Bill providing funds for sanctioned Hawaii high school surfing gets past State Senate
House Bill 500 is advancing at the State Capital, something supporters say is long overdue. A bill supporting House Bill 500, which would provide funding for the promotion of surfing as an interscholastic sport, has passed through a state senate committee. The bill is supported by Waianae surf team founder and coach Beth Matsuda, who has been campaigning for it to be added to the Oahu Interscholastic league's roster. Matsuda believes this move is a significant step forward for the schools in the OIA and the ILH. The final details of the bill are pending.
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - House Bill 500 is advancing at the State Capital, something supporters say is long overdue.
A bill that would provide funding for the promotion of surfing as an interscholastic sport was passed by the state senate committee on ways and means Thursday morning.
Music to the ears of the Waianae surf team founder and coach Beth Matsuda.
Matsuda has been openly campaigning for surfing to be added to the catalog of sports in the Oahu Interscholastic league.
With today’s decision signifying all of the work being done is starting to pay off.
“It means a big step forward for the schools in the OIA and the ILH,” Matsuda told Hawaii News Now. “It means more kids will get involved and they’ll give the kids a pathway to again representing their school in a sport they really love.”
No matter what happens next with the bill, others on Oahu hope that one day surfing is an integral part of interscholastic athletics.
“It’s pretty simple, support the future of the sport of surfing that supports us all and that is surfing,” Liam Mcnamara said. “Support the sport that was started here in Hawaii.”
Liam Mcnamara has surfing in his blood, the former pro and owner of North shore surf shop has been funding the Kahuku surf team with plans to expand throughout his home on the North Shore.
Mcnamara crediting surfing for the opportunities he’s gotten in his life and wants the next generation to have those same avenues, pointing to some of the sports best as an example of what’s possible.
“Carissa Moore, first ever women’s gold medalist in the sport is surfing,” Mcnamara said. “The time is now, look at where surfing is, It’s in the Olympics, It’s time for the State to, with lack of a better way to say it, wake up.”
Mcnamara says adds he will continue to support prep surfers on the North shore and throughout the island.
“We’re very late to the party here so to say, but we need to start this party.”
The bill is headed to a conference committee to work out the final details.