A half-century ago, prep football in Hawaii was a much different animal. Private and public school teams regularly competed against one another, drawing thousands of fans at the old Honolulu Stadium to watch age-old rivalries.

Today there is a distinct divide in Hawaii’s high school football landscape: public schools on one side, private ones on the other. But a move to return to a system that would merge the two leagues and create a more level playing field is gaining momentum.

The proposal — outlined in an internal Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) email obtained by the Star-Advertiser — could return prep football to its heyday.

The proposed union of the Oahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) and ILH would answer the rally cries of fans who for years have called for a competitive reorganization. Under the “OIA-ILH Football Alliance Proposal,” teams would be separated into three divisions under a three-year pilot project:

>> The top-tier Open Division would have 10 teams, including seven OIA, along with Kamehameha, Punahou and Saint Louis. Each team would play nine games.

>> Division I, also 10 teams, would include eight from OIA, plus Damien and ‘Iolani. The teams would play nine games.

>> Division II would include seven OIA teams and Pac-Five and Saint Francis. Teams play eight games during the season.

ILH principals are expected to vote Tuesday on the allliance proposal, and that will determine whether the plan moves forward to a vote by OIA principals, and then by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association.

At this stage, the framework and rationale behind the proposal appear sound, and key players are encouraged to keep the proposal alive.

Not only would the reorganization end the so-called cold war between the two leagues, it would foster fair and equitable competition. The three-tier system is expected to eliminate lopsided wins by pairing teams with similar abilities, cutting down routs and forfeits.

Some of the matchups simply defy logic. Last season, McKinley, in a down year, lost to eventual state champion Kahuku 78-0 and Waianae 90-0 in back-to-back weeks.

More suitable pairings could reduce unnecessary injuries and risks as more dominant teams would compete against one another — and likely not against teams whose players are often on the field for both offense and defense.

Proposals to reunite the public and private schools have been tossed around since five public schools — Farrington, Kaimuki, Kalani, McKinley and Roosevelt — exited the ILH after the 1969 season, abandoning Damien, ‘Iolani, Kamehameha, Punahou and Saint Louis, causing a bitter rift.

Proposals have come and gone over the decades, but the timing and the comprehensive nature of this plan seem to be right.

If the three-year pilot takes off, the competitive play is expected to spur more revenues at the gate and concession stands. The economic impact of the proposal cannot be ignored.

A commitment of $3 million in much-needed support from the business community is a key component of the plan. The 29 football-playing schools of both leagues would split $1 million in each of the three years, nearly $35,000 per school. The funds would be administered by the Hawaii Community Foundation to be spent on transportation, SAT/ACT preparation, heat-monitoring devices, equipment and other needs across all sports.

The proposal also addresses the controversial topic of transfers, making it more difficult for players to move from one team to another — and ultimately prevent teams from unfairly beefing up their rosters. The plan includes a reasoned mandate that transferring players sit out two years before playing, which would ensure that once a player commits to a high school, he is not lured away.

It’s time for the ILH and OIA to reforge a union that benefits all stakeholders — raising excitement on the field seasonlong, and leaving past feuds where they belong, in the past.