State receives boost to kickstart inaugural girls flag football season

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii high schools are just a few months away from kicking off the state’s first ever girls flag football season.
The sport got a huge boost from an NFL franchise on Thursday.
Zaira Sugui is a state champion through and through.
The Moanalua junior has dominated in wrestling and as soon as she wraps up her upcoming season this winter, she’s jumping right into flag football — a historic chance she couldn’t pass up.
“I feel pretty special because I’m glad that us girls in Hawaii have this opportunity that the mainland girls have,” said Sugui, Moanalua’s quarterback.
Sugui grew up in a household that played football, watching her brothers inspired her to take the leap.
“Like not be afraid because a lot of them think that girls can’t play a boys sport,” said Sugui.
Like Sugui, there are hundreds more who are flocking to join. There’s been enough traction that 54 teams will be playing when the season starts this February.
“It’s the fastest growing sport in the nation, from youth to high school to college, it will be a Olympic sport in 2028,” said Hawaii Department of Education gender equity and athletics specialist Dana Takahara-Dias.
Adding a sanctioned sport means a lot of planning, but the state is getting a huge assist.
Nike donated all of the jerseys, the NFL is providing game balls, and this morning the Las Vegas Raiders donated $25,000.
Advancing young women in sports is an important cause for the franchise’s front office.
“Sandra Douglas Morgan, google her, she’s very young, she’s very smart, and she’s the president of the Las Vegas Raiders. So, for all of the girls who are going to be playing flag football, you have role models,” said James Tokioka, the Director of the Dept. of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
In October, Gov. Josh Green visited Las Vegas to learn more about sports tourism, he hopes other states and countries can see Hawaii as a growing sports market.
“We’re hopeful that we have ongoing relationships with Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The Rams are going to be doing some of their OTAs here,” said Green.
This is only the start, Green said the goal is to host flag football games ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
“We will go and ask the South Korean athletic departments perhaps Australia and New Zealand to consider doing friendly matches against Americans and here in our beautiful state,” said Green.
By then it could be a sanctioned collegiate sport, creating even more opportunities for athletes here at home.
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