HIGH SCHOOLS: CLASSIFICATION
Class struggle
Hawaii's biggest schools are walking away with small-school titles
The advent of Division II state championships in Hawaii high school athletics has made a big impact in a relatively short time.
Since Aiea beat Damien in Hawaii's inaugural Division II state championship football game five years ago, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association has added second-tier title games in eight sports.
But to some, the effect of such championships has strayed from its mission.
Classification gave little Hawaii Baptist Academy (enrollment 434) the opportunity to sweep this year's volleyball titles. But there were no such Cinderella stories in basketball, where Farrington (2,530) won the Division II boys title and Campbell (2,491) the girls crown.
Today, the Star-Bulletin begins a two-day examination of the classification of high school sports, from its beginnings to how it affects student-athletes today, including a look at how some states that face the same challenges Hawaii does tackle what can be a sticky situation.
The series begins with veteran high school sports reporter Paul Honda looking at classification from every angle. Check tomorrow to see the Star-Bulletin's proposal for repairing some of the cracks in the system.
