The Hawaii High School Athletic Association has announced the postponement of “higher and moderate” risk fall sports season to January of 2021.
Football, girls volleyball and competitive cheer are the sports that will shift to January. Air riflery and bowling will remain in the fall season.
The HHSAA board and Start Date Committee met on Wednesday afternoon. The recent daily spike in COVID-10 cases at record numbers — there were 173 more today — has caused concern at the state level. Lt. Gov. Josh Green said on Wednesday that Gov. David Ige could likely establish a 30-day lockdown as early as today.
“It has been difficult,” HHSAA Executive Director Chris Chun said.
Hawaii becomes the seventh state to postpone some or all fall sports to the winter or spring season.
The blueprint for the new schedule isn’t clear.
“It is to be determined and evaluated,” Chun added.
Chun said the HHSAA’s decision was not based on Lt. Green’s forewarning. The HHSAA made its announcement on Wednesday afternoon on its website and via email.
“No, we made this decision on Monday,” Chun said. “As a parent, coach, and administrator, I am extremely disappointed like most of them. I am hopeful, we as a community do what we need to do to flatten the curve so our student-athletes can play again.”
Right thing to do, Chris.
Look for some seniors with ties to families in Utah transferring there to play football. However, if Hawaii high schools move their football season to the Spring, would these individuals be able to transfer back and be eligible to play here as well?
It is looking like Amemiya is behind in the Mayor election, so my question is can he come back to run this HHSAA during a time like this when true leadership is needed?
The guy in charge of HHSAA now clearly needs help. He raised more questions than answers with his so-called announcement that had very little details.
What did you expect HHSAA to do? Allow the kids to continue to be in harms way? This isn’t some made up pandemic. Sports is not worth dying for. Want a scholarship that bad?? Join the military.
Mike makes good sense. Everyone on this blog loves football but the kids’ safety should be our priority. The pursuit of Football glory often clouds one’s judgment.
April Atuaia of Orem (Utah) played basketball in the winter as a senior, then transferred to Kahuku to play hoops in the spring many years back. Since then, the rule has been amended to prevent this from happening again. But you were spot on about island athletes transferring. I just wrote a story about Kamehameha quarterback Kia‘i Keone.