Kahuku High and Saint Louis School have the track records and the large followings in Division I.

But it will be one of the championship game newcomers, either Kaua'i or King Kekaulike, in Division II that makes history tomorrow night in the First Hawaiian Bank/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association State Football Championships. One of them will become the first Neighbor Island team to win a state football title.

Eight years into the state championship concept and four seasons into the split divisions, this is a timely and welcome breakthrough. One that nearly became a torrent. But for a 43-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass that found the mark on the final play of the Kahuku-Baldwin semifinal last week, this would be quite the Neighbor Island coming out party with three of four teams being from beyond O'ahu.

As it is four different leagues are represented in the finals for the first time since the inception of the state tournament. What has pretty much been an Interscholastic League of Honolulu and O'ahu Interscholastic Association invitational is finding diversity and energy with King Kekaulike (Maui Interscholastic League) and Kaua'i (Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation). And not lacking for drama, either.

"It has been exciting this year and will be great for the long run, too," said Keith Amemiya, executive secretary of the HHSAA.

When the state championships first hit the drawing board and, even before that, when they were in the arguing stages, one of the points against becoming one of the last states in the nation to have a state championship was the dominance of O'ahu teams. The argument was why bother with the formality of a state tournament when 9 times out of 10, it would be the two O'ahu leagues playing for the titles anyway? Why go to the expense of all that travel to have the trophies residing on O'ahu every year?

Indeed, for 26 years the O'ahu Prep Bowl, matching ILH and OIA champions, served as an unofficial state championship. The only one a lot of folks figured we really needed. Some of the early, lopsided scores invoking "mercy" rules, didn't offer much to the contrary.

But the Neighbor Island teams have begun to show the wisdom of a true state championship, taking up the challenge of competing with O'ahu teams and growing with it. Year by year their competitiveness is providing a glimpse of what the four-island concept can offer.

Increasingly, the schools are putting players on major college rosters — the visibility of playing in the tournament no doubt aiding the effort. And, now they are winning big games, too. No longer can O'ahu teams look at early-round games as championship warmups. No more can they rest bruised starters as has sometimes been the practice in the past. Ask the teams the Neighbor Islanders have beaten. Or, thrown a four-quarter scare into. Notice has been served.

When Kaua'i and King Kekaulike wind up tomorrow night, one will be crowned champion. But by their appearances in the finals the state tournament concept will be a big winner, too.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.