HONOLULU (KHON2) — Girls flag football is now the first new sport for high school girls in more than 20 years– a historic moment for Hawaii High School athletics.
Starting this spring, expect to see high school girls tough it out on the field in a game of flag football. Hawaii is the 12th state to sanction girls' flag football as an official sport.
"It's a great opportunity for girls in general to have a shot at playing a boys-dominated sport," stated Trishelle Domingo, McKinley High School's Senior Class President & student-athlete.
According to officials, the decision came after an informal student survey revealed flag football among top three student interests. Like any sport, girls' flag football will vary by leagues and size, per Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA).
As of now, officials are planning a nine-week season but have not yet adopted official state tournament rules, per HHSAA. The first state championship game is tentatively scheduled for this upcoming school year in April 2025.
"The girls have proven that they're just as good as the boys and they're just as interested in football as the boys," said Keith Amemiya, the Governor's Sports Task Force Chair.
All public high schools in the state will have the option of having girls flag football be part of their athletics program– paving the way for more female athletes to shine and inspire like Domingo, who plans on earning her spot on the team.
"It's very special and very exciting to be a part of that first-ever group that has the opportunity to build this sport and make it go even farther than just the sport in general," stated Domingo.
With many colleges sanctioning women's flag football as a college sport, universities are already offering scholarships for girls' flag football.
"I'm looking forward to our student-athletes paving the way for all girls," said Keith Hayashi, Department of Education (DOE) Superintendent.
Officials have high hopes for a Hawaiian flag football Olympian with flag football becoming an official Olympic sport in 2028.
"It's something that girls can look forward to. If [they're] a freshman this year, they're going to maybe look forward to being part of the Olympic dream," said Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke.
