HONOLULU (KHON2) — It may be new to Hawaii, but it’s hardly new on the mainland. Girls flag football has been growing in popularity over the past several years with many girls from Hawaii traveling to compete.

Kamehameha Schools sophomore Hayden Kaahanui-Cera is the only Hawaii player selected as part of the Under Armour Future 50 team made up of the best in the nation.

Now, she gets to compete for a championship here at home.

“It’s about time. It finally has come to Hawaii because we’ve been playing on the continent for quite some time now. I’ve been playing since I was four. Now I get the opportunity to play high school ball here and represent Kamehameha,” Kaahanui-Cera said.

She said it would mean the world to win a state championship with it being her first year playing out of Kamehameha.

Like most teams, the Kamehameha Girls Flag Football team will range from very experienced to those just learning the game.

When it comes to teaching the game, there are a few better than Wendell Say. After coaching the Aiea boys football team for 44 years, he retired to become Associate Athletics Director at Kamehameha Schools.

“Who would’ve ever thought I’d be in the situation to coach again? Let alone coaching girls. But I’m excited. To me football is football,” said Say.

The Lady Warriors have a little more than two dozen players expressing interest in playing. While at Moanalua, upwards of 100 girls plan to suit up.

“A lot of people thought the turnout was gonna be low, but I knew that a lot of girls was gonna show up for this,” said Moanalua Girls Flag Football Coach Ladd Mokiao.

Coach Ladd said the game is for everyone and the girls couldn’t agree more.

“To be honest, when I first came out I didn’t know that much but then now that I’m here and I’m practicing I’ve learned a lot and I’m excited to learn more, Qingstinn Toshihara, Moanalua sophomore said.

The seven-on-seven games will be played on an 80-yard field, a playing field that has finally been leveled.

“Girls can do it too. Football shouldn’t just be for boys.”