I watched Hilo the year they won the D1 championship and they were extremely good. Well coached, disciplined, played fast and executed. They were much smaller than the team they played but outplayed them that evening.

i also watched them, I think, the year before when they played Punahou and they were outplayed in every phase of the game. Granted they had some pilikia going on with the coach but I dont think they would be able to successfully compete against the likes of Kahuku, St. Lulu, Milville and the rest of the Open, even Waianae and Farrington.

Now Leilehua and Moanalua and maybe Iolani or Damien could move up to open while Waianae, Kapolei and Kamehameha move down to D1.

I hope this format survives.

Try for the Open when the only open schools are on Oahu? You’re gonna pay for the travel expenses right? Hilo barely has a student population of 1100 and has only 30~40 on their roster every year. Most skill players play both ways because they have to. That 2017 states championship team had its quarterback playing DB on most defensive plays as well. At a public school only Kahuku can sustain an Open program with that enrollment. BIIF never won a single game in D-I states until 2017, and I think we all know where the league stands.

If Hilo wins D1 states this year as they are favored to do, they need to at least try for Open division next year. On the other hand, if they lose in the D1 tournament then Big Island football needs to do some serious review.