HSA Invitational State Championship
By Kresta Painter & Chris Latronic
Great waves and sunshine helped to create an awesome setting for Hawai’i Surfing Associations (HSA) Invitational State Championship at Ala Moana Bowls on Oahu. For three days steady sets continued to roll through, giving ample opportunity for competitors to charge through their heats with waves in the 3 to 4ft. range on Thursday and Friday and dropping to 2 to 3ft. on Saturday. The invitation-only event is highly competitive and offers some of the best board riders from the Hawaiian Islands a chance to compete for the “State Champion” title. Spectators also had a chance to witness surfing legends like Koapaka Brown, Malcolm Ing and Roger Kinnamon, who competed in the 70 and over category, still shredding waves with style.
Originating in the early 1960’s, the event is Hawai‘i’s longest running surfing championship and offers fans a peek at some of the youngest up-and-coming stars of Hawai’i, potentially preparing many of them for a career in professional surfing. Although the event is competitive, the vibe is mostly one of camaraderie. Anya Shockley (age 11) found it easy to describe one facet of what makes a great surfer. “It’s about having a good attitude, supporting others and cheering them on”. This was most certainly the case among all of the youth and adult participants both in and out of the water. Robert Grilho Jr. stood proud and nervous on the shore as his 11-year-old son competed. When asked what it is like to be a parent of a kid who wants to be a competitive surfer, he smiled and said, “It’s all about enjoying the ride with him and hoping he has a smile at the end of the day”.
A big congratulations to all the winners, including Ocean Macedo, Brodi Sale, Kaulana Apo, Finn McGill, Brisa Hennessy and Kahanu Delovio, to name a few. Ocean Macedo of Maui, although the smallest competitor in his final, carved the biggest turns and ripped his way to a State Championship title. Brodi Sale of the Big Island gave us a glimpse of future endeavors as he sliced his way through a challenging division final. In disbelief till the very announcement, Brodi was all smiles in defense of his title. Kaulana Apo of Oahu used his experienced goofy foot technique to fend off heavy hitters like Imaikalani deVault and Taichi Wakita to state championship glory, while Finn McGill charged his way through to the finals and added a nice State Championship trophy to the mantle. Kailua’s Brisa Hennessy was in unbeatable form throughout the comp, well deserving of a state championship title in the Girls Shortboard U16 division while Big Island’s Kahanu Delovio took the trophy for 1st in Girls Shortboard U18 division.
A big heartfelt mahalo to the HSA event coordinator Wendell Aoki and crew. Their tireless efforts are inspiring many promising youth surfers. A special thanks to the Beach Marshall Raymond Shito, Hawaiian Water Patrol Terry Ahue, tabulators Patty Harada and Ivy Bloomfield-Foster along with the judges Jack Shipley, Bernie Baker, Eric “Jr.” Matsui, Don Dubie, Lane Inouye, Milo Murguia, and Dave Blanot for their roles in making it all happen. The event sponsors included Quicksilver, MOKU, XCEL, T&C Surf Designs, Surfco, Hurley, Phix Doctor, HIC, Surfer, Penske, Vissla, and Kanaka Solutions.
BOYS S.B. UNDER 12 YEARS OLD – GIRLS S.B. UNDER 12 YEARS OLD
1- BRODIE SALE 1- SAVANNH STONE
2- ROBERT GIRLHO III 2- GABBI KNUDSON
3- DIEGO FERRI 3- LUANA SILVA
4- LUKE SWANSON 4- ANGELINA YOSSA
BOYS S.B. UNDER 14 YEARS OLD -GIRLS S.B. UNDER 14 YEARS OLD
1- OCEAN MACEDO 1- KAI MATSUMOTO
2- KAINEHE HUNT 2- NOA MIZUNO
3- WYATT MCHALE 3- ALEX PENDLETON
4- COTE FRYE 5- MARC KOGA
BOYS S.B. UNDER 16 YEARS OLD -GIRLS S.B. UNDER 16 YEARS OLD
1- FINN MCGILL 1- BRISA HENNESSY
2- LOGAN BEDIAMOL 2- ZOE MCDOUGALL
3- ELIJAH FOX 3- TIANA TOMODA BANNERT
4- KAMERON DOWIS 4- BRITTANY PENAROZA
BOYS S.B. UNDER 18 YEARS OLD -GIRLS S.B. UNDER 18 YEARS OLD
1- KAULANA APO 1- KAHANU DELOVIO
2- IMAIKALANI DEVAULT 2- MAINEI KINIMAKA
3- FORREST ELMER 3- SIERRA LARSEN
4- TAICHI WAKITA 4- DAX MCGILL
MEN S.B. 18 – 29- WOMEN S.B. 18 & OVER
1- WARREN ESTENCION 1- DANIELLE FENWICK
2- DANIEL PELT 2- SHELBY SCHWEITZER
3- DANIELLE FENWICK
4- CHRISTA RUSSELL
MASTER S.B. 30 -39 SENIOR MEN S.B. 40 – 49
1- JASON SHIBATA 1- SAM FENWICK
2- SCOTT SHIMODA 2- SHANNON SILVA
3- AARON KEKOA WITT 3- RICHARD TOM
4- GRANT DECKER 4- MATTHEW CINTAS
5- CHRIS CHESTER
GRANDMASTER S.B. 50 – 59 LEGENDS S.B. 60 – 69
1- RUSSELL LEWIS 1- ALLEN WICKLUND
2- DALE SABATE 2- EDDIE PIEPER
3- DARREN OKIMOTO 3- CRAIG SUGIHARA
4- TOMO SAITO
5- TOMMY REYES
6- KEITH MIURA
GOLDEN LEGENDS S. B.70 & UP OPEN MEN S.B.
1- KOAPAKA BROWN 1- LOA NG
2- MALCOLM ING 2- SHAYDEN PACARRO
3- ROGER KINNAMAN 3- KOA YOKOTA
4- SAM FENWICK
5- KELSON LAU
6- COLE ALVES
BODYBOARD BOYS 14 & UNDER BODYBOARD BOYS 15 – 17
1- KAIKEA SIMPSON 1- KALLEN YAMASAKI
2- NOA AQUINO 2- ZANE CINTAS
3- DENIS SOUZA
4- JOSHUA DELA CRUZ
JR BOYS LONGBOARD 17 & UNDER JR GIRLS LONGBOARD 17 & UNDER
1- JULIAN WILLIAMS 1- TABBI KNUDSON
2- JUSTICE CHATFIELD 2- MASON SCHREMMER
3- HA’A BLOMFIELD FOSTER 3- KELTA O’ROURKE
4- TY SIMPSON KANE 4- KELIS KALEOPAA
5- KAHANU CUBAN 5- KEHLIL SHOCKLEY
6- JOSHUA KAI CHESTER 6- TYRRA GALLANO
MEN LONGBOARD 18 – 29 MASTER LONGBOARD 30 – 39
1- MAUI ZACK 1- WESLEY MOORE
2- KAULA PILAGO 2- NICK RIOPELLE
SR MEN LONGBOARD 40 – 49
1- LEONARD BARROW
2- MATTHEW CINTAS
LEGENDS LONGBOARD 50 & OVER WOMEN LONGBOARD 18 & OVER
1- TOMMY REYES 1- SHELBY SCHWEITZER
2- HOWARD CLARK 2- HINE BLOMFIELD FOSTER
3- EDDIE PIEPER
4- TOMO SAITO
5- ALAN PACHECO
6- MICHAEL LORNE
OPEN LONGBOARD ACCESS SURF (DEAF DIVISION)
1- WESLEY MOORE 1- KIYO SEMINARA
2- MAUI ZACK 2- KAIMI SEMINARA
3- NICK RIOPELLE 3- PETER BALDING III
4- EDDIE PIEPER
5- KAULA PILAGO
6- HOWARD CLARK
SUP GIRLS 17 & UNDER SUP BOYS 17 & UNDER
1- MASON SCHREMMER 1- DYLAN SCHMARR
2- LOLA SCHREMMER 2- HA’A BLOMFIELD FOSTER
3- SALLY COHEN
4- SCARLETT SCHREMMER
SUP WOMEN 18 – 39 SUP MEN 18 – 39
1- SHELBY SCHEITZER 1- SYRUS MELANDISH
2- DEREK HAMASAKI
3- CHAD KALELE
SUP OPEN WOMEN SUP OPEN MEN
1- MASON SCHREMMER 1- SYRUS MELANDISH
2- SHELBY SCHWEITZER 2- TOMMY CHUN MING
3- LOLA SCHREMMER 3- DEREK HAMASAKI
4- SCARLETT SCHREMMER 4- CHAD KALELE
SUP WOMEN/MEN OVER 40
1- TOMMY CHUN MING
2-
3-