Hawaii’s high school athletic directors voted to continue the three-tiered football state tournament this year after it began as a pilot program last year.

The vote was 63-27 today at the Hawaii Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association conference at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island in favor of competition for state championships in the Open Division as well as Division I and D-II. Prior to last year, there were only two divisions — D-I and D-II.

There will be two changes. The state’s five leagues must declare its teams for one of the three divisions before Sept. 1. Also, the D-I portion will now be made up of six teams instead of eight. Open and D-I remain six-team tournaments.

After getting the green light by HIADA, the continuation of the three-tiered state tournament must is still dependent on being ratified by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association executive board today. The HHSAA board can give it a stamp of approval, reject it or make more changes.