Once again in 2017, there will be three playoff divisions — Open, Division I and Division II — in Hawaii.
On Friday, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association’s Executive Committee approved the three-tier system that began last year. The only change from last year is that Division I will feature only six teams instead of eight. All three playoff divisions will use six-team formats.
The Oahu Interscholastic Association, the largest of the state’s five leagues, voted not to participate in the Open Division. The five leagues must declare their teams for one of the three divisions by September 1st.
St. Louis, which finished No. 1 in the final High School Football America Hawaii Top 5, is the defending Open Division champ. Mililani won the 2016 Division I title, while Lahailnaluna is the defending Division II champ.
Related: Read more Hawaii high school football news
