Hawai‘i Pacific University is launching a women's flag football program, becoming the first college athletics program in the state to do so.
The Sharks will begin competing in the fall and will practice on a field near the Shark Tank, the home of HPU's athletic teams.
In total, the addition of flag football brings HPU's athletic offerings to 18 sports. The Sharks have 11 women's sports, six men's sports and co-ed cheer.
“This is a great day for HPU and for women’s athletics in Hawaiʻi,” said HPU Athletics Director Debbie Snell in a statement. “Flag football expands opportunities for our female student-athletes and adds even more energy and passion to campus life. We’re very proud to be the first university in the state to offer it at the collegiate level.”
Like its other athletic teams, HPU will compete against other teams in the Pacific West Conference. HPU says the Sharks will also supplement their schedule with contests against club teams on O‘ahu and post-graduate teams.
Hawai‘i Pacific says announcements related to the program will be made in the coming months, including roster, coaching staff and schedule ahead of the 2026 debut season.
Flag football is a growing sport in the U.S. The sport will be featured in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles on both the women's and men's side.
At the prep level, the HHSAA officially sanctioned girls flag football as an official sport in 2025.
Hawai‘i has already had two full seasons of flag football. Over the weekend, Moanalua won the HHSAA Division I title, while Kapolei took home the Division II crown.
The 2025 HHSAA tournament featured one bracket of 16 teams. In 2026, the HHSAA held tournaments at the Division I and Division II levels with 12 teams in each bracket.
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
