By: Kennedy Choo
In a landmark moment for high school athletics, the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) announced the launch of the first-ever state surfing championships during a special press conference held at the State Capitol inside the governor’s office.
Governor Josh Green was joined by Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion surfer Carissa Moore, North Shore Representative Sean Quinlan, Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) surfing pioneer Kim Ball, Leilehua surf team member Kylie Sato, and Sports Task Force Chair Keith Amemiya to mark the historic occasion.
The inaugural HHSAA Surfing Championships will take place May 1–2, 2026, at Ho‘okipa Beach Park on Maui’s North Shore. The competition will feature three disciplines: shortboard, longboard, and bodyboarding.
“Hawai‘i has given the world two great gifts,” said Rep. Quinlan. “The first is aloha. The second is surfing.”
Rep. Quinlan spearheaded efforts to bring surfing to the statewide high school sports stage, securing $690,000 in funding to support the inaugural season. He emphasized the cultural and historical significance of the sport.
“I’m so proud to be here today, celebrating the opportunity to foster a new generation of champions,” Quinlan said.
Surfing has deep roots in Hawaiian culture, and for many, the announcement marks the culmination of decades of work. On Maui, surfing has been a sanctioned high school sport since 2014, thanks in large part to Kim Ball, a longtime advocate and leader in the island’s surfing community.
“Maui high schools competed for 19 years as an unofficial club sport, and then, ten years ago, began competing as an official MIL sport,” said Ball. “You can imagine the excitement after 29 years that we’re finally going to have a state championship. The County of Maui and the MIL surf crew will do all we can to make it as memorable as possible.”
Carissa Moore, who made history by winning the first Olympic gold medal in women’s surfing, reflected on how much the sport’s inclusion would have meant during her own high school years at Punahou School.
“It would’ve saved me a lot of miles around the track trying to earn PE credits,” Moore joked. “But in all seriousness, I couldn’t be more thrilled that Hawai‘i’s school systems are embracing surfing. In today’s fast-paced world, it gives the next generation a chance to slow down and connect with something bigger than themselves.”
The 2026 HHSAA Surfing Championships will not only showcase the talent of Hawai‘i’s student-athletes but also honor the state’s rich surfing heritage—bringing it full circle as a recognized high school sport.