Major Changes To OIA Football Regular Season: ADs Vote To Blend Open And D-I

There’s major changes in the OIA football schedule for 2023.

And that might be an understatement.

During the offseason, the OIA football committee and then the athletic directors voted to bring the league’s Open Division (top tier) and Division I (middle tier) together for the regular season.

After the regular season ends, the qualifying teams classified for Open and D-I will then separate and compete for the respective titles in the playoffs and state tournament.

“We blended the Open and Division I,” OIA football coordinator Harold Tanaka told Bedrock Sports Hawaii on Tuesday.

The reason?

“We had trouble with schools not wanting to stay in the Open,” he added. “We thought this was the best way. It’s not perfect for everyone and we’ll see how it goes. We spent a lot of time coming up with this.”

It’s no secret that since the inception of the OIA Open Division in 2018, there has been an imbalance, with those at the lower end of the division having to play the state’s top end, historically highly successful teams instead of having the freedom to move down to D-I and being an immediate contender or top dog there.

The OIA Open Division last season consisted of seven teams — Kahuku, Mililani, Campbell, Waianae, Kapolei, Moanalua and Leilehua.

This year, those schools and seven others are in the blended OIA Open/Division I regular season mix — Waipahu, Aiea, Farrington, Radford, Kailua and Castle from D-I last year, along with Nanakuli, which is moving up to D-I from D-II.

Those 14 schools are broken down into two seven-team groups, as follows, and will play a six-game regular-season schedule.

OIA Open/D-I blended group (1 of 2; no official designation)
>> Kahuku (Open)
>> Campbell (Open)
>> Moanalua (Open)
>> Leilehua (moving down from Open to D-I)
>> Aiea (D-I)
>> Farrington (D-I)
>> Nanakuli (moving up from D-II to D-I)

OIA Open/D-I blended group (2 of 2; no official designation)
>> Mililani (Open)
>> Kapolei (Open)
>> Waianae (Open)
>> Waipahu (D-I)
>> Radford (D-I)
>> Kailua (D-I)
>> Castle (D-I)

And here are the OIA D-II teams for 2023:

>> Roosevelt (moving down from D-I to D-II)
>> Kaimuki
>> Kalani
>> Kaiser
>> Waialua
>> Kalaheo
>> Pearl City
>> McKinley

As noted above, there are three OIA classification changes for postseason purposes — Nanakuli up from D-II to D-I, Leilehua down from Open to D-I, and Roosevelt down from D-I to D-II.

For 2023, there are six teams fighting for the OIA Open championship, and for the first time, all six will make the league playoffs. Eight league teams are in D-I and another eight in D-II.

Lots Of Intriguing OIA-ILH Games

Listed below are some of the many OIA-ILH crossover games scheduled, with several high-powered matchups set (sites and dates are with the full schedule further down):

>> Saint Louis vs. Kapolei
>> Punahou vs. Mililani
>> Waianae vs. Kahuku
>> Kahuku vs. Saint Louis
>> Damien vs. Nanakuli
>> Moanalua vs. Punahou
>> Kamehameha vs. Waipahu
>> Moanalua vs. Kamehameha
>> Mililani vs. Saint Louis
>> ‘Iolani vs. Kapolei
>> Campbell vs. Punahou
>> Kamehameha vs. Waianae

The full OIA schedule is included below in the ongoing compilation of the Hawaii master schedule. At this point, only some of the ILH games are known. Official ILH, BIIF, MIL and KIF schedules are not out yet. Also further down in this post is a list of all 17 known Hawaii vs. mainland games.

Hawaii High School Football Schedule

As of June 13
Subject to change
Will be updated

WEEK 1

FRIDAY, AUG. 11
Nonleague
>> Edison (Huntington Beach, California) vs. Baldwin, at War Memorial Stadium, 6 p.m.
>> Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, California) at Hilo, 7 p.m.
>> Villa Park (Villa Park, California) vs. Damien, at Farrington High field, 7 p.m.
>> Campbell at Waipahu, 7:30 p.m.
>> Farrington at Radford, 7:30 p.m.
>> McKinley at Roosevelt, 7:30 p.m.
>> Kamehameha at Moanalua, 7:30 p.m.
>> Kailua at Leilehua, 7:30 p.m.
>> Kamehameha-Maui at Castle, 7:30 p.m.
>> Waialua vs. Kalani, at Kaiser High field, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, AUG 12
Nonleague
>> Kaimuki at ‘Iolani, 3 p.m.
>> Pahoa at Kaiser,  5 p.m.
>> Maui at Nanakuli, 6 p.m.
>> PAC-5 vs. Kalaheo, at Kailua High field, 6 p.m.
>> Kauai at Pearl City, 6:30 p.m.
>> Waianae at Kahuku, 6:30 p.m.
>> Saint Louis at Kapolei 6:30 p.m.
>> Punahou at Mililani, 6:30 p.m.

—–

WEEK 2

THURSDAY, AUG. 17
OIA Division II
>> Kalaheo at Waialua, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 18
OIA Open/Division I
>> Leilehua at Moanalua, 7:30 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> Roosevelt vs. Kaimuki, at Farrington High field, 7:30 p.m.
>> Pearl City at Kaiser, 7:30 p.m.
Nonleague
>> Millikan (Long Beach, California) at Punahou, 3 p.m.
>> Farrington at ‘Iolani, 3 p.m.
>> Edison (Huntington Beach, California) at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m.
>> Lincoln (San Diego) at Waianae, time TBA

SATURDAY, AUG. 19
OIA Open/Division I
>> Aiea at Campbell, 6:30 p.m.
>> Kailua at Mililani, 6:30 p.m.
>> Kapolei at Radford, 6:30 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> McKinley vs. Kalani, at Kaiser High field, 6:30 p.m.
Nonleague
>> Damien at Nanakuli, 6 p.m.
>> Saint Louis at Kahuku, 6:30 p.m.

—–

WEEK 3

THURSDAY, AUG. 24
OIA Division II
>> Waialua vs. Kaimuki, at Farrington High field, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 25
OIA Open/Division I
>> Kapolei at Waipahu, 7:30 p.m.
>> Mililani at Radford, 7:30 p.m.
>> Nanakuli at Farrington, 7:30 p.m.
>> Castle at Kailua, 7:30 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> Pearl City at Roosevelt, 7:3o p.m.
Nonleague
>> Moanalua at Punahou, 3 p.m.
>> Bonita Vista (Chula Vista, California) vs. Kalani, at Kaiser High field, 7 p.m.
>> Kamehameha at Waianae, 7:3o p.m.
>> Saint Louis at Liberty (Henderson, Nevada), time TBA

SATURDAY, AUG. 26
OIA Open/Division I
>> Kahuku vs. Aiea, at Radford High field, 6:30 p.m.
>> Campbell at Leilehua, 6:30 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> Kalaheo vs. McKinley, at Roosevelt High field, 5:30 p.m.

—–

WEEK 4

THURSDAY, AUG. 31
Nonleague
>> Woodinville (Woodinville, Washington) at Waialua, 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
OIA Open/Division I
>> Kahuku at Farrington, 7:30 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> Kalani at Kaiser, 7:30 p.m.
Nonleague
>> Kapolei at Calabasas (Calabasas, California), 4 p.m. Hawaii time
>> Campbell at Liberty (Henderson, Nevada), time TBA
>> Kamehameha at Waipahu, 7:30 p.m.
>> Kaimuki at Kailua, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 2
Nonleague
>> Punahou vs. Centennial (Corona, California), at San Diego’s Cathedral Catholic High School, 4:30 p.m. Hawaii time
>> Nanakuli at Roosevelt 5:30 p.m.
>> Damien (La Verne, California) vs. Damien, at Farrington High field, 6 p.m.

—–

WEEK 5

FRIDAY, SEPT. 8
OIA Open/Division I
>> Nanakuli at Campbell, 7:30 p.m.
>> Farrington at Moanalua, 7:30 p.m.
>> Aiea at Leilehua, 7:30 p.m.
>> Castle at Kapolei, 7:30 p.m.
>> Radford at Waipahu, 7:30 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> Kaimuki vs. Kalaheo, at Kailua High field, 7:30 p.m.
Nonleague
>> Kahuku at Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California), 4 p.m. Hawaii time
>> Kalani at Jefferson (Portland, Oregon), time TBA

SATURDAY, SEPT. 9
OIA Open/Division I
>> Kailua at Waianae, 6:30 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> McKinley at Pearl City, 6:30 p.m.
>> Roosevelt at Kaiser, 6:30 p.m.
ILH Division I/II
>> PAC-5 vs. Damien, at Farrington High field, 7 p.m.

—–

WEEK 6

FRIDAY, SEPT. 15
OIA Open/Division I
>> Waipahu vs. Waianae, 7:30 p.m.
Nonleague
>> ‘Iolani at Kapolei, 7 p.m.
>> Saint Louis at Mililani, 7 p.m.
>> Punahou at Campbell, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 16
Nonleague
>> St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California) at Kahuku, 6 p.m.
>> Waialua at Molokai, time TBA

—–

WEEK 7

FRIDAY, SEPT. 22
OIA Open/Division I
>> Campbell at Farrington, 7:30 p.m.
>> Waianae at Radford, 7:30 p.m.
>> Castle at Mililani, 7:30 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> Waialua at Pearl City, 7:30 p.m.
>> Roosevelt vs. Kalaheo, at Kaiser High field, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 23
OIA Open/Division I
>> Moanalua vs. Aiea, at Radford High field, 6:30 p.m.
>> Kahuku at Nanakuli 6:30 p.m.
>> Kailua at Kapolei, 6:30 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> Kaiser vs. McKinley, at Roosevelt High field, 6:30 p.m.
>> Kalani vs. Kaimuki, at Farrington High field, 6:30 p.m.

—–

WEEK 8

FRIDAY, SEPT. 29
OIA Open/Division I
>> Nanakuli at Leilehua, 7:30 p.m.
>> Farrington vs. Aiea, at Radford High field, 7:30 p.m.
>> Castle at Waipahu, 7:30 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> Kalani at Roosevelt, 7:3o p.m.
>> McKinley at Waialua, 7:30 p.m.
>> Pearl City vs. Kalaheo, at Kailua High field, 7:30 p.m.
Nonleague
>> Kamehameha at Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, California), 4 p.m. Hawaii time

SATURDAY, SEPT. 30
OIA Open/Division I
>> Kahuku at Moanalua, 6:30 p.m.
>> Mililani at Waianae, 6:30 p.m.
>> Kailua at Radford, 6:30 p.m.
ILH Open
>> Punahou vs. Saint Louis, at Farrington High field, 6 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> Kaimuki at Kaiser, 6:30 p.m.

—–

WEEK 9

FRIDAY, OCT. 6
OIA Open/Division I
>> Leilehua at Farrington, 7:30 p.m.
>> Moanalua at Nanakuli, 7:30 p.m.
>> Waianae at Castle, 7:30 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> Waialua at Kaiser, 7:30 p.m.
>> Kaimuki at Pearl City, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 7
OIA Open/Division I
>> Campbell at Kahuku, 6:30 p.m.
>> Waipahu at Kailua, 6:30 p.m.
>> Kapolei at Mililani, 6:30 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> McKinley at Roosevelt, 5:30 p.m.
>> Kalaheo vs. Kalani, at Kaiser High field, 6:30 p.m.

—–

WEEK 10

FRIDAY, OCT. 13
OIA Open/Division I
>> Aiea at Nanakuli, 7:30 p.m.
>> Moanalua at Campbell, 7:30 p.m.
>> Radford at Castle, 7:30 p.m.
ILH Open
>> Saint Louis vs. Kamehameha, at Farrington High field, 7 p.m.
ILH Division II
>> Saint Louis II vs. Kamehameha II, at Farrington High field, 4 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> Kalani at Pearl City, 7:30 p.m.
>> Waialua at Roosevelt, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 14
OIA Open/Division I
>> Leilehua at Kahuku, 6:30 p.m.
>> Waipahu at Mililani, 6:30 p.m.
>> Waianae at Kapolei, 6:30 p.m.
ILH Division I
>> Damien vs. ‘Iolani, at Farrington High field, 6 p.m.
OIA Division II
>> Kaimuki vs. McKinley, at Roosevelt High field, 5:30 p.m.
>> Kaiser vs. Kalaheo, at Kailua High field, 6:30 p.m.

—–

WEEK 11

FRIDAY, OCT. 2o and SATURDAY, OCT. 21
OIA Open
>> Quarterfinals, TBA
OIA Division I
>> Quarterfinals, TBA
OIA Division II
>> Quarterfinals, TBA

—–

WEEK 12

FRIDAY, OCT. 27 and SATURDAY, OCT. 28
OIA Open
>> Semifinals, TBA
OIA Division I
>> Semifinals, TBA
OIA DIvision II
>> Semifinals, TBA
ILH Division I-II
>> PAC-5 vs. Punahou II, at Farrington High field, 4 p.m.
>> Saint Louis II vs. Damien, at Farrington High field, 7 p.m.

WEEK 13

FRIDAY, NOV. 3 and SATURDAY, NOV. 4
OIA Open
>> Championship game, TBA
>> Third-place game, TBA
OIA Division I
>> Championship game, TBA
OIA DIvision II
>> Championship game, TBA

—–

17 Known 2023 Hawaii Football Games Vs. Mainland Teams

>> Aug. 11: Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, California) at Hilo
>> Aug. 11: Edison (Huntington Beach, California) vs. Baldwin, at War Memorial Stadium
>> Aug. 11: Villa Park (Villa Park, California) vs. Damien, at Farrington High field
>> Aug. 18: Edison (Huntington Beach, California) at Lahainaluna
>> Aug. 18: Long Beach Millikan (Long Beach, California) at Punahou
>> Aug. 18: Lincoln (San Diego) at Waianae
>> Aug. 25: Saint Louis at Liberty (Henderson, Nevada)
>> Aug. 25: Bonita Vista (Chula Vista, California) vs. Kalani, at Kaiser High field
>> Aug. 31: Woodinville (Woodinville, Washington) at Waialua
>> Sept. 1: Campbell at Liberty (Henderson, Nevada)
>> Sept. 1: Kapolei at Calabasas (Calabasas, California)
>> Sept. 2: Punahou vs. Centennial (Corona, California), at San Diego’s Cathedral Catholic High School
>> Sept. 2: Damien (La Verne, California) vs. Damien, at Farrington High field, 6 p.m.
>> Sept. 8: Kahuku at Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California)
>> Sept. 8: Kalani at Jefferson (Portland, Oregon)
>> Sept. 16: St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California) at Kahuku
>> Sept. 29: Kamehameha at Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, California)