Honolulu is apparently nothing like Vilnius, Lithuania, or Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia.

As a result, Petras Balocka and Lasha Parghalava will play for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team next season.

Balocka and Parghalava signed their official letters of intent yesterday to join the Rainbow Warriors in the 2008-09 season.

"The first day of our recruiting trip, I looked out the window and saw how beautiful it was," Parghalava said. "I said 'Where's the papers? I am ready to sign.' "

Both played for Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College this past season, and will be juniors at UH next season.

Balocka is a 6-foot-8, 250-pound power forward originally from Lithuania. Parghalava is a 6-2, 205-pound shooting guard originally from Republic of Georgia.

Balocka led Pensacola in scoring with 13.7 points per game, and rebounding with 11.3 per game this past season.

"He's not just a big strong body, he's got some nice skills for a big man, and he's well-conditioned," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "He can rebound extremely well — he has a nose for the basketball."

Balocka is the fourth player from Lithuania to sign with the 'Bows since 1999. The others were Nerijus Puida, Mindaugas Burneika and Vaidotas Peciukas.

"I heard of all those guys," Balocka said. "That's why I was very excited when I found out Hawai'i wanted me."

Parghalava averaged 11.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, and led the team with 50 3-pointers this past season. As a freshman at Pensacola, he averaged 13.4 points per game and made 60 3-pointers.

"He's a tough defender, a good ball handler, and he can shoot it," Nash said. "He's a solid all-around player."

Yesterday was the first day recruits could sign letters of intent during the "late" period.

"It's a big thing to me that I get to play with Petras again," Parghalava said. "I think we can do exciting things at Hawai'i."

During the early period, the 'Bows signed 6-7 forward Adam Jespersen out of Canada, and gave a scholarship to point guard Hiram Thompson, who is returning from a two-year church mission.

The 'Bows could fill as many as three more scholarships during the late period, which ends on May 21. "We will continue recruiting until we fill our needs," Nash said.