Miami continues to impress 4-star OL Alai Kalaniuvalu: "It shows me that I'm a priority to them"

Since first offering four-star Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman interior offensive lineman Alai Kalaniuvalu nearly two years ago, the Miami Hurricanes staff has not let up on the talented 2025 prospect. 

Earlier this month, Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal and staffers Alex Mirabal and Joe Salave’a made their way to Las Vegas for an in-school visit with Kalaniuvalu, who is high on Miami early on. 

“Miami came and actually brought their coaching staff about two weeks ago, and it was cool talking to them,” Kalaniuvalu told CaneSport. “It felt good being able to make that connection with them. I’m just going through the process of learning more about them, even though I know a lot because my sister went there.”

Over the last two years, Mirabal, who first offered the 6-foot-4, 305-pounder in June of 2022, has been at the forefront of Kalaniuvalu’s recruitment. Along with Kalaniuvalu, Mirabal has built strong connections with his parents, which is something the No. 214 overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, thinks very highly of. 

“Me and Coach Mirabal have a group chat, and he probably used to text me and my parents every day just checking in,” Kalaniuvalu said. “Coach Cristobal and coach Salave’a as well. It’s good just to be able to hear from them, and it shows me that I’m a priority to them, and that just feels good.”

After starting his high school career at Timpview High School in Utah, Kalaniuvalu has since made the move to Bishop Gorman, where he played alongside fellow Miami 2025 targets, four-star offensive lineman Douglas Utu, SJ Alofaituli, and Hurricanes 2024 signee TE Elija Lofton. 

“It was good to surround myself with those types of guys every day,” Kalaniuvalu said. “It made the experience better, and I got better. Technique-wise and being able to work as a group with Doug, SJ, and Elija Lofton because he was the tight end. It was crazy having those guys by my side and learning the process.”

With offers from programs such as Ohio State, Michigan, LSU, USC, Utah, Miami and others, Kalaniuvalu is enjoying the early stages of his recruiting process as the country’s attention is now focused on the 2025 class. 

“For me, when I look at a school I focus on, do I see myself walking these sidewalks every day for school and football?” Kalaniuvalu said. “Also, I want to be able to stay strong with my church so I can go every Sunday. That’s probably one of the biggest things.”

As far as what attracts Kalaniuvalu to Miami, the Utah native explained how seeing the Hurricanes staff develop the likes of Francis Mauigoa and Penei Sewell over the years has piqued his interest in the program. He is hoping to return to Miami this spring for the first time since receiving his offer.

“It’s definitely top-notch with Francis being a freshman All-American and with them sending Penei Sewell to the league when they were at Oregon,” Kalaniuvalu said. “If I went there, I would go into top-notch coaching. I haven’t visited since, but I’ll probably make it out to Miami during spring ball.”

CaneSport’s take 

Kalaniuvalu has strong ties to Miami thanks to his older sister Janet Kalaniuvalu, who played volleyball for the Hurricanes in 2022, so he is quite familiar with the program. While those ties to Miami may be strong, Alai believes everything will come down to his own decision, but he also believes his sister’s time on campus gave him a greater understanding of Miami. He still would like to learn more about UM in the near future. 

“It’s cool that she’s alumni, but at the end of the day I just want to go to a school that fits me best,” Kalaniuvalu said. “It’s still cool because I have an extra source to know if the school fits me better because she went there and went through the athletic process.”