Mom, I Gotta Get to Practice.

....can you drop me at the beach?

Yes, there is a new high school sport and the gear will be needed - mom, can you buy me a new.....Surfboard?!

Surf was up for the first high school surfing state championship held at Ho'okipa.

Kahlil Pineres-Schooley of Seabury Hall is carried in celebration after winning the boys shortboard competition on May 2, 2026, at Ho’okipa to become the first state high school surfing champion in Hawaiʻi history. HJI / Cammy Clark photo

2025 State legislature passed a bill to make surfing an official High School sport. The governor signed into law in 2025 making Hawai'i the first state in the nation to have surfing as a state high school championship sport, and provided some funding to make it real.

Almost 140 youths participated in the two-day state meet, and it was equally split with boys and girls participating, from 55 schools around Hawai'i. Now with surfing being an official Olympic sport, we'll see some great contenders.

Kahlil Pineres-Schooley, winner shortboard, TOP.

BOTTOM: Senior Kaipo’i Koa won her final with a 13.8 score, putting her in the records book as the first girls bodyboard state champion at Hoʻokipa Beach Park on May 2, 2026. Courtesy HHSAA / Ernie Black photo

Fun to watch, now. I've hung up my surfboard.

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#Maui is part of a new high school state sport, #Surfing.