Governor Green joined Representative Sean Quinlan, Olympic gold medalist Carissa Moore, Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Surfing co-coordinator Kim Ball, student athletes and members of the surfing community to celebrate the announcement that surfing will become an official interscholastic state championship sport beginning in Spring 2026.

The decision makes Hawai‘i the first state in the nation to recognize surfing as a state championship event.

The inaugural championships will be May 1–2, 2026, at Hoʻokipa Beach Park on Maui, hosted by the MIL, which has sanctioned high school surfing since 2014.

This achievement was made possible through the enactment of Act 141, signed by Governor Green earlier this year, which appropriates funding to support the establishment of the state championship.