By: Annaliese Gumboc

In a press release earlier today, the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) announced that girls flag football will be offered across all 44 Hawaii public schools starting this spring season. Flag football becomes the first new girls sport to premiere in Hawaii high schools in over 20 years.

Hawaii now sanctions 20 sports—the seventh-most in the nation—and is the twelfth state to sanction girls flag football.

The announcement arrives in the wake of the Olympic committee’s decision to include men and women’s flag football beginning with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

The option to participate in HHSAA flag football brings vital opportunities to Hawaii’s girls, offering a new avenue for young women to obtain college athletic scholarships or reach the professional sports level. 

Trishelle Domingo, McKinley High School’s senior class president and a speaker at the press release, believes there are plenty of female students interested in the sport. Domingo, a soccer player, plans to join the McKinley Tigers’ first flag football team herself.

As stated by members of the press release, thousands of young women in Hawaii already participate in flag football, whether it be through street ball or athletic programs like Wahine Era Athletics. The state sanctioning of girls flag football is another historic step in efforts to recognize and grow the sport. 

This video contains statements from Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke, Hawaii State DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi, Governor’s Sports Task Force chairperson Keith Amemiya, HHSAA Executive Director Chris Chun, and McKinley High School Student-Athlete Trishelle Domingo.