Today, they're taking to the courts and fields by the tens of thousands, competing in all sports, thanks to a dedicated cadre of parents and coaches who volunteer hundreds of hours each season.
A recent column by Star-Bulletin Senior Editor Diane Yukihiro Chang touted the National Girls and Women in Sports Day Clinic as a prime vehicle for bringing island girls to the sports world.
While true, it left unsaid how many more thousands come to sports via organized leagues, such as soccer's AYSO or baseball and softball's Little League programs.
To level the playing field, here's a tip of the hat to those countless volunteers, those unsung heroes, who have guided our girls into sports and beyond, often donating their own money as well as their time to keep programs running.
Just who are these heroes and what impact do they have?
As the Little League season gets under way and memories of AYSO soccer begin to fade, let's take a look at one.
In Kailua, it's Jay Alameida, an Air Force sergeant and father of four girls, whose approach to coaching is a blend of country preaching, humor, gentle discipline, fair play and immense respect for the game and his players. The girls love him. And parents too, for he rarely criticizes, never yells, never angers - he only encourages.
Awed parents watch players go from awkward, hesitant rookies to confident, seasoned players. His is a textbook approach to coaching. Parents who reflect his style become assistant coaches.
At about this time last year, two events brought my daughter to organized sports and Jay: Star-Bulletin sports writer Cindy Luis wrote a column on Kailua American Little League, and my daughter Kim, then 8, saw a KALL sign-up poster on her way to school.
Jay drafted Kim, a newcomer to organized sports, and greeted her as enthusiastically as he did his returning veterans. He named Alan Ozoa, a mover and shaker at UPS, and Duane Samson, a Honolulu police detective, as assistants. All other parents became assistant-coach assistants.
"Remember, girls, once your parents take to the field, they're coaches, not mom and dad," Jay often reminded his charges.
Samson, who also owns Honolulu Motorcycle Rentals, generously outfitted all players with jackets matching their uniforms. Duane's wife, Vicky, became team mom; the Samsons' dog, Sammy, team mascot; Jay's wife, Sylvia, team manager; and Lokahi, the team name. The team family complete, it was time to play ball.
Some parents helped coach, some kept score, some umpired, many helped set up fields. I attended a two-hour umpire clinic and left baffled. In Midget league play, the pitchers don't pitch, an extra outfielder sits in centerfield, and strange hash marks dot the base paths.
Jay captained Lokahi well: a first-place finish, everyone had fun, the girls mastered the game, each player won two trophies and, according to Kim, Coach Jay was a giant among men.
Hooked on sports, Kim and many of her teammates signed up for soccer. And who was there to coach? Jay Alameida.
Once again, he drafted Kim, a soccer novice. Different girls, different game but the same coaching style. He tapped fellow Damien grad Steve Jones of Oceanic Cable as assistant; his wife, Sylvia, as team mom. Parents pitched in with refreshments, set up or took down nets and served as referees and linespeople.
Undefeated in the regular soccer season, Jay's Destroyers today wrapped up extended-season play.
It's Little League time now, and, yes, Jay's back to coach again.
Among his players this year are some of Kim's teammates from last year's Lokahi, a couple of Destroyer soccer teammates, a few veterans from other teams and a rookie or two. After a few practices, it looks to be another good season.
For Jay and others, coaching is almost a second job - long hours of practice, many games, clinics to attend, fund-raisers and responsibilities. Truly a labor of love. But there is more: a multiplier effect. Coaches beget coaches.
Last year, another daughter, Rebecca, then 5, also wanted to play soccer. Her coach? News Building colleague Dennis Olkowski, who asked me to be assistant coach. Knowing little of soccer, I copied techniques from Jay's Tuesday practices to use at Rebecca's Thursday practices. Ah, rookie coaches . . . but it worked.
And there were others: Lokahi parent-coaches Kim Nielsen and Paul Dery went on to coach soccer teams, too.
This year, Duane Samson returns with his own softball team, and Lokahi parent-coach and fellow umpire Sunday Hussey is fielding her own team. Others are taking the field as coaches for the first time.
So, hats off to coaches Jay Alameida, Mike Frutoz and countless others and to all you parents, umpires, referees, scorekeepers, fund-raisers and supporters for unselfishly volunteering your time and money for such a worthy and wonderful endeavor - girls' sports.