A coaching change led to a change in schools for Careena Onosai, one of the state's premier prep track and field throwers.

Onosai has decided to stay home to compete in throwing events for the University of Hawai'i instead of UCLA, whom she originally signed with.

She found out two weeks ago that Seilala Sua, her expected throwing coach at UCLA, accepted a position as an assistant coach in charge of the Cal State Northridge throwers.

"That's what kind of changed my mind," Onosai said of Sua, who was a volunteer coach at UCLA. "It's a bittersweet situation. I cried when my coach left. I guess it all worked out. At least I'm home and I got a scholarship."

Last week Onosai made the decision to stay in Hawai'i instead of continuing with the Bruins, and was granted a full release by UCLA.

Much of her decision to go to UCLA was based on Sua, and "once I heard she left I knew it wasn't going to be the same. I didn't want to be there if my heart wasn't in it. That's why I chose to stay at home. UCLA is big time, so I'm going to miss that. But UH is an up and coming program and I feel I can contribute and help the program grow.

Onosai's father Joe called UH coach Carmyn James and told her Careena would be interested in joining the program.

"They were shocked, but they were happy at the same time," said Careena, who said she was offered a full ride to UH.

Under NCAA rules, schools are prohibited from talking about prospective recruits until after they sign, however they are permitted to acknowledge whether they have an interest in a recruit. When asked if UH would be interested in Onosai, James says, "Yes."

Onosai has been in Hawai'i because UCLA's fall quarter began yesterday. She intends to enroll at UH for the spring semester in January.

She trains with UCLA's workout guide, and "with that workout I've gotten a lot stronger," by lifting and running.

Onosai set the state championship meet record in the discus as a sophomore, with a toss of 151 feet. She is a three-time state discus champ and a two-time winner of the shot put. The Word of Life alum earned Interscholastic League of Honolulu All-Star honors in basketball and volleyball.

Last year she said she planned to walk on to the women's volleyball and track and field programs at the University of Hawai'i. Now, her volleyball career "is in the past," she said, and she plans to focus only on track and field.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.