Surf’s up in Hawaii

HONOLULU – Hawaii will soon become the first state to call surfing an official high school sport.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state education officials said Monday it will join the likes of football, basketball, volleyball and swimming as a state-sanctioned prep sport in public schools, starting as early as spring 2013.

“It’s quite clear, when you think of Hawaii, you think of surfing,” Abercrombie said. “Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing. (It) is rooted in our culture and way of life.”