It will be the first high school game of any kind at the University of Hawaii's Special Events Arena.
"Since they started girls championships twenty years ago, they've always been relegated to high school gyms," said Mike Vasconcellos, who produces girls high school basketball radio broadcasts.
Originally, the tournament wasn't even supposed to be on Oahu. Now, it will be played at UH from start to finish, May 1 to 4.
The Big Island Interscholastic Federation was the original host of this year's tournament. But a scheduling conflict at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium caused BIIF Executive Secretary Roy Fujimoto to look for alternatives.
"A couple weeks ago Roy indicated there would be some complications," said HHSAA Executive Secretary Ed Kiyuna. "Roy tried to find other locations on the Big Island, but they were also booked."
"I asked the ILH to host the tournament. They were in line to host it next year. Maybe next year, it will go back to the Big Island."
"A lot of people wanted to try for the Special Events Arena," Villa said. "Ed Kiyuna contacted (UH Athletic Director) Hugh Yoshida and I asked (Assistant A.D.) Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano for some help."
Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano said UH agreed last week to a tentative proposal. She said costs are still being worked out, but "we want to keep it at a minimum.
"I'm glad the opportunity has come earlier than we thought it would for the girls to play in a top-notch facility," she added. "It's ironic the way it happened, and I'm sure it's heartbreaking for some people on the Big Island."
When the BIIF hosts the state tournament, it gets three berths in the 12-team tournament, and the ILH gets two. With the ILH hosting, the representation is reversed.
"A few people on the Big Island won't be happy," Kiyuna said. "They lose a team, and some folks feel they will be losing some revenue that the tournament would have brought in."