With the obvious shift of power in the West over the past several seasons, the OIA Red has realigned for the coming football season.

The divisions, which are unnamed at this point, are: Kahuku, Leilehua, Kaiser, Waianae, McKinley, Waipahu and Castle; in the other group are Mililani, Farrington, Campbell, Moanalua, Kapolei, Kailua and Aiea.

That’s 14 teams in all, the same number that were in the Red last fall. It took about one month of discussion proposals from athletic directors and coaches.

"It takes away rivalries, like us and Farrington. The traditions like Waipahu and Campbell," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. "It’s good and it’s more competitive. But now we’re going to each corner of the island, with Waianae and Kaiser."

He could’ve added Leilehua-Mililani and Kailua-Castle to that mix. But there’s a fresh practicality in terms of competitiveness with the new format.

"This creates some new, interesting matchups," OIA football coordinator Harold Tanaka said. "It’s easier for teams to move up and down (between the Red and White)."

Rating programs without geographical divisions makes it easier to funnel teams between the Red (Division I) and White (D-II) conferences.

For example, when then-White Conference team Kaiser requested to move up to the Red last year, only a Red East team could cooperate and make the switch. No one was willing.

All in all, the OIA has improved its product, one that is a key revenue creator for the league. That’s the hope.

"We wanted to do what’s best for the OIA," Tanaka said.

The divisions will be reshuffled every two years, he added.

As for longer bus rides, such as the one between Kahuku and Waianae, the league is hoping better competition will draw more fans to games and trump the higher cost of bus rentals due to distance.

"In the long run, the money will come back to the schools," Tanaka added.

A crossover game will be part of the schedule, giving each Red team a total of seven league games. The ILH-OIA preseason crossover games of recent years have ended.

The White Conference will still be comprised of nine programs.

For OIA Red and White football schedules for the upcoming season, go to: hawaiiprepworld.com.