HHSAA Press Release
Hawaii High School Athletic Association
News Release
For Immediate Release
September 22, 2025
HHSAA Surfing State Championship Adds Three Disciplines to Inaugural Event
HONOLULU – The Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) is excited to announce a significant expansion of its inaugural Surfing State Championship. Building on the recent sanctioning of the sport, the HHSAA has received notification that all five leagues will have both boys and girls surfing teams beginning this Spring 2026. In addition, at least three of the five member leagues will recognize all three disciplines of surfing: short board, longboard, and bodyboarding.
The two-day state tournament will take place on May 1st and 2nd at Ho’okipa, Maui, with Kahului Harbor designated as the backup location. The championship will crown individual boys and girls state champions in all three disciplines.
The HHSAA is also proud to announce that Dave Kazama has agreed to serve as the state coordinator for the event.
“The HHSAA would like to recognize Dave Kazama, along with his daughters, Sunny and Maia, who have been instrumental in getting the sport sanctioned in Hawaii through their grassroots advocacy and education,” said HHSAA Executive Director Chris Chun. “Kazama brings a wealth of knowledge to this role, as he is also a part of the collaboration that organizes the Honua Finals, the World Cup of Interscholastic Surfing.”
With more than 36,000 student-athletes served in the 2024-25 season, the HHSAA is a leader in fostering participation, offering culturally unique sports like outrigger canoe paddling and judo. The organization's history as a trailblazer for emerging sports, including being the first state to sanction girls wrestling and the 12th to sanction girls flag football, continues with the interscholastic championship of surfing, which would not be possible without the generous funding of private entities. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), under the leadership of trustee Dan Ahuna, has provided the largest one-time financial contribution in the history of the HHSAA.
Additional sponsors of the HHSAA Surfing State Championship include Zippy’s, which is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its popular Surf Pac, as well as Hawaii-USA Federal Credit Union, Kyo-Ya Hotels, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the Hawaii Longshore Stabilization Fund.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Chris Chun, Executive Director
Hawaii High School Athletic Association
chun@hhsaa.org
(808) 428-5744
The two-day state tournament will take place on May 1st and 2nd at Ho’okipa, Maui, with Kahului Harbor designated as the backup location. The championship will crown individual boys and girls state champions in all three disciplines.
The HHSAA is also proud to announce that Dave Kazama has agreed to serve as the state coordinator for the event.
“The HHSAA would like to recognize Dave Kazama, along with his daughters, Sunny and Maia, who have been instrumental in getting the sport sanctioned in Hawaii through their grassroots advocacy and education,” said HHSAA Executive Director Chris Chun. “Kazama brings a wealth of knowledge to this role, as he is also a part of the collaboration that organizes the Honua Finals, the World Cup of Interscholastic Surfing.”
With more than 36,000 student-athletes served in the 2024-25 season, the HHSAA is a leader in fostering participation, offering culturally unique sports like outrigger canoe paddling and judo. The organization's history as a trailblazer for emerging sports, including being the first state to sanction girls wrestling and the 12th to sanction girls flag football, continues with the interscholastic championship of surfing, which would not be possible without the generous funding of private entities. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), under the leadership of trustee Dan Ahuna, has provided the largest one-time financial contribution in the history of the HHSAA.
Additional sponsors of the HHSAA Surfing State Championship include Zippy’s, which is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its popular Surf Pac, as well as Hawaii-USA Federal Credit Union, Kyo-Ya Hotels, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the Hawaii Longshore Stabilization Fund.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Chris Chun, Executive Director
Hawaii High School Athletic Association
chun@hhsaa.org
(808) 428-5744
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