Hawaiʻi becomes 12th state to make girls flag football a high school sport

The state Department of Education and the Hawaiʻi High School State Athletic Association have announced, for the first time in nearly 20 years, there will be a new sport for high school girls to compete in. Beginning in Spring 2025, girls flag football will be in public and private high schools across the state.

Hawaiʻi has long led the nation in gender equality in sports, most notably with the lead sponsor and namesake of the federal Title IX law being the late Hawaiʻi Representative Patsy T. Mink of Maui, and Hawaiʻi being the first state to sanction girls high school wrestling in 1998.

HHSAA and the HIDOE have teamed up with the National FootballLeague, the Seattle Seahawks and Nike, among other private contributors, to make high school girls’ flag football a reality. Hawai‘i becomes the 12th state in the country to sanction girls’ flag football as a high school sport.

The announcement was made Thursday in a joint press conference with the HIDOE, the HHSAA, and supporters at McKinley High School’s athletic complex.

“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. Their involvement will inspire and empower countless others in the years to come,” HIDOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “The Department appreciates the partnership with HHSAA, our generous sponsors and our dedicated athletic directors and school administrators for providing this historic opportunity.”

“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. Gov. Sylvia Luke, the state’s only elected woman in the Executive Branch.

Senate Vice President Michelle N. Kidani, Chair of the Education Committee said, “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! 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.”

Girls’ flag football will be played in a 7-on-7 format in the spring season. All 44 public schools statewide, along with a handful of private schools, across the following leagues intend to field a team: the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF), the Kauai Interscholastic Federation (KIF), the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) and the Oahu Interscholastic Association (OIA).

McKinley High School 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. There is no doubt that it will be enjoyed and that there is a high interest in the sport,” Domingo said. “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 first-hand the benefits that education-based athletics offers,” said Hawaii High School Athletic Association Executive Director Chris Chun. “It is with great pride to know that we have expanded opportunities to female student-athletes beginning this very school year.”

The inaugural season of high school girls’ flag football in Hawaii will be covered through private sponsorships. 

The NFL and the Seahawks will provide grants for equipment. Uniforms will be provided by Nike. The Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) will donate protective headgear, while Hawaii Dental Service will supply mouthguards 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 Hawai‘i,” Seattle Seahawks Vice President of Community Engagement & Legends Mario Bailey said. “The Seahawks are proud to continue our efforts across Hawai‘i 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 Hawaiʻi.

“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. 

The addition comes at a time when girls’ flag football is exploding in popularity across the United States. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), 31 of the 51 state athletic associations are participating in girls’ flag football, either as a sanctioned sport or as a pilot program. In addition, both men and women’s flag football will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.