Hawaiʻi has long led the nation in gender equality in sports, most notably with the lead sponsor and namesake of the federal Title IX law being Hawaiʻi Representative Patsy T. Mink and Hawaiʻi being the first state to sanction girls high school wrestling in 1998. Today, the Department of Education and the Hawaiʻi High School State Athletic Association announced, for the first time in nearly twenty years, there will be a new sport for high school girls to compete in. Beginning in Spring 2025, girls flag football will be in public and private high schools across the state. In response to this historic announcement, Senate Vice President Michelle N. Kidani, Chair of the Education Committee, issued the following statement:
"Continuing the legacy of Patsy T. Mink and her ground-breaking law has long been a motivating influence in my life, which makes today's announcement so exciting! Girls flag football is a fantastic new opportunity for the young women in our high schools, especially considering how much interest in participation has already been expressed by our students. As the Chair of the Senate Education Committee, a former high school athlete, and a Bobby Sox and girls' softball coach, I know the importance of supporting our girl student athletes, and the impact that sports can have on our student's growth and development.
With this announcement coming as the Olympics capture our imagination, and exceptional athletes like Carissa Moore, Daniela Moroz, and Simone Biles share their talents with the world, it is important that we develop multiple avenues for our young women to grow in sport here at home. Expanded opportunities such as this are exactly what Patsy T. Mink envisioned when she fought for equality in our schools. Girls flag football will be in the 2028 Olympics, and I trust that we will have local girls in Los Angeles in 2028 representing Hawaiʻi and the United States on the flag football field. In the meantime, I look forward to cheering from the bleachers next spring as our young wahine score touchdowns!"