Ka'aihue yesterday signed with the Boston Red Sox, who picked him in the 22nd round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday. He follows his brother, Kila, who signed out of Iolani last year with the Kansas City Royals, who chose him in the 15th round.

"It feels pretty awesome," said Ka'aihue, a catcher. "Now that I'm starting my pro career, I'm able to chase the dream I've had since I was a little kid."

He will report Monday to the club's rookie team at Fort Myers (Fla.) of the Gulf Coast League.

Boston's pickup is a loss for the University of Hawai'i, which had six recruits drafted. Ka'aihue is the second to be signed. Junior college left-handed pitcher Evan Maclane signed with the New York Mets, who selected him in the 25th round.

Also signing were UH senior catcher Brian Bock and junior left-handed pitcher Justin Azze.

Ka'aihue, who graduated Saturday, said it was a hard decision to turn down UH's scholarship. He said he appreciated UH coach Mike Trapasso's recruiting effort.

"Coach Trapasso was such a gentleman, one of the nicest guys during the recruiting process," Ka'aihue said. "It was tough. On the day I got drafted, I thought for sure I was going to school, that (the Red Sox) weren't going to offer me anything decent. But they matched what we wanted and that basically made my decision. It all worked out."

Ka'aihue admitted he was disappointed he wasn't selected on the first day of the draft, or within the first 20 rounds of the 50-round affair. He said the Atlanta Braves called him during the eighth round and said the highest they could take him was the 12th.

"But things kind of fell through," he said. "I was kind of disappointed, hanging on every line, listening (on the Web cast). But it worked out for the better. Boston's a pretty good organization, too. I'm happy with how they've been treating me."

He attended a Braves workout on May 29 for high school and college prospects.

Ka'aihue would not disclose his bonus, but said it was higher than what the average 23rd-round pick would get. The bonus does include four years of tuition at UH, he said.

Ka'aihue batted .408 with five doubles, two triples and four home runs. He had 25 RBIs and drew 20 walks, 15 intentionally. He threw out 39 percent of runners trying to steal.

With Ka'aihue signing, the Rainbows will need to find a third catcher. With the departure of freshman Drew Jackson, who elected not to return next season, the two returnees are freshman Matt Inouye and redshirt freshman Steve Bell-Irving.

Trapasso said that incoming recruit Brandon Bailey, an outfielder who was drafted by Toronto last year, also did some catching for Sacramento City JC this past season.

Other UH recruits drafted are high school pitchers Matt Buck (Montreal, 30th round), Jeff Pry (Cleveland, 17th round) and Steven Wright (San Diego, 26th round) and outfielder Travis Denker (Los Angeles, 21st).

Pry, a right-hander, said negotiations are on hold as he recovers from elbow problems that forced him to miss starts the last half of his season at Franklin High in Portland, Ore.

Azze, who was ineligible because of transfer issues, was selected in the seventh round by the Orioles. Despite not playing this past season, he improved by three rounds, as Montreal picked him in the 10th round last year after his second season at Orange Coast College.

"I'm very excited and can't wait to play," said Azze.

He said he leaves for the Orioles' training facility in Florida tomorrow. He would not disclose his bonus.

Bock, who completed four seasons with the Rainbows, was picked in the 14th round by the Orioles.

"It feels great," Bock said yesterday from Baltimore. "I'm looking forward to it and I'm ready to do it."

Unlike Azze, Bock will report to the Orioles' short season Class A club in Aberdeen, Md. Bock also did not reveal his bonus.

Meanwhile, recent Kamehameha graduate Keoni Ruth, a 17th-round selection by the Royals, is still negotiating. He has signed a letter of intent to play at the University of San Diego.