Also, the same group began discussions on formats for the Division II state softball and girls basketball tournaments, another first in Hawai'i.

Those details are expected to be finalized at an Aug. 6 meeting.

KEITH AMEMIYA

"Today we just went over possible formats, how to classify teams, the number of teams in each division."

Amemiya said the topic of revenue sharing and distribution also was discussed at the football meeting, although no final agreement was made.

Amemiya added that there were no real "snags" in the discussions, and no new concerns were raised that might impede progress.

"Hopefully (Wednesday) will be the final meeting," Amemiya said. "Then we'll have the formats and the schedules set."

Amemiya submitted a recommendation for a Division II state football tournament at last month's Hawai'i Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association conference and it was approved there and at an HHSAA executive board meeting two weeks ago.

Yesterday's meeting at Radford High School was closed to the media, and Amemiya would not reveal specific details about the "rough draft" that was discussed.

"I'd rather (release) everything all at once" when it's finalized, he said.

After the executive board meeting two weeks ago, Amemiya said a model designed by state football coordinator Don "Spud" Botelho would be used as a blueprint.

According to that model, the Division II tournament will have four teams if the Kaua'i champion is a Division I team, or five if the KIF champ is in Division II. If it's five teams, there will be a play-in game to determine the fourth team in the semifinals.

One team each from the state's five leagues would be represented, or four leagues if the Kaua'i champion is in Division I. Each league will determine before the season which of its teams will be classified as Division I or Division II.

Semifinal games would be played at sites to be determined, possibly on the Neighbor Islands. The championship game would likely be played as the opening game of a doubleheader at Aloha Stadium with the Division I title game as the nightcap.

If the Kaua'i champion is a Division II team, the KIF's berth in the Division I tournament will be awarded to an at-large team selected by the HHSAA football committee. If the at-large team is the ILH runner-up, the two ILH teams will be placed in the same bracket to avoid an All-ILH final.

As for the Division II softball and girls basketball tournaments, there was no "blueprint," since those two sports were determined as ones to be classified just two weeks ago. Amemiya said some formats were discussed yesterday and may be finalized at the Aug. 6 meeting.