If a state football champion is ultimately crowned this season, it will happen in 2022.

The Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) executive board by unanimous vote approved a modified calendar calling for state tournaments in every sport, according to a release from the HHSAA today.

The release said:

“To comply with the Department of Education’s pause on extracurricular activities until September 24th, the HHSAA calendar allows for three full seasons from that date. Until that time, leagues will be allowed to govern themselves as to what will be allowed.

“It is a testament to our members to be able to agree to a calendar on such short notice,” stated Executive Director, Chris Chun. “Furthermore, this calendar preserves league and state championships, which gives student-athletes something that has been missing since February 2020. It shows the Department of Education, Department of Health, and our state and county leaders that there is a plan in place once all schools can resume on September 24th.”

The HHSAA member leagues include the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF), Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH), Kauai Interscholastic Federation (KIF), Maui Interscholastic League (MIL), and the Oahu Interscholastic Association (OIA).

Despite a late start to the fall season due to COVID-related issues, time has been budgeted for athletes competing in all three sports seasons — fall, winter, spring — to play a full slate of games.

The state football championships are scheduled to begin Christmas weekend with the championship games likely either Friday, Jan. 7 or Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022.

The girls volleyball state championships would take place the first full week in December.

The 2021-22 sporting season would conclude the weekend of May 14, 2022, with championships held in softball, baseball and track and field.