Maui Interscholastic League athletic directors are scheduled to meet today, for the sixth time in nine days, to address Lahainaluna High School’s participation in fall sports in the wake of the West Maui fires.

To use a football analogy, the MIL ADs are backed up deep in their own territory with the clock ticking. Loudly.

King Kekaulike returns to school this week, Maui Prep is scheduled to start its school year today, and the rest of the MIL schools were in session last week after a week or so away due to the wildfires in Lahaina and Upcountry.

The final score of the devastation simply cannot be removed from this nearly impossible decision facing the MIL ADs.

Unlike the rest of the league that has hundreds of fall sport athletes ready to compete, Lahainaluna has not re-opened for school yet.

When and if that happens anytime soon is a question that involves several levels itself — air quality and safe drinking water appear to be atop the list.

Add in the number of students who actually return to Lahainaluna, and the number of those who want to play sports, as another major factor in all of this.

When students can return safely to the Lahaina schools still standing — Lahainaluna, Lahaina Intermediate and Princess Nahi’ena’ena Elementary — what will be the effect on their psyches upon seeing the remnants of their hometown below them? Or traveling through that area simply to get to and from school on a daily basis?

There is NO question that the “Red Tide from the West Side” — the Lunas football team — playing a game anywhere on island would be one of the largest opportunities for everyone to take a deep breath, find a little sanctuary and allow the community to gather as one.

Put that game in Sue Cooley Stadium and the occasion would be off the charts — tears flowing, emotions roaring, cameras rolling … I could go on and on and certainly I can’t wait to be there.

Whether it is this fall or next, the emotions will run the spectrum.

Is it too early to think about high school sports right now for Lahaina? There certainly are many people who feel that the answer is, “Yes, it is too early,” and that is 100 percent understandable. Many others feel the exact opposite, hoping sports can help bring together the hard-hit community.

That is simply the no-right-answer choice that the MIL ADs are facing.

The Lunas football coaches, seven of whom lost houses in the fire, have assured everyone they are ready to go when and if necessary. One reliable source told me more than 40 Lunas coaches across all sports lost homes and it could be some time before we know how many students did.

Many displaced Lahainaluna students have already begun school in the new districts where they now lay their heads at night.

Kekai Keahi is as big a Lahainaluna football fan as there is on the island, but is also a West Maui community leader and Native Hawaiian activist. The father of Keawe Kane-Keahi, a 2022 MIL All-Star football player and 2023 state champion wrestler for the Lunas, was torn by the question following a news conference on Saturday at Wahikuli Beach Park.

After answering numerous questions on the plans to rebuild and renew Lahaina with unrelenting confidence, the query of whether the Lunas should return to play soon forced Keahi to ponder both sides of the possibilities.

“Lahainaluna has always been our bright, shining star,” he said. “It’s where the entire community comes together and gathers around. And so, it’s somewhat hard for me to say because sometimes I think it’s good because it brings the community back together and back to some kind of normalcy and unites people.

“But at the same time I don’t want it to look like we don’t care about the people who have lost their family members or their homes. So, it’s kind of touchy-feely, but for me I think by getting that sports program back together and on the field I think it will be a big boost for our community.”

When asked about what the atmosphere will be like for the first game at Sue Cooley Stadium, Keahi got emotional.

“Hoo, we’re so used to sitting at that stadium looking down the hill and seeing Lahaina Town. … Wow, I think people might be crying through that whole entire game,” Keahi said. “Yeah, especially when after like a state championship or so and we heading back home and the whole Lahaina community is standing on Lahainaluna Road, lining that place up, fireworks going off and the people cheering them, police department, fire department is there, cheering on our kids coming off a state championship.”

Keahi’s voice softened when he finished with, “Man, that’s going to be hard.”

The fact is MIL seasons must — and will — start soon to get in a regular season, and perhaps a tournament or some kind of playoff, to get teams decided for state tournament representation.

While all of the MIL brethren — and we really are one county — feel deeply for the Lunas’ predicament, schedules have to be adjusted, started and played.

If Lahainaluna starts school in two weeks, the Lunas playing fall sports seems unlikely but possible. If Lahainaluna starts a month, two months from now, it would probably be impossible for them to participate in fall sports.

If Lahainaluna returns virtually, would the Lunas be able to practice football, girls volleyball, cross country and cheerleading?

The Hawaii High School Athletic Association state tournament schedule has air riflery, bowling, cross country, cheerleading and girls volleyball all running from Halloween to Nov. 10.

Football — where the Lunas have won a league-record 39 straight MIL games, were the Division II state champions from 2016-19 and a D-I state finalist in 2021 — starts with first-round state playoff games for Divisions I and II on the weekend of Nov. 10-11.

There are significant added challenges for the MIL to get schedules played, including changing of dates needed for venues and reserving buses and planes for travel.

The most significant travel challenge appears to be for Lanai High School teams now that the ferry that routinely carried them to Lahaina Harbor for play on Maui and Molokai now runs a much smaller schedule and goes to crowded Maalaea Harbor.

Yes, the Pine Lads and Lasses used to ferry to Lahaina, bussed to Kahului, and then flew to Molokai for games on the Friendly Isle. Reverse that trek for the Farmers playing games on Lanai.

The possibility of scheduling new non-league football games involving MIL teams have been discussed — seven such games were wiped out over the past two weekends — as we return to prep sports in the near future here in Maui County.

The questions will be answered soon because they have to be.

I’m just glad I don’t have to be part of the group that has to make that impossible call. We need to give the folks who do have to make that decision the understanding and the compassion that has to go with it.

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.