OIA to its supporters: Stay away and let the kids play


With the Oahu Interscholastic Association set to restart a reduced spring sports season in the coming days, the public-school league is issuing a clear reminder to its supporters: Don't show up.

The OIA office released a letter Wednesday that is co-signed by league President Darin Pilialoha and Executive Director Raymond Fujino that urges the cooperation of all stakeholders in abiding by health and safety protocols that are in place.

"We would like to emphasize the goals and objectives for this Spring season is to allow our student athletes with opportunities to participate," the letter reads.

It goes on, "The pandemic forced the Spring season to cease last year before it began. We are focusing on trying our best to allow the spring season to occur with health and safety being the primary concern for participation. There will be no OIA championships in any of our Spring sports this year."

The league resumes play this weekend with track and field, more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all prep sports in March of 2020. Boys volleyball, tennis, baseball and softball start their seasons next week.

The letter closes with the following: "With these goals and objects and focusing on the student athletes, we are requiring a ‘no spectator' rule to be strictly enforced. There will be no exceptions to this rule at all of our OIA events. As a last resort to anyone not abiding to this rule, we will cancel a game/event if we have to as a last resort. The student athletes' health and safety is of the utmost importance."

The message is clear-cut: stay away and let the kids play.

View the full letter here.