WAILUKU, Hawaii, May 21 (UPI) -- Surfing, the sport most linked to Hawaii, has been made an official high school sport in the state.
The state Board of Education voted 9-0 Thursday to give the sport the official designation -- to the cheers of a house full of Maui surfers, the Honolulu Advertiser reported Friday.
Hawaii's Department of Education said surfing would cost about $2.6 million a season, if lifeguards on watercraft were present for meets and practices, the Advertiser said. Surfing supporters said they would work with private donors to cover costs.
Surfers will also need to get the local administrators and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to also give their approval before earning their school letters in "hangin' ten."
Some school districts in California recognize surfing as a sport but the state high school athletic authorities have not sanctioned the sport.
