The state's four largest high school leagues each would receive at least two berths in almost all 12-team state tournaments, and Division II state tournaments would be created for baseball and boys soccer, under two different proposals that will be considered tonight at the Hawai'i Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association Conference.

HIADA's annual conference, which includes representatives from most of the state's 93 member schools in the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association, kicked off yesterday with coaches' education workshops at the Hapuna Beach Resort on the Big Island.

Tonight's agenda includes four "Group" sessions in which representatives vote in committee on several state tournament issues.

The "Group 2" session will include a proposal submitted by the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, in which the ILH, O'ahu Interscholastic Association, Big Island Interscholastic Federation and Maui Interscholastic League each would automatically receive two berths in every 12-team state tournament, provided each league has at least four teams eligible for league play.

State tournament berths have been decided by a formula that calculates the number of teams in each league and distributes berths according to how that number correlates to the number of eligible teams overall across the state.

In last month's baseball state tournament, the ILH received only one state berth under the formula, while the OIA received five berths and the BIIF three. Punahou won its fourth straight state championship, and it was the ILH's fifth straight title.

"I think (state tournament berths) need to be equitable, not just for us, but for all the kids in all the leagues," said 'Iolani baseball coach Dean Yonamine, whose Raiders finished second in the ILH this past season and were ranked in the state's top five all season in media polls. "We want to be competitive statewide, and our goal is always to get to the state tournament. I think this (proposal) is a step in the right direction."

Under the proposal, the ILH, OIA, BIIF and MIL each would automatically receive two berths (for the league champion and runner-up), and the remaining four berths would be distributed according to the existing formula.

Since each league would be required to have at least four eligible teams participating, the two-berth rule would not apply to ILH Division I and II girls soccer, since the league only has three teams in each division.

In the same session, a proposal submitted by HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya to add baseball and boys soccer to the Division II tournament schedule will be considered. The HHSAA already holds DII tournaments for football, boys and girls volleyball, boys and girls basketball, softball, girls soccer and cheerleading.

If DII baseball and boys soccer are approved, that would leave girls water polo as the only state tournament that would not include Division II. But only 30 schools compete in girls water polo statewide, compared to 52 for softball and boys soccer and 54 for baseball and girls soccer.

Division II baseball has been casually suggested in the OIA, which saw many lopsided scores the past few seasons.

"So many of our games were decided by 10 runs or more," said Mililani athletic director Glenn Nitta, the OIA's baseball coordinator. "I think Division II would be good for our league."

Another proposal by Amemiya would permanently move the boys soccer state tournament to O'ahu. Under the current rotation, it is is held on Maui every third year.

But Amemiya noted that hotel space on Maui is limited in February and he has secured travel grants of $2,500 per Neighbor Island team if the tournament is moved to O'ahu permanently.

If proposals pass committee vote, they advance to Saturday's general assembly vote and would need final approval from the HHSAA executive board.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.