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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, September 4, 2003

School surfing advances at BOE

By Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Education Writer

Riding a wave of public sentiment, a Board of Education committee yesterday recommended that surfing become a state-sanctioned high school sport for the first time.

The committee voted 10-0 after 2 1/2 hours of testimony in favor of the measure, which would allow schools to form surfing teams for competition and satisfy what many advocates say is a void in public school sports.

A final vote could come as early as next month.

Yesterday's vote was a breakthrough for advocates who have been turned away for years, even as casual participation in surfing numbers thousands of students in middle and high schools statewide.

"I think as leaders we need to find out how we can do things, not how we can not do things," said Anthony Guerrero, Jr., executive vice president of the retail banking group of First Hawaiian Bank and a surfer for more than 50 years, in testimony before the board.

Although board members have raised concerns about cost and liability, they appeared to have been won over by arguments that emphasized the cultural significance of surfing in Hawai'i, as well as assurances that schools would not have to supply surfboards or spend much money on the program.

Advocates also argued that an official surfing program would address physical fitness and self-esteem issues, increase participation in after-school activities and reach at-risk students.

Although questions remain about nearly every aspect of how the new program would work, including whether schools could hold practices in the water, almost all school board members yesterday expressed support for at least some type of state-sanctioned high school surfing.

This renewed attempt to sanction the sport has garnered a large amount of public support, including promises of volunteer help from some of the state's best-known watermen and surf-event organizers, as well as the support of local lifeguards, members of the Legislature's "surfing caucus" and the Honolulu Fire Department, which requires firefighters to be proficient on rescue surf boards and encourages its employees to pursue wave-riding sports.

A handful of schools have surf clubs, which participate in National Scholastic Surfing Association competitions. But because the state Department of Education doesn't recognize them as official clubs, they are not allowed to even use their school names in competition.

The DOE this summer estimated the cost of running practices in the ocean with lifeguards on personal watercraft for 44 eligible schools at $2.67 million per season; without lifeguards, $1.23 million. For 72 days of practice and six meets, it would cost $500 per hour to hire lifeguards with personal watercraft, totaling $1.6 million for the season. It would cost $170,400 for the lifeguards alone.

But yesterday, advocates said the figures were inflated.

Football, the most expensive sport to run, costs more than $2 million per season.

Sen. Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai) and Rep. Marcus Oshiro, D-39th (Wahiawa), spoke in favor of making surfing an official sport and said the concerns about injuries and legal liability were overblown.

"It's infinitely safer than the sports we have now," Hemmings said.

Linda Robb, former National Scholastic Surfing Association Conference director, said many surfers in the community would be willing to volunteer their time to coach.

Board members Garrett Toguchi and Shelton Jim On said the safety and financial concerns shouldn't be a barrier. Jim On said he expects that a large amount of equipment, including surfboards, might be donated to the schools.

"This is a phenomenal turnout of private citizens," said board member Laura H. Thielen, who noted that scores of people who have attended the board meetings for months and offered their time and expertise to help set up a sports program. "I don't think we should be turning that down."

Three committee members did not vote, but the remaining 10 members voted in favor of the measure. Committee Chairman Sherwood Hara will draft a proposal to take to the full board, likely sometime in October.

The committee that approved the surfing issue includes all BOE members.

It's unclear whether, and to what extent, high school athletic directors would support surfing programs. Cost has become an important concern during a time of budget cuts. Adding more sports — which they've had to do in recent years to comply with Title IX — is another financial burden some schools say they can't afford.

Reach Jennifer Hiller at jhiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.