In a press release sent to the media early Wednesday afternoon, the Oahu Interscholastic Association announced a change to its league bylaws concerning the athletic eligibility of students who transfer within the Hawaii public school system, which will take effect at the start of the 2015-2016 school year.

According to the rule change, any student who transfers from another public school (including the neighbor islands) into the OIA is deemed ineligible if he or she participated in the same sport at the previous school within the last 12 months.

Students transferring from private schools to the public school in their home district may participate without having to sit out a year. However, those transferring to out-of-district schools cannot immediately play if he or she participated in the same sport at the previous school within the last 12 months. 

A geographic exception is still required for all students in out-of-district schools.