They gave me my opportunity to help me get exposure and to see all these kids today it's awesome because it's growing and it's always good to see kids go to college."

Other notable signees Wednesday included Punahou running back Wayne Taulapapa (University of Virginia), Kaiser offensive lineman Michael Eletise (University of Arizona), Saint Louis wide receiver Drew Kobayashi (Cal Berkeley), Mililani quarterback McKenzie Milton (University of Central Florida), Saint Louis offensive lineman Nate Herbig (Stanford) and Mililani wide receiver Kalakaua Timoteo (University of Hawaii).

A full list of signees in attendance can be found below.

PIAA NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNING DAY CEREMONY
Wednesday
At The Sheraton Waikiki Hotel
(Signees listed in alphabetical order by sport)

FOOTBALL
Chansen Akiona, Kapolei - Arizona Western
Jared Alama, Mililani - Riverside CC
Aperaamo Augafa, Saint Louis - Arizona Western
Noah Auld, Kailua - Iowa Western College
Toleafoa Auwae, Kapolei - Vanderbilt
Kyle Chinen, Mililani - Briar Cliff University
Caleb Chow, Kamehameha - Air Force Academy
Michael Eletise, Kaiser - University of Arizona
Tanielu Evaimalo, Saint Louis - Arizona Western
Eteuati Faauli, McKinley - Garden City CC
Mataio Fatuesi, Moanalua - North Park Univ.
Ace Faumui, Radford - Arizona Western
Aberdean Manatu Finau, Farrington - Arizona Western
Tainoa Foster, Kamehameha - Fresno State
Joshua Hauanio, Iolani - University of Hawaii
Nate Herbig, Saint Louis - Stanford University
Loveni Jordan Iosefa, Saint Louis - University of Southern California
Alema Kapoi, Kamehameha - Naval Academy
Tyreek Keough, Leilehua - Western New Mexico
Drew Kobayashi, Saint Louis - Cal Berkeley
Keoni-Kordell Makekau, Iolani - Naval Academy
Kelemete Lam Sam, Farrington - Garden City CC
Marcus Mafi, Mililani - Garden City CC
Samuela Mafua, Saint Louis - Western New Mexico
Vavae Malepeai, Mililani - University of Southern California
Blaise Manabe, Radford - Western Oregon
Justin Matias, Punahou - Air Force Academy
McKenzie Milton, Mililani - Central Florida
Johnny Morrison III, Kapolei - Arizona Western
Netane Muti, Leilehua - Hawaii
Tayvis Passos, Radford - Western Oregon
Cade Pedro, Kamehameha - Delaware State
Jared Pono Puu-Robinson, Punahou - University of San Diego
Noah Sua-Godinet, Kamehameha - Delaware State
Dillon Sunday, Radford - North Park Univ.
Wayne Taulapapa, Punahou - University of Virginia
Kalakaua Timoteo, Mililani - University of Hawaii
Jet Toner, Punahou - Stanford University
John Tuitupou, Kalaheo - Garden City CC
Chris-Jordan Ulufale, Kamehameha - Western New Mexico
Kalae Wong, Nanakuli - Louis & Clark

GIRLS SOCCER
Mariko Bebb, Mililani - Oregon Inst. Of Tech.
Rachel Bowler, Iolani - Seattle University
Nahenahe Damas, Myron B. Thompson Acad - Highline CC
Cailla Fabro, Pearl City - Idaho State
Aaliyah Fesili, Punahou - Sacramento State
Tia Furuta, Mililani - University of Hawaii
Breanne Ihara, Hawaii Baptist - Portland State
Megan Inouye-Ng, Moanalua - Pacific University
Kasey Isobe, Mililani - Portland State
Kailana Kaeo, Mililani - University of Saint Mary's
Alisha Kahele-Manners, Kamehameha - University of Rhode Island
Eden Kawabe, Mililani - University of North Carolina
Cami Naomi Keliinui, Kamehameha - Chaminade
Aliani Lorenzo, Campbell - Cleveland State
Taira Lucas, Kamehameha - Ottowa University
Jourdan Mata, Kamehameha - Bellevue College
Kaylie Matsunami, Aiea - Pacific or Occidental
Brittny Maze, Aiea - Asuza Pacific
Tamara Mikamura, Aiea - Portland or Eastern Oregon
Taylee Miyamura, Mililani - Oregon Inst. Of Tech.
Shay Nakahira, Punahou - University of Connecticut
Sara Olanda, Aiea - Highline CC
Tiana Tolleson, Konawaena - Vanderbilt
Megan Usui, Mililani - Oregon Inst. Of Tech.
Kyllie Ann Yasutake, Punahou - Oregon State

BOYS SOCCER
Tyler Allen, Mid Pacific - UNLV
Hunter Mullican, Moanalua - Chaminade
Noah Rosenberg, Kamehameha - Colorado Mesa

SOFTBALL
Chasity Stalcup, Leilehua - Edmonds CC