A court-ordered injunction has halted Oahu’s islandwide flag-football season just days before kickoff, leaving hundreds of keiki sidelined and parents scrambling for refunds. Teams that had been practicing for months were suddenly told there would be no games after Scott Nunotani, founder of NFL Flag Football Hawaii, was served with the injunction by his former employer, Ultimate Lokahi Sports, which alleges he started a competing company and engaged in improper competition. State Sen. Brenton Awa captured the frustration of many parents, saying, “Put the business to the side and let the kids play,” according to Hawaii News Now.
Flag Football's Rapid Growth In Hawaii
Flag football has been exploding in popularity across the islands, with schools and community groups rolling out new programs and clinics to keep up with demand. As reported in coverage of new girls flag-football initiatives, the state recently backed fresh efforts for girls' flag football with support from NFL-related partners and sponsors, turning the sport into a major youth option.
Parents And Teams Face Immediate Fallout
Coach Lawrence Kaleiwohi said the Oahu league had grown to roughly 160 teams, with players as young as 4 and as old as 17, and that his Mililani Eagles squad alone had about 50 to 70 players ready for the season. Games had been scheduled to start on Feb. 22, and many families had already paid around $160 in registration fees. Now, parents say they are chasing refunds or trying to land spots in other leagues.
Ultimate Lokahi Sports has offered to absorb some of the impacted families and is dangling a discounted registration fee of $90, down from $135. The organization listed a contact number for affected families at (808) 232-6685 while organizers work through refunds and possible placement. A trial in the legal dispute is set for August, according to Hawaii News Now. In other words, the kids could be waiting a while for a full resolution.
What Comes Next
The case is expected to play out in court this year, and families will likely be watching filings and hearing dates as closely as any game schedule. In the meantime, some local community and parks-run programs may have room for displaced players. For example, registration for Kaua‘i’s Police Activities League opened this winter, giving at least some families an immediate alternative while the legal fight continues to grind on.
