HONOLULU — Female student-athletes at Hawaii public high schools will take to the gridiron next spring in the inaugural season of girls varsity flag football.

What You Need To Know

  • The sport is available to all public high schools in the state thanks to a partnership between the Hawaii High School Athletic Association and the state Department of Education and private contributors including the National Football League, Seattle Seahawks, Nike, the Hawaii Medical Service Association and Hawaii Dental Association
  • Hawaii is the 12th state to sanction the sport for high school participation
  • Girls flag football will be played in a 7-on-7 format in the spring sports season. All 44 public schools statewide, along with a handful of private schools, intend to field a team
  • The NFL and the Seahawks will provide grants for equipment. Uniforms will be provided by Nike. The Hawaii Medical Service Association will donate protective headgear; Hawaii Dental Service will supply mouth guards and flags

The sport is available to all public high schools in the state thanks to a partnership between the Hawaii High School Athletic Association and the state Department of Education and private contributors including the National Football League, Seattle Seahawks, Nike, the Hawaii Medical Service Association and Hawaii Dental Association.

Hawaii is the 12th state to sanction the sport for high school participation.

“With the potential for 1,000 female athletes statewide to participate in the inaugural season, these young women are not just making history, they are trailblazing a path for future generations of female high school athletes,” said HIDOE superintendent Keith Hayashi at a news conference Thursday at McKinley High School. “Their involvement will inspire and empower countless others in the years to come. The Department appreciates the partnership with HHSAA, our generous sponsors and our dedicated athletic directors and school administrators for providing this historic opportunity.”

Girls flag football will be played in a 7-on-7 format in the spring sports season. All 44 public schools statewide, along with a handful of private schools, intend to field a team.

“It is so profound that we are continuing to follow the legacy and the life work of Patsy T. Mink and Title IX,” said Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke.

At Thursday’s news conference, McKinley senior Trishelle Domingo said she looks forward to trying out for her school’s inaugural flag football team.

“Girls flag football will be an amazing opportunity for girls who are interested in playing high school sports,” Domingo said. “There is no doubt that it will be enjoyed and that there is a high interest in the sport. I hope this excitement is seen throughout all of the high schools around the state. I am extremely excited to see an increase in student participation in sports, especially on the girls side.”

The tentative start date for competition is Feb. 27, 2025, with a 12-team HHSAA state tournament the week of April 21.

“Through these athletic opportunities, I have seen firsthand the benefits that education-based athletics offers,” HHSAA executive director Chris Chun said. “It is with great pride to know that we have expanded opportunities to female student-athletes beginning this very school year.”

The NFL and the Seahawks will provide grants for equipment. Uniforms will be provided by Nike. The Hawaii Medical Service Association will donate protective headgear; Hawaii Dental Service will supply mouth guards and flags.

“It’s amazing to see the continued growth and adoption of girls flag football programs across the country, and we are thrilled that it’s become a state sanctioned sport in Hawaii,” said Mario Bailey, Seattle Seahawks vice president of community engagement and legends. “The Seahawks are proud to continue our efforts across Hawaii to help grow their girls flag programs through clinics, events and grant funding, and give as many girls as possible the opportunity to play at the highest level.”

Marcus Mariota’s Motiv8 Foundation has also pledged funding to support girls flag football in Hawaii.

“For year two and beyond, we are going to enlist the support of our friends in the legislature, and hopefully they will jump on board, as I am confident that they will to ensure that flag football is here for many years to come,” said Keith Amemiya, chair of the Governor’s Sports Task Force.

State Senate education chair Michelle Kidani said she was excited at what the future holds for the sport in Hawaii.

“Continuing the legacy of Patsy T. Mink and her ground-breaking law has long been a motivating influence in my life, which makes today’s announcement so exciting,” Kidani said in a statement released on Friday. “Girls flag football is a fantastic new opportunity for the young women in our high schools, especially considering how much interest in participation has already been expressed by our students. As the chair of the Senate education committee, a former high school athlete and a Bobby Sox and girls softball coach, I know the importance of supporting our girl student athletes, and the impact that sports can have on our students’ growth and development.

“With this announcement coming as the Olympics capture our imagination, and exceptional athletes like Carissa Moore, Daniela Moroz and Simone Biles share their talents with the world, it is important that we develop multiple avenues for our young women to grow in sport here at home,” she said. “Expanded opportunities such as this are exactly what Patsy T. Mink envisioned when she fought for equality in our schools. Girls flag football will be in the 2028 Olympics, and I trust that we will have local girls in Los Angeles in 2028 representing Hawaii and the United States on the flag football field. In the meantime, I look forward to cheering from the bleachers next spring as our young wahine score touchdowns!”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.