Hawaii crowns first high school surfing state champions at Hookipa Beach Park

Key facts

• The inaugural HHSAA Surfing State Championships take place May 1-2 at Hookipa Beach Park on Maui.
• 174 competitors (87 boys, 87 girls) from 36 boys’ and 27 girls’ high schools are participating.
• Competition divisions include shortboard, longboard, and bodyboard.
• All five of Hawaii’s high school leagues are represented.
• The beach park is closed for competition from 5 p.m. April 30 to 5 p.m. May 2.
• Free shuttles run from a parking lot off Holomua Road starting at 6 a.m. each day.
• Heats run from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday and 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
• Awards will be presented after the finals on Saturday.

A milestone for Hawaii’s high school surfing

Hawaii will crown its first high school surfing state champions this weekend, as the Hawaii High School Athletic Association holds the inaugural Surfing State Championships at Hookipa Beach Park on Maui. The two-day event, beginning Friday, May 1, and concluding Saturday, May 2, brings together 174 of the state’s top high school surfers and bodyboarders. The championships mark the culmination of a decade-long effort: surfing has been a sanctioned sport in the Maui Interscholastic League since 2014, but this is the first time all five of Hawaii’s high school leagues will compete for a unified state title. The event will crown both team and individual champions in boys’ and girls’ divisions.

Spectator access and shuttle logistics

Spectators heading to Hookipa Beach Park must use free HHSAA shuttles from a designated parking lot off Holomua Road, approximately one mile from the beach. No spectator parking is available at the park itself, which closed for competition use at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 30, and will remain closed through 5 p.m. Saturday, May 2. Shuttles will begin running at 6 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday, operating as needed to ferry attendees to and from the park. County officials are urging spectators to follow signage to the Holomua Road lot and cautioning drivers in the area to expect delays.

Competition schedule and divisions

Heats are scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. each day, with action on Friday running until 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday concluding at 2:30 p.m. The event features three divisions: shortboard, longboard, and bodyboard. A total of 36 boys’ teams and 27 girls’ teams from across the state will compete. Live results will be available throughout the tournament at liveheats.com/events/418818. Awards will be presented immediately after the finals on Saturday, capping the first official high school surfing state championship in Hawaii’s history.

A sport’s journey from league to state recognition

While surfing has deep cultural roots in Hawaii, its formal inclusion in high school athletics has been gradual. The Maui Interscholastic League sanctioned surfing as a sport in 2014, but a statewide championship had not been established until now. The HHSAA’s decision to organize this event reflects the sport’s growing institutional support and the demand from student-athletes across the islands. The championships bring together competitors from all five of Hawaii’s high school leagues, ensuring representation from every major island. The event is expected to become an annual fixture on the state’s high school sports calendar.

What the first state title means for Hawaii’s surfers

For the 174 athletes competing, the state championship offers a rare opportunity to earn official recognition for their skills in a sport that is central to Hawaii’s identity. The winners will be the first-ever state champions in high school surfing, a distinction that carries both prestige and a place in the record books. The event also signals a broader shift: as surfing gains traction in high school athletics nationwide, Hawaii’s inaugural championship may serve as a model for other states. The HHSAA has not yet announced plans for future years, but the success of this weekend’s competition is likely to determine the event’s longevity.

A weekend of history on Maui’s north shore

Hookipa Beach Park, known for its powerful waves and world-class surf breaks, provides a fitting venue for the historic event. The park’s closure for competition use underscores the logistical effort required to host a state-level surfing championship, from wave management to spectator control. As the first heats begin at 7 a.m. Friday, the athletes will be competing not only for medals but for the chance to be remembered as pioneers. The outcome will set a precedent for future generations of high school surfers in Hawaii.

The bottom line

• Hawaii’s first high school surfing state championship is being held May 1-2 at Hookipa Beach Park on Maui.
• 174 student-athletes from 36 boys’ and 27 girls’ teams across all five state leagues are competing.
• Divisions include shortboard, longboard, and bodyboard for both boys and girls.
• Spectators must use free shuttles from a parking lot off Holomua Road; no parking at the beach.
• The beach park is closed from 5 p.m. April 30 to 5 p.m. May 2 for competition use.
• Awards will be presented after the finals on Saturday, May 2.