Thanks to a surprising offer, defensive tackle Kaniela Tuipulotu will be able to hit the books — and University of Hawai'i football players in practice — this coming fall semester.

Last month, Tuipulotu, a former Kahuku High standout, announced he would transfer from Arizona to UH.

NCAA transfer rules require Tuipulotu to redshirt this season. But Tuipulotu admittedly could not afford to pay his tuition and school expenses.

"I didn't qualify for any of the Pell grants," he said. "I was thinking of taking a year off and working."

But those plans changed yesterday when Tuipulotu received — and accepted — a football scholarship from the Warriors.

Now Tuipulotu will be able to practice with the Warriors and attend classes.

"I was worried about missing school," Tuipulotu said. "This is a big relief. I felt good when I got the call. I was stoked."

Tuipulotu, who is 6 feet 3 and 300 pounds, played 19 games in two seasons with the Wildcats. He said he initially chose Arizona because "I got caught up in the hype of 'We want you to come in and compete for a starting job.' They said a lot of things that made you want to go there. It was the Pac-10. I would be playing against top competition."

But he always fostered a dream of playing in front of family and friends. His sister recently moved back from the Mainland. His parents live in Lahaina.

"You can stay home and play big teams from big conferences, like Wisconsin," Tuipulotu said. "I got caught up in the hype of going to a Pac-10 school."

Tuipulotu lived on Maui through his freshman year. He then moved to Kahuku, staying with an aunt.

He said his parents will travel to O'ahu to watch the Warriors' home games.

"It's going to be great. It's going to be a family atmosphere," he said.