Some people will grumble. That’s just the way it is when you make suggestions on which football teams go in which divisions.
So, let the grumbling begin. Here is a guesstimate at which schools would go where if the OIA-ILH football alliance gets the green light. To become a reality, it would have to be approved by the ILH heads of school on May 3 and also by the OIA principals at a date to be named. If it passes through both leagues, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association would likely rubber-stamp it, according to HHSAA executive director Chris Chun in a story on the KHON2 website.
ILH teams’ placement is already set in the proposal, with Kamehameha, Saint Louis and Punahou going to the Open division, ‘Iolani and Damien in Division I and Pac-Five and St. Francis headed to Division II.
At this point, it is not known which OIA schools are going where, and that will be determined by the OIA if approval is granted.
Here is what the symbols below mean:
>> *—highly likely to be in the division
>> (+)—may be better suited to move up a division
>> (-)—may be better suited to move down a division
Here is the guesstimate/educated guess of the possible alignment:
OPEN DIVISION
>> Campbell (-)
>> Farrington*
>> Kahuku*
>> Kailua (-)
>> Kamehameha*
>> Kapolei (-)
>> Mililani*
>> Punahou*
>> Saint Louis*
>> Waianae*
DIVISION I
>> Aiea*
>> Castle*
>> Damien*
>> ‘Iolani*
>> Kaiser (+)
>> Kalani*
>> Leilehua (+)
>> Moanalua*
>> Nanakuli*
>> Radford*
DIVISION II
>> Kaimuki (+)
>> Kalaheo*
>> McKinley*
>> Pac-Five
>> Pearl City (+)
>> Roosevelt*
>> St. Francis*
>> Waialua*
>> Waipahu*
Watching this closely. Hey Nick, perhaps suggest to Chris Chun instead of having D1 in the middle, it could create identity issues, especially in recruiting. Scrap the division labels and rename them as many states on the mainland do. Or just admit there are 3 divisions and label them accordingly.
Open —> AAA —> D1
Division I —> AA —> D2
Division II —> A —> D3
two cents for what its worth
Craig, yeah, I understand that thinking. It’s possible they could still do that.
In Massachusetts, eight teams compete for a championship generally known as the Super 8
So, maybe Hawaii could have:
>> the Super 10 (or Division I)
>> Division II
>> Division III
I think the reason for the way they have it now is so a Division I team (like Leilehua, Kaiser or Moanalua) doesn’t get downgraded to Division II.
Makes sense, but it is what it is. I think state records would reflect it an really wouldn’t take anything away from teams like that other than the label. It is still MoHS football, etc. Then saying you are a Division I State Champion, but still knowing you are second tier won’t help much. For some of those teams in the bottom division (left out ‘Anuenue, unless they have decided to do away with football altogether), they barely have enough kids to safely have a full team. Should 8-Man be considered for this lower level?
And if this goes through, where will the KIF fall in the new separation? they are a +/- between those last two levels on any given year.
Anyways, all hypothetical at this point in time though. Exciting days ahead!
Why are you all still calling it a State Championship? Call it Prep Bowl again, don’t call it a state title. Oahu folks so quick to create a plan with no NI factor (yes proposal gave MIL & BIIF the option to join, but I am sure money will prevent a multi-isle regular season division). Short memories you OIA guys have. I remember wondering why did you guys play the Prep Bowl back in the day. OIA could not compete at all. But your opportunity was maintained and OIA schools got better. By the way, 6 of 10 teams making the playoffs is a joke.
@rpaahana For the same reason that the Super Bowl champions are called “world champs.” Do you really believe that there is another team in the world who could have beaten the Broncos last season that was not in the NFL? To answer anything other than no would be plain ignorant. Similarly, there is no chance any neighbor island school would be able to ever defeat a giant like Kahuku, STL, Punahou, etc.
So this proposal was not ok ed by the ILH? Hmmm. So Nick, who or what group presented this proposal? Names? Did I miss it in the numerous articles? Why don’t they just have a OIA / ILH Oahu championship like the old days. It will really suck when the ILH teams start blowing out the weak OIA teams in their conference. As it is now, OIA has problems moving weak and strong teams around with only the previous year records to go on.
To Manley — In the newspaper article, according to trusted Honolulu Star-Advertiser sources, the people who created the proposal are former HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya, OIA executive director Ray Fujino, ILH executive director Blane Gaison and ILH assistant director Georges Gilbert. The newspaper article also points out that Fujino, when asked, said he was not part of it.
@rpaahana, Without the NI participating that this open division playoffs this cant truly be a “state champion” with that said, allow the BIIF and MIL to continue their regular schedule then at the end of season instead of the top 6 teams from the open division going to playoffs have only the top 4 go, and add in the BIIF/MIL Champs that puts us back in the 6 team state tourney we have today.
Now that i think about it though, this merger only really helps the ILH get more chances to win. I vote leave it as it is. That way, its still just the best of the best.
I say no need change much. In the state tourney just add american samoa’s champs in that way the ilh can add their 2nd place team so all get chance. I think samoa can hang with hawaii’s Giants. In my opinon samoa power 4 schools (Leone/Samoana/Tafuna/Funkytown) is equal level to Maui and Big islands teams. Would be fun to watch.
@Setu, Samoa has made alot of improvement, but they cannot hang with the Hawaii Giants. They would be considered D2 ,probably D3. The top teams in D2 will dominate them. Hawaii football is too strong!
Maybe if you get the officiating crew that does the Samoa Bowl they stand a chance. Like one of them said when questioned about the terrible calls ” after the came you guys get it the plane and ko home. I have to live hea”… Cheer hooo boyz, chee hoo….
Mahalo Nick for the reponse.