ALA MOANA BOWLS, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA (Tuesday, June 16, 2026) – Jackson Bunch (HAW) and Vaihtimahana Inso (HAW) claimed wins at the 2026 Local Motion Surf Into Summer Presented by HTA, a World Surf League (WSL) men’s and women’s Qualifying Series (QS) 2,000-level event, in solid long-period, six-to-eight-foot wave faces that tested competitors’ patience and ability to strike when opportunities arose. Bunch powered through the Round of 32, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and emerged on top of the four-man Final following Inso’s run through the Semifinals and Finals to be crowned event victor. Both now retain the No. 1 rankings heading into the QS event break before getting their Challenger Series qualification runs back underway.
Entering the event as defending champ, Vaihitimahan Inso (HAW) earned her first-ever QS win here in 2024, and recently found a second at the TOA Pro Papara. The 18-year-old, Inso, represented her home break of Ala Moana Bowls in excellent form all the way atop the podium once more. After spending time among the Challenger Series in the 2025/2026 season, the Oʻahu competitor is looking for her spot back there in 2027 as she takes over the rankings heading into the QS event break.
“I couldn’t ask for anything else. This is just super special for me. Nothing is better than winning at home, and I mean, the waves we’re firing,” said Inso. “And also go back-to-back from two years ago when they ran it. I”m so grateful. I’m just loving surfing. This does a lot for my confidence. I wasn’t able to requalify for the Challenger Series last year, so hopefully it gives me a good confidence boost to requalify next year.”
The women’s Final featured reigning Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor and current No. 1 Moana Jones Wong (HAW), recent TOA Pro Papara winner Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW), former event finalist Skai Suitt (HAW), and Tahiti’s breakthrough performer Miliani Simon (PYF). In the first exchange, Inso struck with the Final’s top single-score out of the pack, posting a 7.00 (out of a possible 10) on her forehand precision and power with Simon’s 6.35 a close match on her backhand attack. Suitt stayed in the mix with a powerful blow of her own before falling on her combination to post a 6.35, as Jones Wong looked for her response. Holding priority, Inso stamped her authority on her opponents, posting an 8.00 after more of her forehand brilliance from top to leave Suitt and Simon needing upper excellent scores to match her.
But, Jones Wong found her opportunity to strike back along with Suitt, as Jones Wong earned a 6.35, but it was Suitt who found a gem and unleashed more of her backhand attack to post an excellent 8.75. However, Jones Wong found her immediate response a forehand layback following time behind the curtain to answer with an 8.75. Then, in the final minutes, Inso sat just under Jones Wong’s priority as Jones Wong let her go and, to her dismay, Inso unleashed her incredible forehand power to post the Final’s, and women’s event-best, single-wave score of a 9.20 to seal her victory.
An Unprecedented Three-Peat Kicks Off Bunch’s QS Campaign
The most in-form athlete of the region currently, Jackson Bunch (HAW), wasn’t to be stopped once again alongside the formidable field at Ala Moana Bowls. Fresh off winning both the TOA Pro Punaauia and TOA Pro Papara, Bunch added his fourth-career QS victory today at the Local Motion Surf Into Summer. Now, the 22-year-old prepares for his requalification campaign among the Challenger Series elite, starting at the Ballito Pro.
“I’m just stoked to finally get to take it out. I’ve had a second and third at this event, and I’m stoked to get my first 10 in a WSL event. This is my favorite wave on the whole South Shore,” said Bunch. “I knew I was going to have to get big scores. Zeke [Lau] was ripping this whole event, Finn [McGill] is just smashing our region, and Ian [Gentil] is a CT-level surfer. They’re all CT-level surfers. I just watched Vaihiti go out there and catch a lot of waves, and it just looked so fun. I’m stoked to have that extra parachute just in case the Challenger Series doesn’t go as planned. But, I’ve just realized I surf my best when I’m just having fun, and it was just really fun out there. I had a great time in Tahiti staying with Finn, and the waves have just been so good at every event this year. I’m just stoked to keep having fun and take all the contests we’ve had so far.”
A heavyweight men’s Final featured three former Championship Tour (CT) competitors, including defending event victor Ezekiel Lau (HAW), 2023 CT Rookie of the Year Ian Gentil (HAW), and 2025 Rookie Jackson Bunch (HAW), alongside reigning Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui QS Regional victor Finn McGill (HAW). Bunch wasted no time striking first on his incredible forehand post an 8.75, but that was just the beginning. Gentil found an early opportunity of his own, posting a 7.00, but it was Bunch who found another gem under priority to quickly post a pair of excellent scores, totaling 16.75 for a commanding lead. Then, McGill, having priority, let Bunch go, and the current No. 1 didn’t let it go to waste with multiple hammers on his forehand before finishing the wave with a massive air reverse to the flats, posting a perfect 10-point ride for an insurmountable lead.
McGill responded with excellence of his own, going upside down on his backhand attack before finding a big finish to post an 8.40, though still in a combination situation, but moving into second. However, Bunch wasn’t done and finished the Final with a 9.50 to earn the event’s best heat total, a 19.50 (out of a possible 20) to conclude proceedings.
Jones Wong and McGill Claim Runner-up Finishes
The reigning regional victors, Moana Jones Wong (HAW) and Finn McGill (HAW), continued to show their prominence ahead of taking on the world’s elite later this year. Jones Wong’s ability to find the barrel and lock into her forehand power separated her from the field, narrowly missing out on a second event title. After posting multiple excellent rides from the Quarterfinals through to the Final, Jones Wong now looks to bring that form to the Challenger Series.
“My goal this season is to make Finals at every event. I’m super happy to have made the Finals today,” said Jones Wong. “The competition was really tough. The girls are absolutely ripping, so I feel really honored to have made the Finals with all the girls. I’m excited for the Challenger Series. I know the it is way different than the QS. It’s way harder. So I’m trying to just keep this confidence, and hopefully it’ll translate over to the Challenger. ”
Pictured: Moana Jones Wong (HAW) fought until the very end, earning multiple excellent scores. Credit: WSL/ Ito
For McGill, this marks his best result of the 2026/2027 season ahead of rejoining the Challenger Series alongside the likes of Bunch, Oliver Zietz (NDL), Luke Tema (HAW), Mihimana Braye (FRA), and Joshua Moniz (HAW). An insatiable event for McGill witnessed the North Shore’s own post numerous excellent scores, including a 10-point ride in his Round of 64 debut, leading up to the Final, where he couldn’t find the opportunities to overtake his good friend and event victor, Bunch.
“It was amazing even just to be in the Final. All three of those guys have been on the CT, and were in the last four years, so it was just awesome to go blow-for-blow with them and try to just get second,” said McGill. “Jackson dropped a 19-point heat total in the first five minutes, but it was great. It was so much fun. The waves provided, but it got a little too high tide for Big Bowl, and it moved back, and it was as big as it gets for Middles. I kind of looked at it as like, everyone’s gnarly now, so you just want to get points to stay safe for the next year’s Challenger Series, but also trying out boards as well. This wave is similar to a lot of the Challenger Series waves, way more than Haleʻiwa and Sunset. So it was nice to test out boards and run some reps in some smaller lefts, and it was really fun.”
After another dream Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui event witnessed more incredible conditions, the initial rankings are set heading into the QS event break, and ahead of the 2026 Challenger Series start at the Ballito Pro, beginning July 12 through 18. The women will get their 2026/2027 season back underway at the Super Girl Surf Festival in Oceanside, Calif., as a co-sanctioned event with North America, beginning August 21 through 23.
Women’s Local Motion Surf Into Summer Final Results:
1 – Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) 17.45
2 – Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 14.80
3 – Skai Suitt (HAW) 14.65
4 – Miliani Simon (PYF) 12.35
Men’s Local Motion Surf Into Summer Final Results:
1 – Jackson Bunch (HAW) 19.50
2 – Finn McGill (HAW) 15.65
3 – Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 14.60
4 – Ian Gentil (HAW) 14.05
Women’s Local Motion Surf Into Summer Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 14.80 DEF. Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) 13.65, Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW) 12.50, Zoe McDougall (HAW) 9.65
HEAT 2: Miliani Simon (PYF) 16.10 DEF. Skai Suitt (HAW) 14.90, Zoie Zietz (NLD) 11.60, Lucy Jarrard (ASM) 11.35
Men’s Local Motion Surf Into Summer Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Ian Gentil (HAW) 16.80 DEF. Jackson Bunch (HAW) 15.10, MaiKai Burdine (HAW) 13.40, Oliver Zietz (NLD) 13.00
HEAT 2: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 18.00 DEF. Finn McGill (HAW) 14.45, Rylan Beavers (HAW) 13.85, Merrik Mochkatel (HAW) 13.50
Men’s Local Motion Surf Into Summer Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Ian Gentil (HAW) 15.75 DEF. MaiKai Burdine (HAW) 15.10, Tiger Abubo (HAW) 13.10, Cole Alves (HAW) 9.75
HEAT 2: Jackson Bunch (HAW) 15.75 DEF. Oliver Zietz (NLD) 13.25, Luke Swanson (HAW) 12.05, Ezra Clark (HAW) 10.90
HEAT 3: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 14.15 DEF. Merrik Mochkatel (HAW) 11.90, Te Kehukehu Butler (NZL) 10.85, Ace Arizumi (USA) 5.40
HEAT 4: Rylan Beavers (HAW) 15.90 DEF. Finn McGill (HAW) 14.70, Diego Ferri (HAW) 13.30, Luke Tema (HAW) 11.75
Men’s Local Motion Surf Into Summer Round of 32 Results:
HEAT 1: MaiKai Burdine (HAW) 13.70 DEF. Oliver Zietz (NLD) 13.00, Matteus Santos (HAW) 10.35, Kingston Panebianco (HAW) 9.35
HEAT 2: Tiger Abubo (HAW) 13.75 DEF. Ezra Clark (HAW) 12.40, Mihimana Braye (PYF) 10.90, Reef Isono (HAW) 9.40
HEAT 3: Luke Swanson (HAW) 15.00 DEF. Ian Gentil (HAW) 11.45, Levi Young (HAW) 10.45, Gavin Hogan (HAW) 6.90
HEAT 4: Jackson Bunch (HAW) 13.75 DEF. Cole Alves (HAW) 12.90, Nalu Deodato (HAW) 11.45, Luke Adolfson (HAW) 8.40
HEAT 5: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 12.50 DEF. Rylan Beavers (HAW) 12.50, Gregg Nakamura (HAW) 10.25, O’Neill Massin (PYF) 10.05
HEAT 6: Merrik Mochkatel (HAW) 13.10 DEF. Diego Ferri (HAW) 11.75, Makana Franzmann (HAW) 11.70, Kiron Jabour (HAW) 10.65
HEAT 7: Luke Tema (HAW) 15.00 DEF. Ace Arizumi (USA) 12.75, Cody Young (HAW) 12.25, Kai Martin (HAW) 10.50
HEAT 8: Finn McGill (HAW) 15.25 DEF. Te Kehukehu Butler (NZL) 12.25, Given Goodwin (HAW) 11.50, Joe Shirota (HAW) 7.50
About the WSL
The World Surf League (WSL) is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world’s best surfing. The WSL oversees surfing’s global competitive landscape and sets the standard for elite performance in the most dynamic playing field in all of sports. With a firm commitment to its values, the WSL prioritizes the protection of the ocean, equality, and the sport’s rich heritage, while championing progression and innovation.