The Hawaii Ultimate League Association (HULA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1993 but with roots going back two decades. It was formed to provide continuity and organization for the ad-hoc disc activities taking place on the islands.
The purpose of HULA is to encourage and promote disc-related activities including Ultimate, Disc Golf, Freestyle, Double Disc Court and Hacky Sack as well as to promote the Spirit of the Game concept through regular league play, tournaments and educational programs for both youth and adults. (From the Bylaws of Hawaii Ultimate League Association, as amended 5/31/93)
HULA's members are dues-paying players who have participated in league within the past two seasons. HULA's leaders are elected by the general membership for two-year terms on the Board of Directors. The HULA Commissioner is selected from the most spirited team of the previous league season.
HULA events include the following:
City League - City league takes place in both spring and fall. Each season runs for ~16 weeks, and has 6-8 teams. League culminates in a final tournament. Teams are coed and are selected by open draft that encourages players to form new bonds of friendship and camaraderie each season.
Kaimana Klassic Tournament - The Kaimana Klassic began in 1988 with just a few local teams and a team from California. It has grown into one of the premier tournaments in the United States for Open and Women's divisions, drawing over 25 teams from around the world. The three-day tournament is held over Presidents Day weekend, with breakfast, dinner, parties, and beach camping all provided on site.
Hopu Ka Lewa - Hopu, as it is affectionately called by players, is a low-key, coed tournament held in April. Hopu Ka Lewa, which means "Catch the Sky," began in 1999 as an opportunity to share Hawai'i's spirited coed play with guests to the islands. Though modeled after the Kaimana Klassic, with food, parties, and camping provided on site, Hopu caters to the mixed (coed) division in Ultimate, encouraging spirited play and sportsmanship above all else.
Hawaii State Overall Championships - This is an annual event which introduces HULA members to non-ultimate disc sports such as double-disc court, discathon, disc golf, and throwing accuracy. HSO usually takes place in July of each year.
HULA also sponsors various member-initiated hat draws and ad hoc tournaments. In the last few years, these have included the Bok Choy hat draw, the Loco Moco tournament, a Savage Sevens tournament, plus various outer-island hat draws. Traditionally, there is a large off-island hat draw held the weekend before or after the Kaimana Klassic and Hopu Ka Lewa tournaments.
