HHSAA head:
By Pat Bigold
Suit will increase
fees for schools
Star-BulletinFees for member schools will rise, and one or more of this year's state tournaments could be in jeopardy as a result of a lawsuit now facing the Hawaii High School Athletic Association.
HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya made those claims in an Oct. 8 letter in which he urged attorney James Kawashima not to file an eligibility lawsuit on behalf of Iolani School's all-state basketball players Cord and Brad Anderson.
"The lawsuit may very well cause a disruption to one or more of this year's state tournaments, which will adversely affect literally thousands of our high school student-athletes, their families and their friends," Amemiya wrote.
"The lawsuit will likely cause an insurance premium increase, which, when combined with the deductible payment, will in turn cause an increase in each member schools' membership dues."
Amemiya's statement that school fees would go up as a result of litigation is the most recent indication that the independent HHSAA's financial status is shaky at best.
Amemiya could not be reached for comment.
According to the latest figures available to the Star-Bulletin, schools belonging to the HHSAA have been paying a base fee of $500, plus $30 per sport for which there is a state tournament.
An increase in HHSAA fees would concern public school athletic directors already faced with dwindling budgets.
Kawashima did respond, though, insisting that his clients have no intention of disrupting state tournaments. The Andersons also play volleyball for Iolani, which could qualify for next month's state tournament.
A temporary restraining order could be sought against the volleyball or basketball tournaments, according to Kawashima. But he said he would prefer to avoid doing that.
"I had already talked to the executive secretary even before the suit was filed to try to work out a way we could avoid disrupting any state tournament," he said. "I know the (Andersons) wouldn't want that to happen."
But Kawashima said that after a face-to-face meeting with Amemiya, the matter was handed over to the HHSAA lawyers -- Bert T. Kobayashi Jr. and Craig K. Shikuma.
"If they can prove to us that because of this lawsuit membership fees will go up for the schools, we will reconsider," Kawashima said. "I'd like them to open up their books to me.
"But I can't buy that merely because of this one lawsuit they have to increase membership fees when they have had a number of lawsuits over the years. And they'll probably get some more."
The HHSAA is a quasi-public organization financed by dues from member schools, gate receipts, corporate sponsorships and a grant from the Legislature. The association operates rent-free in an office at the Stevenson Intermediate School.
The suit was recently filed by Kawashima in First Circuit Court.
The Andersons, who led Iolani to a state basketball championship earlier this year, meet the HHSAA's age requirements, but fall outside a guideline requiring them to use their four years of eligibility in consecutive years.
They repeated their sophomore year at Iolani after transferring from Hawaii Prep Academy on the Big Island. They did not participate in sports that year.
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu, of which Iolani is a member, allows student-athletes to play four years in five nonconsecutive years. Therefore, the Andersons can play through the ILH season, but must step aside if Iolani qualifies for the state tournament.
The HHSAA denied a formal appeal by the Andersons on Sept. 9 for a waiver to the eligibility rule.