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House committee advances measure on interscholastic surfing, blanks appropriation for cost review
Summary
The House Committee on Culture, Arts & International Affairs voted to move HB133 relating to surfing forward with technical amendments that remove the bill's appropriation. The committee asked the House Committee on Education to review a department cost breakdown submitted for events.
The House Committee on Culture, Arts & International Affairs voted Wednesday to advance HB133, a measure relating to surfing in interscholastic competition, while removing the bill's appropriation and asking the House Committee on Education to review the Department of Education's event-cost breakdown.
Committee Chair Janae Capella said the committee would "blank out the appropriation" and requested the education committee examine the department's cost figures so the panel would have "further clarity on the cost per event." The committee adopted the chair's recommendation in a voice roll call.
The Department of Education provided written testimony and sent staff to answer questions. Winston Sakurai, executive assistant for the office of curriculum, told the committee the department "stands on our written testimony, offering comments." Bryce Ganeshiro, identified as an extracurricular administrator and OA director, explained the department's per-event estimate of roughly $4,000 came from outreach to the surfing community and itemized costs: judges $1,400; two lifeguards $400; contest director $600; production staff $350; a bonded security officer $300; tabulator $200; beach marshal $200; and administrative services, meals and supplies $900.
Ganeshiro said the $900 line reflects worker meals and supplies due to staging events at the beach and that Maui's approach has been more grassroots, with donated equipment and staff time lowering costs there. "Every league has their own decisions," he said, adding safety concerns around open water can affect whether leagues introduce the sport.
The committee recorded the chair's recommendation as adopted. Roll-call statements recorded by the clerk indicated Chair Capella and Vice Chair Sam Kong voted aye; Representative Andrew T. Garrett voted aye; Representative Mike Lee voted aye; Representative Jackson Syama voted aye; Representative Ray Oda was excused.
The committee's decision removed the bill's appropriation from the text and asked that the House Committee on Education review the department's cost breakdown before the measure proceeds further.
The department and committee did not provide a precise statewide implementation timeline for adding surfing as an interscholastic sport. The committee did not adopt any funding in this hearing and directed follow-up work to clarify per-event costs.
