Attack may influence school surf decision
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By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Education Writer
The state Board of Education is considering whether to recognize surfing as a high-school sport, and board member Sherwood Hara said yesterday that the attack on Bethany Hamilton could influence the final decision.
"It will come up as a concern, naturally," said Hara, who represents Kaua'i on the BOE and is an advocate of high-school surfing. "It makes me think about it.
"We're going to take it one step at a time because of the intensity of the situation."
Shark attacks were among the concerns raised against high-school surfing when the BOE debated the issue this year, along with liability questions and other potential costs. Surfers countered that there are more injury risks in sanctioned sports such as football.
The Hawai'i Government Employees Association, which represents school administrators and athletic directors, is reviewing high-school surfing and could offer recommendations to the BOE. Hara said a vote is not expected until December or January.
Hara said he wants to hear how high-school surf contests would take precautions to reduce the chance of shark attacks, although he acknowledged that there is no way to eliminate the risk.
"I would like to hear that question answered before I decide what position to take on the policy," he said.
Roy Fujimoto, executive secretary of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, said liability is the main concern among the people he has talked with about high-school surfing, and the shark attack on Hamilton could increase those fears.
"That's what people are afraid of," he said. "One attack is one too many."
