>> IN HAWAI'I, SURFING IS MORE THAN JUST A SPORT.

FOR MANY, IT'S A WAY OF LIFE THAT'S DEEPLY ROOTED IN OUR CULTURE AND HISTORY.

STARTING NEXT SPRING, HIGH SCHOOL SURFING WILL BE AN INTERSCHOLASTIC STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT.

THE HISTORIC MOVE TO OFFICIALLY ADD SURFING TO THE ATHLETICS LINE-UP HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING.

WE'LL HEAR HOW THE PROGRAM WILL WORK, WHAT ARE THE SAFETY CONCERNS AND HOW THIS WILL BENEFIT STUDENTS.

TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I START NOW.

♪ ♪ >> Lauren: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I...I'M LAUREN DAY.

HAWAI'I IS CONSIDERED THE BIRTHPLACE OF SURFING.

THE SPORT DATES BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS WITH ITS GLOBAL POPULARITY SKYROCKETING BECAUSE OF HAWAI'I'S OLYMPIC WATERMAN, DUKE KAHANAMOKU.

WITH A SPORT SO INGRAINED IN HAWAIIAN CULTURE, IT MAY SEEM SURPRISING THAT IT'S ONLY NOW BEING RECOGNIZED AS AN OFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL SPORT.

NEXT SPRING, STUDENTS STATEWIDE WILL BE ABLE TO TRAIN AND COMPETE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP.

TONIGHT, WE'RE ASKING OUR PANEL ABOUT THE COMPETITION STRUCTURE, HOW THIS CHANGE WILL CELEBRATE OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE AND HOW STUDENTS WILL BALANCE BOOKS AND BARRELS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII YOUTUBE PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

CHRIS CHUN HAS BEEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HAWAII HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SINCE 2010.

PRIOR TO THIS HE WORKED AS A CIVIL LITIGATION ATTORNEY IN HONOLULU.

HHSAA IS THE NONPROFIT, UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS, OPERATING 52 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NEARLY TWO DOZEN DIFFERENT SPORTS.

KIM BALL IS THE PRESIDENT OF HI-TECH SURF SPORTS.

HE STARTED THE MAUI SCHOLASTIC SURF CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1995 AND HAS BEEN A CO-COORDINATOR OF THE MAUI INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE SURF PROGRAM WHEN IT BEGAN IN 2014.

HE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF MAYOR BISSEN'S LAHAINA ADVISORY COMMITTEE AFTER LOSING THREE FAMILY HOMES IN THE WILDFIRES.

BETH MATSUDA IS THE FOUNDER AND FORMER COACH OF THE WAI'ANAE HIGH SCHOOL SURF TEAM.

AFTER MANY YEARS OF LOBBYING, THE TEAM HAS BEEN COMPETING WITH OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL SURF CLUBS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

SHE'S ALSO WORKED TO SET UP JUNIOR LIFEGUARD CLINICS AND OCEAN SAFETY TECHNICIAN TRAINING.

AND KAYA OKIMOTO IS A JUNIOR AT 'IOLANI SCHOOL.

SHE'S BEEN A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL'S SURF TEAM SINCE HER FRESHMEN YEAR AND REPRESENTED HAWAI'I ALONGSIDE HER TEAMMATES AT THE NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP IN CALIFORNIA LAST YEAR.

KAYA ALSO PLAYS VARSITY SOFTBALL.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

WHAT AN EXCITING CHANGE, OPPORTUNITY FOR HAWAI'I STUDENTS.

KIM, I WANT.

TO START WITH YOU.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR, FOR A ALONG TIME.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING THAT IT IS FINALLY HAPPENING FOR HAWAI'I HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS?

>> I CAN TELL YOU OUR STUDENT ATHLETES AND COACHES ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING A STATE TOURNAMENT.

IT'S ONE THING TO COMPETE AS AN MIL LEAGUE, BUT THEY WANT TO BE LIKE ALL OTHER INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR A STATE TITLE.

>> Lauren: HOW LONG HAVE YOU, HAVE PEOPLE IN HAWAI'I BEEN PUSHING FOR SURFING TO OFFICIALLY BE A HIGH SCHOOL SPORT IN TALK ABOUT THIS LENGTHY PROCESS TO GET HERE.

>> LIKE YOU SAID, WE STARTED HIGH SCHOOL CLUB SURFING IN 1995.

IT'S 19 YEARS WE DID THAT.

AND WE'VE HAD MIL SURFING 11 YEARS, OR ADMINISTRATORS VOTED TO ACCEPT IT IN 2012.

AND 2013, WE DID A TEST, A TEST SEASON.

IN FACT, WHEN THEY APPROVED IT, THE D.O.E.

HADN'T EVEN APPROVED IT AS AN INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT.

IT WAS A CLUB SPORT.

AFTER OUR PRINCIPALS VOTED IT IN, THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE GUIDELINES AND RETROACTIVE TO MAKE IT INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT.

>> Lauren: BETH, HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THIS FINALLY HAPPENING?

YOU'VE ALSO BEEN ADVOCATE AND LOBBYING FOR A WHILE.

THAT-- WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEAS FOR HAWAI'I STUDENTS?

>> IT'S A BIG EXCITEMENT.

WE STARTED OFF GOING WITH FIVE OIA SCHOOLS.

AND WE HAVE 23 COMING UP THIS SEASON.

SO WE HAD, LIKE, SARA FAIRCALLED PUT ON INSTAGRAM ON DUKE KAHANAMOKU FOUNDATION E-MAIL.

HAD PARENTS AND KIDS CALLING ME.

NO SCHOOLS.

PARENTS AND KIDS, AND I WOULD CALL THE SCHOOLS AND TRY TO SET IT UP.

BUT IT TOOK US ABOUT 27 YEARS.

>> Lauren: WOW.

>> TO GET IT GOING.

>> Lauren: IT'S SO SURPRISING THAT HAWAI'I, OF ALL PLACES, HAS TAKEN UNTIL 2025, I GUESS 2026 BEING THE OFFICIAL DATE TO MAKE HIGH SCHOOL SURFING OFFICIAL.

WHY DID YOU GUYS THINK IT'S TAKEN SO LONG TO GET TO THIS POINT?

>> I WISH I HAD THE ANSWER.

THE RESISTSNESS -- TWO REASONS, I THINK.

ONE WAS LIABILITY.

AND SECOND WAS THE COST.

AND SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO OBSTACLES.

WE'VE PROVEN IT'S A SAFE SPORTS.

HAVEN'T HAD A DISLOCATION, FACTURE, EVEN STITCHES.

PROVENING TO BE A SAFE SPORTS.

ATHLETIC TRAINERS THAT GET THAT -- HAD THAT JOB TO WORK THE SURF MEET, RAISING THEIR HANDS, I WANT TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY EASY TO DO.

>> Lauren: KAYA, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF CHATTING WITH YOU BEFORE WE EVEN WENT ON THE AIR HERE.

YOU'VE BEEN SURFING ESSENTIALLY BEFORE YOU COULD WALK.

IS THAT TRUE?

WERE YOU SURPRISED TO FIND OUT AS YOU GOT OLDER THAT SURFING WAS NOT AN OFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL SPORT?

>> I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT IT WAS ONLY AT CLUB AND IT WASN'T A HIGH SCHOOL SPORT.

I FEEL IT'S SUCH A BIG PART OF HAWAI'I'S COMMUNITY.

AND IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED THE SAME AS ALL THE OTHERS SPORTS.

>> Lauren: HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT IT NOW?

>> I'M EXCITED.

>> Lauren: YEAH.

DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO DO, LIKE, MAYBE CHANGE HOW YOU FEEL WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE RIDING THE WAVES?

>> I FEEL AS A SCHOOL SPORT, IT CHANGES THE MEANING OF SURFING IN A CONTEST.

YOU'RE REPRESENTING YOUR SCHOOL AND YOUR TEAMMATES, AND EVEN YOUR TOWN.

>> Lauren: BETH, WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION FROM MAYBE OTHER STUDENTS THAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM, THAT THIS IS FINALLY HAPPENING?

>> 9 THE KIDS ARE REALLY EXCITE.

I MEAN, WE WENT FROM 13, 14 SCHOOLS TO 23 SCHOOLS THIS YEAR.

SO THE KIDS ARE SUPER STOKED.

THIS IS FINALLY HAPPENING.

AND THEY'RE JUST WONDERING WHY IT TOOK SO LONG.

>> Lauren: CHRIS, CAN YOU TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE DIVISIONS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND MAYBE THAT CHAMPIONSHIP THAT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

>> IN THE SPRING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE DIVISION.

IN OTHERS SPORTS WE HAVE MULT WELL DIVISIONS, GIGS, WE'LL DO S DRUG, LONGBOARDING AND SHORTBOARDING.

WE HAVE PARTICIPATE FROM ALL FIVE LEAGUES.

WE'LL HAVE A LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP FROM ALL FIVE LEAGUES.

WE'LL HAVE ABOUT 162 SURFERS COMPETE IN BOYS AND GIRLS TOTAL FOR THE FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF OUR BIGGER STATE TOURNAMENTS PROBABLY RIGHT FROM THE START.

>> Lauren: THIS IS IN MAY, RIGHT?

>> IN MAY.

>> Lauren: WHERE IS IT GOING TO BE LOCATED AND JUST MORE LOGISTICAL DETAILS.

>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE MIL BECAUSE THE MIL IS OBVIOUSLY THE LEADER AND THE FOREFRONT IN SURFING AND INTERSCHOLASTIC SURFING IN HAWAI'I.

SO WE CONSULTED WITH KIM, AND WE CAME UP WITH THE BEST PLACE WOULD BE HO'OKIPA FOR THE FIRST ONE.

THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY.

HE ASSURED US AS BEST AS HE COULD THAT THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BEST PLACE FOR WAVES TO GET BECAUSE NOW, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ONLY LOOKING FOR FIELDS OR SITES TO DO A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

NOW WE ACTUALLY NEED MOTHER NATURE TO COOPERATE AND GIVE US WAVES TO DO IT AS WELL.

IT'S GOING TO BE HO'OKIPA.

I THINK WE HAVE A BACKUP AT LAHAINA.

>> KAHULUI HARBOR.

>> THAT'S THE BACKUP.

WE HAVE TO SHIFT OUR PIVOT LAST MINUTE, WE CAN ON THE SAME ISLAND.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY.

>> Lauren: REALLY EXCITING.

>> THERE'S A WAITING PERIOD?

>> THERE'S NOT A WAITING PERIOD BECAUSE WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FLYING OVER TO DO IT.

TRAVEL AND LOGISTICS, IT'S NOT LIKE A USUAL SURF COMPETITION YOU'RE USED TO.

>> Lauren: IF THE WAVES ARE SMALL -- >> WE'RE GOING.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WAVES.

>> Lauren: OKAY.

DON'T JOINING JINX IT.

KIM, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU THAT THE FIRST OFFICIAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IS GOING TO BE HELD ON YOUR ISLAND?

>> WELL, WE FEEL VERY HONORED THAT HHSAA IS COMING TO MAUI.

WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO BE THE BEST HOST WE CAN.

II KNOW THE COUNTY OF MAUI, PARS AND RECREATION IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HOSTING IT, TOO.

AND HO'OKIPA IS A PERFECT VENUE.

KIND OF LIKE AN AMPITHEATER, GOOD VIEWING.

>> WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

>> Lauren: EARLIER WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT TOOK SO LONG TO GET TO THIS PLACE.

KIM, YOU AND BETH MENTIONED SAFETY BEING A BIG CONCERN FOR FOLKS.

WHAT KIND OF SAFETY ELEMENTS WILL BE IN PLACE FOR TOURNAMENTS AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP?

>> WELL, WE HAVE WATER SAFETY OFFICERS AT ALL OUR EVENTS, AND AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TWO TEAMS OF WATER SAFETY OFFICERS IN THE WATER.

AND IF IT'S REALLY BIG, WE'RE NOT GOING TO RUN.

SAFETY FIRST ALL THE TIME.

>> I THINK BETH HAD A -- WITH A LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL THAT'S GOING TO KEEP OUR STUDENT ATHLETES SAFE.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU RUN.

>> WE DO THE JUNIOR GUARDS.

EVERY KID GOT TO DO JUNIOR GUARD.

ALMOST LIKE A MINI OCEAN SAFETY LIFEGUARD COURSE.

AND WE RUP THE -- RUN THE COACHES THROUGH THE SAME COURSE.

AND THE KIDS ARE TAUGHT BUDDY SYSTEM.

A LOT OF TIMES, KIDS WILL START SOMETHING.

AND THEY'LL LET US KNOW.

>> Lauren: THIS IS IS -- SORRY, EVERY SURFING ON THE TEAM HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS TRAINING?

>> SOMETHING ELSE THAT NO OTHER SPORT HAS, OUR COACHES HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED.

THEY HAVE TO PASS A SWIM TEST.

COACH HAS TO PASS A SWIM TEST BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN TAKE THE COURSE.

AND OPEN OCEAN RESCUE, LIFE SAVING SKILLS, FIRST AID, COACHINGS HAVE TO TAKE THAT CLASS.

AND ON MAUI, SOME DO JUNIOR LIFEGUARDS BUT I THINK THE D.O.E.

GUIDELINES OR A SIMILAR PROGRAM.

COACHES, AFTER THEY PASS THAT COURSE, THEY'LL DO A SIMILAR ONE FOR THEIR STUDENT ATHLETES.

>> Lauren: HOW CLOSELY, AND CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, IS EITHER HHSAA OR THE TEAMS, THE SCHOOLS, HAVING TO WORK WITH OCEAN SAFETY?

>> REALLY CLOSE.

YEAH.

9THE GUIDELINES ARE PRETTY STRICT.

THEY MADE IT STRICT.

BASICALLY, WE'RE TRAINING ANOTHER 120 TO 150 LIFEGUARDS IN THE MIL EVERY YEAR.

>> Lauren: KAYA, MAYBE YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT YOUR TEAM TODAY AT IOLANI.

WHAT ARE SOME SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ALREADY IN PLACE WHEN YOU GUYS GO OUT THERE?

>> WELL, FOR THE PAST YEARS, WE HAD TO GET A JUNIOR LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION TO DO A CONTEST AS A CLUB.

SO OUR CERTIFICATIONS LASTED FOR TWO YEARS.

WE WOULD DO SOMETHING THINGS.

LIKE SWIM TESTS AND WE LEARN CPR AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND WHEN WE SURF, WE USUALLY PARTNER UP.

WIN WE HAVE PRACTICES AND STUFF.

THAT'S HOW WE KEEP TRACK OF EVERYBODY.

>> Lauren: GOING BACK TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN MAY, WE -- MENTIONED THE WAVES ARE LOW, STILL GOING.

ARE THERE GOING TO BE HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS?

>> WE HAVE A EXPERIENCED CONTEST DIRECTOR.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT STUDENT ATHLETES IN DANGER.

LATER IN MAY, WE DON'T GET AS BIG AS NORTH SWELLS.

>> Lauren: WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, I GUESS, HOW THE TIDE AND WEATHER CHANGES FOR MAY.

WE HAVE A COUPLE VIEWER QUESTIONS.

MAYBE WE CAN GETS THESE IN.

JOJO FROM KAIMUKI IS ASKING, HOW SCHOOLS HAVE SURF TEAMS AND HOW DOES A SCHOOL START A SURF TEAM?

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE ANSWER?

>> WE HAVE 23 OIA SCHOOLS, AND WITHIN -- WHEN I HAD PARENTS AND KIDS CALLING ME, I WOULD CALL THE SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND TALK HIM INTO DOING IT.

SO IT WAS KIND OF HARD, BUT I THINK LAST YEAR WE HAD 14 OR 15 TO 23 WE HAVE THIS YEAR.

>> HE CAN CHECK ON OUR WEBSITE, WWW.HHSAA.org.

WE POST THE LEAGUE REPRESENTATION SO IT HAS ALL THE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING AND THE FIRST SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP.

I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER.

I SHOULD HAVE MEMORIZED IT BUT I THINK IT'S ABOUT 50 TO 60 SCHOOLS.

>> IF THEY DON'T HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM, THEY CAN LOBBY THEIR ADMINISTRATION IF THEY'RE SERIOUS ABOUT WANTING A TEAM AT THEIR SCHOOL.

>> Lauren: WHAT DOES HAVING A SURF TEAM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF PRACTICE, COMMITMENT, ET CETERA.

EVERYTHING THAT IT TAKES TO RUN A SURF TEAM?

>> THAT'S UP TO THE COACHES.

EVERY COACH HAS A DIFFERENT STYLE.

LIKE ANY OTHER SPORT.

SOME TEAMS GO EVERY DAY.

SOME GO THREE TIMES A WEEK, SOME GO ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK.

DEPENDS ON THE CONDITIONS TOO.

IT'S UP TO THE COACH.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE LEFT TO EVERY SCHOOL.

SOME STUDENTS LIKE KAYA ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH THEIR COACHES BECAUSE SHE PLAYS MULTIPLE SPORTS IN THE SAME SEASON.

I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT, BEING THAT IT'S A NEW SPORT AND IT WASN'T A INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT BEFORE.

I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF SURFERS WHO PLAY A SPRING SPORT ALREADY AND HAD GOING TO HAVE TO NAVIGATE THAT.

>> Lauren: BETH, HOW DID YOU RUN IT WHEN YOU WERE COACHING?

>> I HAD FOUR COACHES, AND WE RAN IT TWICE, THREE TIMES A WEEK.

TUESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAYS.

AND KIDS ALL HAVE TO HAVE RASH GUARD SO WE KNEW WHO WAS ON OUR TEAM.

THIS HE WOULD GO OUT AND GO COACHES WOULD BE IN WATER WORKING WITH THE KIDS AND COACH ON LAND SPOTTING.

MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS GOING SMOOTHLY.

>> Lauren: HOW LONG WOULD THEY BE IN THE WATER?

HOW RIGOROUS?

>> TWO TO TWO AND A HALF HOURS WAS OUR PRACTICE.

A LOT OF TIMES, ONCE YOU LET THE KIDS GO, THEY WELL HOME, CAME BACK AND SURFED ON THEIR OWN FOR ANOTHER HOUR OR SO.

>> I THINK D.O.E.

GUIDELINES SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE COACH FOR SIX IN THE WATER AND ONE COACH FOR 12 ON THE SAND.

>> Lauren: KAYA, WHAT DOES PRACTICE LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR TEAM?

>> WE DIDN'T PRACTICE VERY OFTEN BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY A CLUB.

SO WE WOULD GO ON MAYBE SATURDAYS, AND BASICALLY WHOEVER CAN MAKE THE PRACTICE, WE WOULD RUN MOCK HEATS AGAINST EACH OTHER JUDGE TO -- JUST TO PRACTE COMPETING UNDER A TIME LIMIT AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> NOW THAT IT'S OFFICIALLY A HIGH SCHOOL SPORT, DO YOU THINK THIS UPCOMING YEAR, PRACTICE IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT?

HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE?

>> I THINK MY COACHES WANT TO PRACTICE MORE THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE A RELATIVELY YOUNG TEAM.

PRACTICING MORE AND GETTING THEIR EXPERIENCE UP.

>> Lauren: THAT MAKES SENSE.

BE MORE STRIVING HEADING TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, RIGHT?

MIKE FROM MAKIKI IS ASKING -- AND WE COVERED THIS A LITTLE BIT.

WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG TO DO THIS, AND ARE WE GOING TO BE SURFING AGAINST THE STATE?

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE CHAMPIONSHIPS OR TOURNAMENTS AGAINST OTHER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OTHER STATES?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THAT JUST HAVING A STATE TOURNAMENT IS BIG ENOUGH THING FOR YOU.

KIDS CAN GO -- LIKE KAYA CAN GO O THE NATIONALS AND COMPETE ON THE MAINLAND OR AS AN OFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL, I THINK.

>> THE ZOOMER FAMILY RUNS THE HONUA MEET DURING THE SUMMER.

SO OUR KIDS GET TO COMPETE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES AND STATE.

BUT IT'S NOT ORGANIZED THROUGH D.O.E.

OR HHSAA.

>> Lauren: WE TALKED ABOUT SAFETY BEING A BIG CONCERN ANDWORKING CLOSELY WITH OCEAN SAFETY.

WHAT OTHER MAYBE ASPECTS OF SAFETY HAD PEOPLE SO CONCERNED THAT IT TOOK US SO LONG TO GET US TO THIS POINT?

I'M ASSUMING DROWNING BEING THE BIGGEST ONE, BUT MAYBE THERE'S OTHER FACTORS THAT MAKE SURFING POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS SPORT?

>> BIG ESCORT ALWAYS POPPED UP.

SHARKS.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE NAYSAYERS THROUGHOUT -- AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT, I GUESS.

THAT WAS ANOTHER ONE.

IT'S NOT LIKE A BASKETBALL COURT OR WRESTLING MAT.

A PRETTY BIG PLAYING FIELD.

>> I MEAN, SURFING HAD ITS SHARE OF OBSTACLES BUT I'M NOT NECESSARILY SURE THE ONES WE DISCUSSED WITH THE PRIMARY.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF EVERYTHING.

PART OF THE REASON, I THINK, IT'S TAKEN SO LONG IS THEY'VE DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB ON THE CLUB LEVEL WITH SURFING.

>> YOU GOT TO REMEMBER ONCE IT BECOMES A INTERSCHOLASTIC COURTS SPORT, THERE'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT ARE TIED TO IT.

SO MUCH DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES, SO MUCH THINGS THAT THE STUDENT ATHLETE HAS TO DO.

DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE COACHES NOW ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

THE ITALIC DIRECTOR, SCHOOLS BECOME LIABLE FOR.

SO BEING SO SUCCESSFUL ON THE CLUB LEVEL, THAT MAKES IT IDEAL WAY FOR IT TO STAY OUT OF THE INTERSCHOLASTIC ARENA.

NOT SAYING IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG.

ANOTHER THING IS THAT WE'RE SUCH A SMALL STATE.

SURFING SHOULD BE A STATE SPORT BECAUSE WE LIVE IN HAWAI'I.

WE ALSO HAVE 20 INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS THAT WE OFFER ALREADY.

THERE'S ONLY THREE STATES THAT OFFER MORE THAN US.

A STATE THE SIZE OF HAWAI'I, AND WE HAVE WAY MORE SPORTS THAN CALIFORNIA, TEXAS.

ONE OF THE SMALLER STATED HAVE OBSCURE KIND OF SPORTS THAT BEAT US.

SO MUCH HAS STRETCHED THIN FINANCIALLY, STATEWIDE THAT WE PUT ON OUR ATHLETICS ADMINISTERS OR.

THAT WE'RE PUTTING ON OUR LEGISLATURE TO FUND.

I CAN KIND OF SEE WHY IT TOOK SO LONG FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL.

>> LEVEL.

>> Lauren: FROM A SURFER STANDPOINT, KAYA AND BETH, ARE SHARKS TOP OF MIND FOR YOU?

WHAT SAFETY ELEMENTS DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT AS A SURFER?

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT SCARES YOU?

>> WE FLY DRONES OUT TO CHECK THE WATER BEFORE THE KIDS GO OUT.

AND WE FLY THE DRONES PERIODICALLY JUST TO KEEP AN EYE OUT.

IT GIVES US A GOOD OVERHEAD VIEW WHERE THE KIDS ARE AND KEEPS AN EYE IF THERE ARE ANY SHARKS MOVING IN, AND WE'LL CALL THEM ALL IN.

>> Lauren: KAYA, WHAT WOULD YOU ADD TO THAT?

YOU'VE GROWN UP SURFING.

I WOULD ASSUME IT'S LIKE SECOND NATURE TO YOU BUT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE RISK?

YEAH, HOW DOES SOMEONE WHO'S IN IT FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> IF ANYTHING, THEY ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE.

IT'S THEIR HOME SO YOU CAN'T REALLY PUT, LIKE, A LIMIT ON IT BECAUSE IT COMES WITH THE OCEAN.

THAT'S JUST A PART OF SURFING BASICALLY.

>> Lauren: ARE THERE OTHER MAYBE RISKS THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT BEING HESITANT TARTSDZ MAKING HIGH SCHOOL AN OFFICIAL SPORT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO FACE?

>> I THINK IT'S JUST EVERYTHING.

LIKE THE DROWNING AND THERE'S CURRENT IN THE OCEAN AND THE BIG WAVES.

IT'S A LOT ON THE TABLE.

THAT'S WHY SURFING WAS HAVING SO MUCH PUSHBACK.

THERE'S A LOT OF ASPECTS AS TO WHY IT IT WASN'T AN AUTOMATIC Y.

>> Lauren: JUNIOR VARSITY AND VARSITY DIVISIONS?

>> WE ONLY RUN VARSITY UNDER THE STATE ASSOCIATION.

I'M SURE SCHOOLS WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE JUNIOR VARSITY AND VARSITY COMPETITION.

WE DO THAT ON THE LEAGUE LEVEL.

>> Lauren: DO YOU THINK THAT ANY STUDENT, EVEN IF YOU'VE NEVER SURFED BEFORE WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN OR WILL YOU HAVE TO BE SOMEONE LIKE KAYA WHO'S PRETTY EXPERIENCED?

>> THAT DEPENDS ON THE TEAM.

WE HAVE A NEW SCHOOL, KALAAKOI.

WHEN THEY STARTED A COUPLE YEARS AGO, EVERYBODY WAS A BEGINNER SURFER.

COACH, SHE TAUGHT EM.

LAX YEAR THEY WERE COMPETITIVE, ESPECIALLY THE GIRLS.

SO, YEAH.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN EXPERIENCED SURFER TO BE A SURF TEAM.

>> FARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, THEY TEACH KIDS HOW TO SWIM SURF.

THEY THEY ALL KNOW HOW TO SWIM, THEY'LL TAKE THEM ON SMALL WAVES AND BUILD THEM UP THAT WAY.

WE'RE ALL AWAY THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SWIM ABILITY.

>> THAT'S WHY WE KIND OF FOCUSED WITH STARTING WITH THREE DISCIPLINES -- BODYBOARD, LONGBOARD AND SHORTBOARDING.

THOSE ARE EASY TOR BEGIN WITH.

THOSE MIGHT FIT A LOT OF THE KIDS WHO WASN'T SURFING.

>> Lauren: A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SCHOOLS AND TEAMS THAT ARE WILLING TO TAKE NEW PEOPLE.

I GREW UP HERE MY WHOLE LIFE BUT DIDN'T GROW UP WITH SURFING PARENTS.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY COOL TO SAY THAT I CAN SURF.

ERIC IN KAILUA IS ASKING, PLEASE EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SPORT BE SANCTIONED.

WHAT DOES THAT DESIGNATION MEAN?

WHAT EXACTLY CHANGED?

>> I CAN ANSWER THAT.

THAT MEANS THAT ALL THE STUDENT ATHLETES FOLLOW UNDER OUR ELIGIBILITY RULES.

THEY HAVE TO BE AN AMATEUR.

THEY CAN'T JUST PLAY AT SCHOOL ONE YEAR AND TRANSFER.

COACHES HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED NOW.

THEY HAVE TO TURN IN ROSTERS.

THEY HAVE TO TAKE COURSES.

SO IT FALLS UNDER THE SAME RULES THAT THEY HAVE TO -- SAME RULES THAT A FOOTBALL PLAYER WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW, A SURFER WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW.

>> Lauren: WE GOT A QUESTION ABOUT MOVE BACK TO THE LOGISTICS ABOUT THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN MAY.

ASKING, WILL IT BE TELEVISED?

>> YES, IT WILL BE ON SPECTRUM.

>> Lauren: VERY EXCITING.

HOW EXACTLY IS THE SCORING GOING TO WORK FOR THE STUDENTS?

>> WE'RE KIND OF GOING OVER THAT.

KIM.

>> DAVE KOZAMA IS THE HHSAA SURF DIRECTOR, AND WE'RE GOING TO USE, I THINK, THE ISA SCORING IS WHAT HE TOLD ME.

WHAT THEY USE FOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, SO IT WILL BE TEAM SCORING.

IT WILL BE GOOD.

>> Lauren: WILL THERE BE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE INDIVIDUAL SURFER LEVEL AS WELL?

>> IT WILL BE INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS, YEAH, IN EACH OF THE THREE DISCIPLINES.

>> Lauren: DOES THAT MEAN IT'S SIMILAR TO PROFESSIONAL SURFING TOURNAMENTS?

>> SIMILAR, YEAH.

YOU'LL HAVE A CHAMPION AND RUNNER-UP.

THERE WILL BE A FINAL.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SIX COMPET COMPETITORS IN THE FINAL.

>> Lauren: HAVE THE JUDGES IN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BEEN PICKED YET?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE.

I THINK WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A JUDGE FROM EACH THE LEAGUES.

>> Lauren: ANOTHER VIEWER QUESTION.

WHO COVERS THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT NOW BEING AN OFFICIAL SPORT?

IS IT THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS, THE LEAGUES THE PARENTS, ALL OF THE ABOVE?

WHO PAYS FOR UNIFORMS, TROPHIES, SURFBOARDS,.

>> WE GOT A BUDGET FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

WE FOLLOW THAT BUDGET.

THE BOARD, MOST KIDS HAVE THEIR OWN BOARDS.

WE DON'T BUY THE BOARDS.

THE COACHES TRAINING THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I PAID FOR, BUT NOW I RAN OUT OF MONEY SO THEY'RE CHARGING THEM.

AND I THINK OIA IS COVERING THE COST OF THE COACHES TRAINING.

>> ESSENTIALLY, IT'S KIND OF ALL OF THE ABOVE.

THE LEGISLATURE PUT OUT FUNDING FOR THE D.O.E.

SCHOOLS, THAT'S THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THEY DIDN'T APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE ON THEIR OWN TO PAY THE COACHES, TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY SUPPLY BOARDS.

I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE ANY OTHER SPORT.

YOU BRING YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT TO THAT SCHOOL TEAM.

WE'RE NOT PRIVATE NONPROFIT, SO WE DON'T ANY MONEY FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

WE'RE PROVIDING THE TROPHIES AND STUFF.

ALL THE COSTS OF THE STATE TOURNAMENT, WE WE HAVE TO GET SPONSORS, WHICH WE WILL AND HAVE GOTTEN INTEREST, AND WE PAY FOR THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

THEY DON'T PAY AN ENTRY FEE OR WHATEVER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

TRANSPORTATION COST, ALL THE OTHER COSTS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH.

THAT'S KIND OF A LOT OF THE PUSHBACK IS THE FINANCIAL ASPECT.

WHICH THE LEGISLATURE SOLVED BY FUNDING, APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN THIS KPG SCHOOL YEAR.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH MOVING FORWARD.

>> Lauren: WHAT ABOUT FOR SCHOOLS, MAYBE THEY'VE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ISLAND, FURTHEST POINT AWAY FROM THE OCEAN.

I ASSUME THERE'S MORE COSTS.

PART TWO OF MY QUESTION, ARE THERE SCHOOLS TODAY WITH I GUESS CLUB TEAMS THAT ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH THE TRANSPORTATION AND AREN'T CLOSE TO THE OCEAN?

IS.

>> YEAH.

TRANSPORTATION'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST COST FOR ALL THE SCHOOLS AND ALL THE SPORTS.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE FUNDING GOES.

I WOULD ASSUME, YEAH, THE FARTHER YOU ARE FROM THE OCEAN, THE MORE YOUR TRANSPORTATION IS GOING TO COST.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, OUR BEST SURF TEAM ON MAUI IS KING KEKAULIKE HIGH SCHOOL, UP COUNTRY.

I THINK THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION.

I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A TEAM BUS THAT GOES TO PRACTICES.

HANA, WHICH IS A SMALL SCHOOL.

IT'S SO GOOD THAT WE HAVE THIS SPORT NOW.

SMALL SCHOOL CAN'T COMPETE IN A LOT OF OTHER SPORTS BUT THEY CAN IN SURFING BECAUSE IT'S INDIVIDUAL.

THEY HAVE A LOPING WAY -- LONG Y TO DRIVE.

THEY HAVE A YELLOW MINI SCHOOL BUS.

THEY HAVE ALL THE SURFBOARDS ON THE FLOOR.

WHEN HANA HOSTS A MEET, A LOT OF SCHOOLS RENT VEHICLES AND TAKE THE KIDS OUT THERE.

>> Lauren: IT'S REALLY SCHOOL.

SHOWS THE COMMITMENT FROM THE TEACHERS, COACHES, STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

ANOTHER VIEWER QUESTION CAME IN FROM E-MAIL.

WHAT BREAKS DO YOU HOLD PRACTICE AT?

DO YOU HAVE TO LET DLNR KNOW WHERE YOU'LL BE PRACTICING?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

YEAH.

I THINK EVERY SCHOOL IS GOING TO HAVE TO PICK THEIR OWN SPOT.

I THINK THEY HAVE THEIR FAVORITE SURF BREAKS.

BECAUSE THE COACHERS ARE SURFERS, ARE LOCAL SURFERS THEY'RE VERY SENSITIVE TO HAVING TOO MANY STUDENT ATHLETES OUT THERE AT A TIME.

THEY'LL DO THEIR OWN REGULATION.

WITH OUR COACHES, HO'OKIPA IS BASICALLY THE SURF BREAK AT THE NORTH SHORE.

WE HAVE NOW, FIVE TEAMS THAT LIKE TO GO THERE.

THEY HAVE TEAM.

THEY COMMUNICATE WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE SO THEY'RE NOT ALL THERE AT THE SAME TIME.

COACHES WORK WELL.

>> OUR D.O.E.

TEAMS HAVE TO BE WITH A 3W5E67 BEACH THAT HAS A N SAFETY LIFEGUARD, AND WE HAVE A JET SKI AVAILABLE.

>> AT ALL THE PRACTICES?

>> Lauren: THAT MAKES SENSE.

I HAVE HEARD THIS FROM FRIENDS THAT SURF, BUT ANY TENSION AT ALL BETWEEN JUST SURFERS IN THE WATER AND THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT MIGHT BE IN THERE?

>> NEVER.

>> THEY GET TO BE GREAT BUDDIES.

>> Lauren: YEAH.

>> I THINK EVERYBODY HAS A LITTLE MORE COMPASSION BECAUSE THEY'RE STUDENT ATHLETES, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S -- >> Lauren: I WOULD HOPE SO.

BETH, HAVING BEEN A SURF CLUB COACH ALSO HELPING TO CREATE AND FOUND THE WAIANAE SURF TEAM OUT THERE, YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT ALREADY BUT WHAT ARE SOME BARRIERS THAT STUDENTS AND COACHES MAY FACE AS THEY START TO CREATE THEIR TEAMS?

>> BASICALLY, WE HAD ADMIN PUSH BACK, AND THAT AGAIN WAS BECAUSE OF LIABILITY.

AND THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT DROWNING AND SHARKS UL.

WE WENT OVER WHAT THEY WOULD DO.

JUNIOR LIFEGUARDS UNDER A CERTIFIED COACH.

AND THE COACHES ALL HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED AS COACHES.

SO NA THAT KIND OFIZE OF EASED F THE TENSIONS.

WE WOULD PRACTICE AT BEACHES WITH OCEAN SAFETY LIFEGUARD.

THAT'S ANOTHER INSURANCE.

>> Lauren: ANY MAYBE ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO STUDENTS OR PARENTS WHO WANT THEIR SCHOOL TO FORM A TEAM BUT MAYBE THEY'RE NOT THE RORAL 350 ROUGHLY 50?

>> THEY CAN CALL ME OR E-MAIL ME AND I'LL GO OVER WHAT'S REQUIRED.

>> Lauren: WHAT'S YOUR E-MAIL?

>> MAKAHA SURF AUNTIE@G MAIL.com.

>> Lauren: ARE THE PRACTICES GOING TO BE ORGANIZED EVENTS AND WILL THEY NEED PERMITS?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

>> WE'VE NEVER HAD TO USE PERMITS.

>> JUST STUDENTS GOING SURFING.

>> Lauren: YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T NOTICE BUT THEY'RE PART OF THE SURF TEAM.

ANYBODY SURFING OUT THERE, RIGHT?

>> HOPE FROM I.

>> Lauren: YOU KNOW, THIS, I THINK, IS A BIG MOMENT FOR OUR STATE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK -- MAYBE WE CAN GO AND THE TABLE, THIS MEANS IN TERMS OF HONORING HAWAIIAN CULTURE AND HISTORY.

WHAT DOES THIS MOMENT MEAN FOR HAWAI'I AND ALSO FOR THE STUDENTS?

WHOEVER WANT TO START CAN GO FIRST.

>> I THINK IT RECOGNIZES THAT HAWAI'I WAS THE BIRTH PLACE OF SURFING, AND IT'S OUR DUTY TO PERPETUATE THE SPORT AND THE CULTURE OF IT.

SO I THINK THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT.

>> IT IS OUR STATE SPORT, AND YOU SAID EARLIER, DUKE KAHANAMOKU IS THE FATHER OF MODERN DAY SURFING.

THEY ALL HUNTINGTON BEACH SURF CITY, BUT DUKE WENT THERE AND TAUGHT THEM OUR TO SURF, SO YEAH.

JUST WHO WE ARE.

>> Lauren: ARE YOU HELP THAT WILL MAYBE EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERAL AND MORE STUDENTS, MORE PEOPLE ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THE MEANING OF SURFING TO HAWAI'I?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF GREAT ATHLETES ARE SURFER, AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO BE THE SCHOLASTIC SURFER OF THE YEAR.

THAT'S HAPPENING ON MAUI.

THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THE WEIGHT ROOMS AT THE SCHOOL OR ATHLETIC TRAINER CAN HELP THEM.

SO, YEAH, THESE ARE BENEFITS THAT, AS A CLUB, YOU NEVER GOT BEFORE.

>> Lauren: KAYA, ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD ADD TO THAT?

>> YEAH.

BASICALLY, I THINK THAT HAVING SURFING AS A HIGH SCHOOL SPORT WILL ENCOURAGE SURFING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND ANY FUTURE SURFERS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THAT NOW IT'S HIGHLIGHTED AS AN ACTUAL SPORT.

IT WILL HOPEFULLY INSPIRE A NEW GENERATION, ESPECIALLY SINCE HAWAI'I IS, LIKE, THE BIRTHPLACE OF SURFING.

THIS IS THE SPORT OF OUR CULTURE BASICALLY.

>> Lauren: WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED FOR?

IT OFFICIALLY BEING A SPORT.

>> HOPEFULLY SURFING AT GOOD, EMPTY BREAKS.

>> Lauren: ARE YOU NERVOUS AT ALL?

MORE MANDATORY PRACTICES, THAT MAYBE IT WON'T BE AS FUN IF IT'S MANDATORY.

WE HAVE TO BE HERE AT THIS TIME OR DO YOU LOVE IT SO MUCH THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER 23.

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER.

WHENEVER I GET A CHANCE TO SURF, IT'S FUN SO.

>> Lauren: CHRIS, YOU WERE NOT A SURFER.

BUT WHAT'S YOUR TWO CENTS ON THIS MOMENT IN HAWAI'I'S HISTORY FOR STUDENTS?

>> WELL, LIKE KIM SAID, THEY'VE HAD INTERSCHOLASTIC SUFFERING -- SURFING FOR 12 YEARS.

THEY'RE EXCITED FOR IT TO BECOME A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT.

WE KNOW THE SIGNIFICANCE.

SO I'M VERY GLAD AND FORTUNATE TO BE A PART OF IT.

GOING BACK, I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO KIDS AND STUFF BECAUSE KAYA'S FORMER TEAM TEAM,ER TEAMMATE, SE SHOWED THE PASSION.

SHE'S IT'S ONE THAT HELPED CONVINCE A LOT OF THE LEAGUE TO DO THE SPORT OF.

WE SEE IT AS AD 34-D ADMINISTRA.

EVERY KID CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

YOUR VOICE COUNTS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT BACK AND SAY YOU CAN'T DO THIS.

YOU CAN CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY IN OUR STATE.

I'M AREI'M REALLY EXCITED TO BET OF THIS.

>> Lauren: IT'S A BIG MOMENT.

THIS WILL PROBABLY EDUCATE BOTH MYSELF AND CHRIS.

FOR THE THREE OF YOU, WHAT ARE THE LESSONS THAT SURFING TEACHES OUR STUDENTS?

>> I THINK SPORTSMANSHIP.

THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES THESE FOLLOW.

I THINK SPORTSMANSHIP AND WATCH OUT, WORKING AS A TEAM AND WATCHING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

>> STUDENT COMING FIRST.

FIRST -- COMES FIRST.

I'VE HAD COUNTLESS PARENTS COME TO ME AND SAY, MY SON OR DAUGHTER DIDN'T LOVE SCHOOL BUT HAD TO MAKE GRADES TO COMPETE FOR THE TEAM.

CHEARPTIONZCHANGES THEIR OUTLOO.

>> Lauren: KAYA, WHAT IT FOR YOU?

WHAT HAS SURFING TAUGHT YOU?

>> SURFING TEACHES YOU DETERMINATION.

YOU COULD WIPE OUT ON A WAVE BUT IT'S OUT TO GO OUT THERE.

YOU'RE CHASING THAT FUEL OF RIDING THAT WAVE.

THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHY A LOT OF KIDS LIKE TO SURF.

THEY'RE CHASING THAT FEELING OF RIDING A WAVE.

AS A SPORT, IT WILL JUST SUPPORT THAT -- THE GROWTH, I GUESS, OF MANY KIDS, ESPECIALLY SINCE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO WIPE OUT.

BUT IT'S WHETHER YOU PADDLE BACK OUT OR NOT.

>> Lauren: I LOVE THAT.

GOT TO GET BACK UP.

MAYBE CAN YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT THE TEAM ASPECT SINCE IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL SPORT?

HOW DOES THAT WORK FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SURFING COMPETITION WORLD.

HOW DOES THE TEAM HIGH SCHOOL ELEMENT FACTOR IN?

>> I FEEL LIKE IT LEVELS UP YOUR CONFIDENCE, I GUESS, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SURFING ON YOUR OWN.

YOU'RE SURFING WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE BEHIND YOU, SUPPORTING YOU SO IT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN THAT SETTING.

LIKE, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GO PRO, YOU'RE USUALLY SURFING BY YOURSELF AGAINST INDIVIDUALS RIGHT.

SO IT'S A LOT MORE -- IT'S A LOT MORE COMFORTING TO BE SURFING WITH A TEAM, WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE BEHIND YOU.

>> Lauren: SORRY IF THIS IS AN UNEDUCATED QUESTION.

IF YOU'RE COMPETING AS A TEAM.

EACH STUDENT'S SCORE PLAYS A FACTOR?

IS THAT HOW IT WORKS?

ANDS THAT'S HOW THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WOULD GO AS FAR AS SCORING.

THIS IS NOT A QUESTION BUT A COMMENT FROM WAIKIKI SUNSET SURFER JOHNNY BOY.

I'M READING HIS COMMENT AND MAYBE YOU CAN WEIGH IN OR ADD OR SAY ANYTHING FURTHER.

SO GLAD TO SEE THIS IS FINALLY HAPPENING.

YES, SURFING IS PO TEGSLY DEADLY.

SEEMINGSLY SEEMS THEY'RE TAKING PRECAUTIONS.

I KNEW THE COACHES AT FARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL.

DON'T THINK THE SHARKS FEAR IS JUSTIFYED, JUSTIFY JUSTIFYED, BY THE WAY.

YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON WHAT HE SAID?

>> I AGREE.

>> Lauren: WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THE -- I DON'T THINK THE SHARK'S FEAR IS JUSTIFY 9 FOR THOSE OF US WATCHING WHO MAY NOT BE AS EXPERIENCED IN THE SURFING WORLD.

>> I KNOW WAIANAE'S TEAM, THEY FLY DRONES OUT BEFORE AND DURING PRACTICE TO SPOT IF THERE ARE ANY SHARKS IN THE AREA.

AND SO FAR, THEY'VE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SHARKS.

>> Lauren: KAYA, KIM, WOULD YOU ADDED ANYTHING?

>> HAVEN'T SEEN SHARKS IN THE 11 YEARS WE HAD A CONTEST.

IF WE DID, WE'D CLEAR THE WATER, FOR SURE.

>> Lauren: CHRIS, THIS WAS SOMETHING WE WERE TALKING ABOUTER WITH WE WENT ON, BUT AS WITH EVERY SPORT, EVERY ATHLETE, THERE'S OTHER DANGERS AS WELL, RIGHT?

>> YES.

ANY TIMES -- JUST IN LIFE IN GENERAL, IT'S DANGEROUS.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMER THAT PASSED AWAY AT ONE OF THE MEETS.

IT COULD BE A DIFFERENT MEDICAL CONDITION BECAUSE SHE WAS AN EXPERIENCED SWIMMER.

THERE'S GOING TO BE LIABILITIES.

THERE'S GOING TO BE DANGERS AND CONCERNS AND WE'VE GOT TO TAKE AS MANY PRECAUTIONS AS WE CAN.

EVERYONE KNOWS THE RISK AND WE MITIGATE THE CHANCES.

WE'LL ALL BE BETTER FOR IT.

AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING.

COACHES WATCHING AND OTHER SURFERS LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SO MANY EYES OUT THERE WATCHING KIDS.

WE ALL GOT TO STAY VIG VIGILANTD TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION.

WE HAVE TO GO ON LIVING AND COMPITING.

>> THERE'S HUGE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, TOO.

WHEN THE KIDS ARE OUT SURFING, KEEP AN EYE ON THE KIDS AS WELL.

AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO DONATE THE BOARDS AND EQUIPMENT FOR US.

IT'S THE COMMUNITY IS A STRONG SUPPORTER.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT DRIVERS SURFING.

>> Lauren: IS THAT PARTLY BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THE SURF SHES ONCE THEY'VE BEEN COMING TO THAT PARTICULAR BEACH?

THE TEAM, AT LEAST IN WAIANAE, WAS WEARING SPECIFIC COLORED RASH GUARDS?

>> THAT'S A TEAM RULE.

EVERYONE WEARS A CERTAIN COLOR.

SO YOU CAN SPOT THEM IN THE WATER.

VERSUS OTHER KIDS THAT ARE JUST OUT SURFING.

SO I'VE HAD KIDS THAT DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND SAID IF THEY HAD SURFING IN HIGH SCHOOL, THEY WOULD HAVE STAYED IN SCHOOL.

>> Lauren: THAT KIND OF GOES BACK TO KIM, WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.

MOTIVATING KIDS SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO SURF.

>> Lauren: THIS IS RELATED TO BETH.

ONE VIEWER ASKING, IS THERE GOING TO BE A DRESS CODE FOR SURFERS FOR THE YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN?

ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES THE RASH GUARDS THAT OUR VIEWERS CAN KNOW ABOUT?

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DRESS CODE.

>> NO THONGS.

BOYS AND GIRLS HAVE TO BE COVERED, YEAH.

WE HAVE A RULE AT THE MIL.

>> FOR COMPETITIONS, WE'LL HAVE UNIFORM SO IT WILL MAKE THE JUDGING EASIER.

LIKE ANY OTHER SURF COMPETITION.

>> Lauren: AND THEY'RE PROBABLY BRIGHT COLORED RASH GUARDS TO HELP YOU ASK THEM.

ANDREA IS ASKING, WILL STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL ALSO BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE IN AMATEUR AND EACH PROFESSIONAL COMPETITIONS WHILE THEY'RE IN SCHOOL?

>>AL >> AMATEUR FOR SURE.

PROFESSIONAL IF THEY DECLARE.

GOLFERS, TENNIS PLAYERS, BOWLERS ALL DO THAT.

THEY MAKE SURE THEY DON'T WIN ANY PRICE MONEY AT THOSE EVENTS.

THAT THEY DECLARE THEMSELF AMATEUR PARTICIPATING.

JUST LIKE ANY OTHER HIGH SCHOOL SPORT.

>> Lauren: FOR ANY VIEWERS WATCHING, MAYBE THEY HAVE KIDS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN STARTING SURFING FOR THE FIRST TIME.

DO THE THREE OF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE OR TIPS FOR THE FIRST TIME PERSON GOING OUT SURFING?

>> TAKE A SURF LESSON.

I REALLY NOT RECOMMEND PADDLING OUT THERE AND JUST LEARN.

IF YOU LEARN THE PROPER WAY, YOU COULD LEARN IN A SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME.

>> WHAT SHALL THEY TAKE A LESSON FROM?

>> MY DAD.

>> Lauren: YOUR DAD TEACHES?

>> YES.

>> Lauren: IN WAIKIKI?

>> YEAH.

WITH MONIS TEAM SURF.

>> Lauren: YOU CAN LEARN FROM A TRUE PROFESSIONAL.

KIM, BETH, ANYTHING YOU WOULD AILED FOR -- ADD FOR MAYBE STUDENTS WATCHING?

>> DO IT FOR FUN, YEAH.

DON'T MAKE IT ANYTHING BUT A FUN SPORT FOR YOU.

>> THEY SHOULD JUST COMING OUT AND SURF BECAUSE WE DON'T DO, LIKE, OTHER SPORTS.

WE DON'T CUT KIDS OUT.

SO EVERY KID HAS A CHANCE.

THEY MAY NOT BE VERY STRONG IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON, BUT IF THEY PRACTICE, THEY MIGHT BE REALLY STRONG AT THE END OF THEN AND BE ABLE TO COMPETE.

JUST CUP OUT AND SURF.

>> Lauren: THAT WENT BACK TO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS EARLIER ABOUT CAN YOU TRY OUT FOR A ATTEMPT WITHOUT NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE?

IT DEPENDS ON THE SCHOOL?

>> TOTALLY.

>> Lauren: MAYBE FOR WAIANAE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SPECIES?

SPECIES?

-- EXPERIENCE?

IS.

>> THEY HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE.

MAY NOT BE COMPETITION READY, SO AS THE PRACTICES GO ALONG, THEY LEARN ABOUT COMPETITION AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

AND THEY PUSH THEMSELVES OR THE COACHES WILL PUSH THEM.

>> Lauren: HOW LONG WOULD YOU GUYS SAY IT TAKES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSER THEY LEARN QUICK.

THEY'RE ATHLETIC.

HOW LONG WOULD YOU SAY IT TAKES THEM FOR SOMEONE WHO'S BRAND NEW, MAYBE AT THE START OF THE SEASON TO GET CONFIDENT AND STRONG ENOUGH TO PADDLE OUT THERE AND MAY COMPETE.

>> REALLY DEPENDSES ON THE STUDENT ATHLETE.

IF THEY'RE REALLY COMMITS AND REALLY -- LIKE WE SAW, GIRLS IMPROVE SO MUCH IN ONE YEAR.

THEY WERE COMMITTED AND HAD A GOOD COACH AND THEY ENJOYED IT.

>> Lauren: BETH, MAYBE YOU CAN TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE, COACHING AND SEEING STUDENTS.

HAVE YOU SEEN STUDENTS MAYBE START WITH YOU WHO MAYBE HAD NO EXPERIENCE?

>> NO.

MOST OF MY KIDS -- BECAUSE WE'RE IN MA MAKAHA, MOST OF THE KIDS F MAKAHA.

WHEN WE HAD CLUBS, THEY IMMEDIATELY JOINT.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TOO MANY KIDS THAT WERE REALLY LOW LEVEL.

>> Lauren: WITH JUST THE LAST COUPLE.

MINUTES LEFT, I WANT TO HYPE UP THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN MAY.

I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, BUT MAYBE CHRIS, GO OVER AGAIN.

WE HAVE A NICE GRAPHIC AS A REMINDER FOR FOLKS WHEN IT'S HAPPENING.

AND MAYBE WHAT PEOPLE CAN EXTENT, 9 ATMOSPHERE.

WHAT IS IT BEING LIKE WHEN WE GET TO MAY ON MAUI?

>> IT WILL BE THAT FIRST FRIDAY, SATURDAY IN MAY.

IT WILL BE TELEVISED ON OC 167.

THERE'S GOING TO BE 161 COMPETING.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ANYTHING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED LIKE IT IN THE STATE OF HAWAI'I.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST EVER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WE EXPERIENCED THAT WITH GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL THIS PAST YEAR, AND IT WAS AWESOME.

IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SPORT TURNOUT, AND I EXPECT SURF TO AT LEAST MATCH IT, IF NOT SURPASS IT.

YEAH, WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE DIFFERENT LEAGUES AND STUFF.

KIM AND DAVE.

TELL US ABOUT █HO'OKIPA AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY TOLD US ABOUT THAT AT THE AM PI THEATER ATMOSPHERE AT THE BEACH.

IT'S PERFECT FOR TELEVISION CAMERAS.

THEY WON'T HAVE TO BUILD THE BIG PLATFORMS.

WE ARE REALLY EXCITED AND WE'RE READY TO SHOWCASE IT TO THE STATE.

>> Lauren: KIM, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ATMOSPHERE IS GOING TO BE LIKE?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE ELECTRIC.

IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME.

YEAH.

EVERYBODY'S PUMPED.

>> Lauren: BETH, WILL YOU GO?

>> IF I CAN, I WANT TO.

>> Lauren: YEAH.

A CALLER FROM MOUNTAIN VIEW BIG ISLAND IS ASKING, DO THE STUDENTS HAVE TO BE LIFEGUARD CENTER CERTIFIED THE TO BE ABLE TO JOIN OR COMPETE?

>> THEY NEED TO BE JUNIOR LIFEGUARD CERTIFIED.

SO THAT COVERS THE SWIMMING BASIC RES RESCUES.

WHAT TO DO IF THEY'RE CAUGHT IN A RIP.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF FINDING ENOUGH JUNIOR LIFEGUARD PROGRAMS.

WE'RE WORKING WITH OCEAN SAFETY, AND THEY REALLY BEND OVER BACKWARDS FOR US.

AND MARC MAUKA TO MAKAI, MAKAHA.

ALSO DOES JUNIOR LIFEGUARD YEAR ANTED PROGRAM.

>> THOSE ARE THE D.O.E.

SCHOOLS THAT HAVE TO DO THAT.

BUT I THINK THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR OWN SIMILAR CERTIFICATIONS.

IT MIGHT NOT BE AT THAT LEVEL, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE CLOSE TO THAT LEVEL.

>> Lauren: ONE LAST VIEWER QUESTION.

RAYMOND'S ASKING, WILL THEY BE LETTER WINNERS?

THEY SHOULD GET WHATEVER EVERY OTHER TEAM ATHLETE GETS.

>> I HOPE SO.

>> Lauren: WITH THAT, MAYBE WE CAN -- WE HAVE TWO MINUTES LEFT.

GO AROUND THE TABLE.

WE KIND OF TOUCHED ON THIS.

ANY LAST THOUGHTS THAT YOU WANT TO TELL OUR VIEWERS, WHAT THIS MEANS FOR HAWAI'I.

KAYA, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR TEEM TEAMMATES GOING INTO THIS BIG YEAR AND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO.

>> I'M LOOKING FOR THE SEASON IN GENERAL.

WITH 9 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN MIND.

THAT'S AN TUNE TO OPPORTUNITY TL AND SURF SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN OAHU.

LET'S GO TO THE STATES.

>> Lauren: ONE LAST THING FOR YOU KAYA.

ANYTHING YOU WOULD SAY TO SOMEONE WATCHING.

YOU'RE SURFING AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?

MAYBE THEY'VE NEVER GONE IN THE OCEAN BEFORE?

>> IF YOU LIVE IN HAWAI'I SO YOU SHOULD -- THE OCEAN'S RIGHT THERE.

IT'S THE SPORT OF THIS LAND, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEARN THE CULTURE.

THE COME COME CULTURAL AS ASPEC.

>> Lauren: KIM, WE HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT.

>> WE'VE BEEN WAITING 30 YEARS TO HAVE A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR STUDENT ATHLETES LIKE KAYA TO COMING OVER AND COMPETE.

>> Lauren: EXCITING.

>> THE KIDS ARE REALLY STROKED TO FINALLY BE RECOGNIZED AS A SPORT AND NOT JUST, OH, YOU'RE JUST A CLUB.

TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A SPORT, I THINK IT'S DRIVING A LOT OF KIDS.

I HAD KIDS AT INTERMEDIATE ASKING, WHEN I GET TO HIGH SCHOOL, CAN I SURF?

I SAID YES.

>> Lauren: COUPLE SECONDS LEFT, CHRIS.

IT'S IN THE OLYMPICS.

IT'S ABOUT TIME.

>> I WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATORS.

IT'S A NEW VENTURE FOR THEM AND ME.

WE'RE USED TO FOOTBALL FIELDS AND SOCCER FIELDS AND BASKETBALL COURTS AND BASEBALL FIELDS.

IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING WITH THEU THE SURFING COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR PUTTING IN THEIR 2K5EU78LY WORK AND THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> Lauren: THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

REALLY EXCITED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MAY.

HOEFULLYHOE -- HOPEFULLY THE WAE THE SIZES THE STUDENTS ARE HOPING FOR.

MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT - AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS - H-H-S-A-A EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHRIS CHUN AND 'IOLANI SCHOOL JUNIOR KAYA OKIMOTO.

PRESIDENT OF HI-TECH SURF SPORTS KIM BALL AND FOUNDER OF THE WAI'ANAE HIGH SCHOOL SURF TEAM BETH MATSUDA.

>> Lauren: NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, THE ACT OF TIPPING HAS LONG BEEN A PART OF AMERICAN CULTURE, WHETHER IT'S AT A RESTAURANT, VALET OR HAIR SALON.

BUT IN RECENT YEARS, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE BEING ASKED TO TIP MORE FREQUENTLY AND IN MORE PLACES.

IT HAS US ASKING, ARE WE AT A TIPPING POINT?

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M LAUREN DAY FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.