Maui Interscholastic League surfing co-coordinator Kim Ball (third from left) poses for a photo along with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (center) and Olympic gold medalist surfer Carissa Moore (second from left) during a press conference announcing the inaugural Hawaii High School Athletic Association surfing championship will be held at Ho‘okipa Beach Park on Maui. Courtesy photo

After almost three decades of work to bring surfing into the mainstream of high school sports on Maui, the first Hawaii High School Athletic Association surfing state championship will be decided on the Valley Isle.

During a Monday press conference, Maui Interscholastic League surfing co-coordinator Kim Ball stood beside Gov. Josh Green and Olympic gold medalist surfer Carissa Moore and others as they released details surrounding the first surfing championship, which will be May 1-2 at Hoʻokipa Beach Park.

The state championship will feature short boarding, long boarding and bodyboarding for both boys and girls. The event will be hosted by the MIL, which has sanctioned high school surfing since 2014.

“The Maui high schools have competed for 19 years as an unofficial club sport and then from 10 years ago, we’ve been competing as an official MIL sport,” Ball said. “So you can imagine enthusiasm, excitement after 29 years that we’re finally going to have a state championship. The county of Maui and our MIL surf crew will do all we can to make it a memorable event.”

With the move, Hawaii will become the first state in the nation to recognize surfing as a state championship event.

“In a very fast-paced world, it will encourage the next generation to slow down and connect with something bigger than themselves,” said Moore, who was born in Hawaii and has become an advocate for high school surfing. “That to me is truly crucial to living a life of joy and purpose. It’s not about competing, it’s about growing, building confidence and strengthening our community.”

According to the governor’s office, the newest addition to the lineup of high school sports was made possible by Act 141, which was introduced by Rep. Sean Quinlan, signed by Green earlier this year and provides funding for the surfing state championship.

“Surfing is more than a sport in Hawaii, it is a way of life for our people,” Green said. “This historic milestone celebrates our culture, creates new opportunities for our keiki and ensures that the next generation of surfers can compete on the same stage as other student athletes across the state.”

Last year, Hawaii hosted the first state championship for girls flag football, and the addition of surfing was welcomed by many students such as Kylie Sato, a junior on the Leilehua High School girls surf team who spoke at Monday’s press conference.

“I woke up this morning just feeling so sentimental and grateful that it’s finally happening,” Sato said. “For these past three years, since the first day of my freshman year, I’ve been advocating high school surfing and I’m so excited to see where this season goes. And I think there’s so many amazing and hard working people that put in so much work into this and it truly is so amazing that is finally happening.”