One of the more highly contested positions at the start of fall camp for the University of Hawai'i football team is not only the quarterback, but who will be protecting him.

Left tackles Aaron Kia, Laupepa Letuli and Ray Hisatake practiced at the spot for yesterday's practice, the opening day of training for the 2008 season.

"That's one spot that was unsettled from spring," offensive line coach Brian Smith said. "I thought Kia did a good job (during spring) but that's the one spot where we really want competition. That's one spot where there's the least experience so that's where we want to create the most competition. As someone really earns that spot we'll spread the other two out."

The position was vacated after 2007 starter Keith AhSoon was moved to left guard. Kia received the most reps during spring ball while Letuli recovered from a hamstring injury, which he said was up to 95 percent healed.

"As far as practice today, I was a little rusty because I missed all of spring," said the 6-foot-3 Letuli, who gained 20 pounds over the summer to 318 pounds.

Kia, 6-5, 295, said he struggled with the heat of yesterday's 10 a.m. to noon practice, but recognized that it would help the team prepare for the Aug. 30 season opener at Florida.

"I think I did all right," said Kia, a junior from Mililani who spent the summer working out at Harold "Fudge" Fajardo's gym in Mililani to work on upper-body strength to help with his "punch."

"It was more mental than I thought it would be, because of the heat. The heat makes the helmet an oven, so it made it tough to remember your plays and assignments. Other than that, I think I did pretty good today.

"This is how it's going to be in Florida, but worse."

Smith said Kia "separated himself from the other two" in spring ball.

Kia practiced with the first unit yesterday, Letuli with the second and Hisatake with the third, although Smith maintains that the competition will remain open during fall camp.

"Laupepa is smart and Ray is smart and they'll learn fast," Smith said. "They are all three going to get a lot of reps in the first couple of weeks before we make a decision and start seeing if we have to move guys to other spots."

In 2007, Letuli appeared in all 13 games as a reserve, while Kia appeared in five. Hisatake redshirted last season after making the switch from defensive line to offensive after an all-conference career at the College of San Mateo.

"I think coming from where I have, I progressed a lot," said Hisatake, a 6-3 junior from San Francisco. "There's definitely a lot more room for improvement, but it's something I'm going to work on during the season and during camp.

"Competition is really thick. Aaron is a utility guy; he knows all the positions. 'Pepa' is a utility guy, he knows all the positions. They are both great technicians and great athletes."

Hisatake lost 17 pounds over the summer to enter camp at 311.

"Like last summer, I decided to stay in Hawai'i instead of go home," he said. "I went to all the morning workouts and morning running. And I went on a diet to lose weight.

"Nothing right now is set in stone, but I did all right. I knew my plays. The running could have been better, but I'm not going to make any excuses."

Smith said the unit is "a little out of shape" but he isn't concerned.

"I think we can get them in shape and get them ready," he added.

Traditionally, the left tackle position is important because it protects the blind side of a right-handed quarterback.

But for the Warriors, "both tackles are important because we're a half roll team, so if they are rolling right they are rolling away from the left tackle and he's got a little more time to work, so I think both tackles here are equally important," Smith said.

Letuli said the competition is good because the trio can learn from and push one another.

"It doesn't matter if you're first, second, third, we're all going to improve," he said. "It's great, I think we're the best players to play that spot because we're mobile and athletic and technique-wise we're all legit."