A growing push to make surfing an official high school sport in Hawaii is gaining traction, with state lawmakers set to vote on a bill that could provide crucial funding for the program.
Later this week, the Hawaii State Legislature will consider a bill that allocates more than $685,000 for each of the next two years to help public schools statewide implement surfing as a sanctioned sport.
The measure, known as House Bill 133, was introduced by House Majority Leader and North Shore Representative Sean Quinlan, who believes the time has come for Hawaii’s high school students to have the opportunity to compete in surfing, just like their peers in other sports.
While surfing has been a part of the Maui Interscholastic League for over a decade, Quinlan argues that it is long overdue for it to be introduced at the statewide level. “There were concerns about injury rates and insurance costs, but we know from Maui that the injury rates are negligible, and the cost of insurance is quite low,” Quinlan explained. “Surfing is a very safe sport when done properly.”
The bill has garnered widespread support from the local surfing community, including Sunny Kazama, a recent graduate of Iolani School, who testified in favor of the bill last week. Kazama, who competed as part of the school’s club surfing team, emphasized how the funding could provide teams with official recognition and much-needed resources.
“I see the money being used for coach salaries, equipment, and logistical costs to make it part of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) or the Oahu Interscholastic Association (OIA),” Kazama said. “This will really elevate high school surfing, and I’m excited to see it happen.”
Kazama, along with her family, organized the Honua Finals international prep surfing tournament last summer to demonstrate the feasibility of hosting high school-level competitions. She expressed her eagerness to help schools navigate the process of establishing teams if the bill passes.
“While I’m thrilled that the bill has made it this far, there are still steps to take before it becomes an established high school sport,” Kazama noted. “I’d love to be involved in helping schools get their teams up and running and ensure everything is done properly.”
The bill is set for a final vote on the floor of the state legislature this Wednesday. If approved, it will be sent to Governor Josh Green for his signature.
Quinlan emphasized the broader implications of the bill for Hawaii’s surfing community. “We want to provide every opportunity for our local talent to succeed, especially in the World Surf League (WSL) and other professional surfing circuits. This bill could be the key to helping them thrive on the world stage.”
As Hawaii continues to shape its future in the world of competitive surfing, this legislative move marks a pivotal step toward giving young surfers across the state the resources and recognition they deserve.