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| Buffalo Big Board Surf Classic |
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 Duane DeSoto Becomes the New Waterman of MakahaFor the first time in the 31-year history of Buffalo’s Big Board Classic a Keaulana didn’t receive the coveted Waterman Award. Instead it was the surrogate nephew of the Keaulanas, Makaha local Duane DeSoto, taking home the most prestigious award of the contest on Feb. 11, 2007 in fun 2- to 4-foot surf. For the first time in the 31-year history of Buffalo’s Big Board Classic a Keaulana didn’t receive the coveted Waterman Award. Instead it was the surrogate nephew of the Keaulanas, Makaha local Duane DeSoto, taking home the most prestigious award of the contest on Feb. 11, 2007 in fun 2- to 4-foot surf. 
Despite not winning any of the 13 divisions at Buff’s, DeSoto was given the Waterman Award for making it into seven final heats: Team Bodysurfing, Team Bodyboard, Team Surfing, Tandem Bullyboard, Paipo, Men’s Open Longboard and Beach Boy surfing. “To win the Waterman trophy is something I’ve wanted to do for many years, it means you’re capable in the ocean in more than one way,” the humble, 29-year-old said. “To be the Waterman against guys like Brian [Keaulana] and Melvin [Puu], I don’t know if I even deserve it because those guys are so spectacular. I haven’t achieved what they have.” While Duane may think he hasn’t reached the level of Brian and Mel, he did surf the entire event with athletic determination and powerful style. The most noticeable feature of DeSoto’s surfing was his constant ear-to-ear grin in the water.The Buffalo Big Board Classic at Makaha Beach is a surf contest dedicated to fun and bringing the Leeward locals together. The competition is also a showcase of ocean prowess, as highlighted by the Waterman Award, the most prestigious achievement at Buff’s Big Board Classic. The Buffalo soldier who wins the title has placed and done well in the most divisions. In other words, the award goes to the jack-of-all-trades, and master of one: having (highly skilled) fun in the water. “The Waterman isn’t like the Ironman triathlon where you compete in three events, we enter 11 events,” said 45-year-old Brian Keaulana. “I told Duane, ‘you made seven finals and I made five so I not going make ‘em easy. And he did well. But, the part that made me feel good was that I saw him huffing and puffing.” 
You would probably be winded too if you had to compete for two weekends in a row and surf at least 30 heats. Not too mention, your not just riding one piece of equipment, you’re riding multiple ocean vessels. “I’m surprised more young guys don’t win this award, but its probably because there’s a lot of work that needs to be done out there,” said DeSoto. “I give guys like Brian [Keaualana], Melvin [Pu‘u] and the other guys in their 40’s unreal credit because to continue that pace heat after heat for two weekends; it’s a really, really big strain.”Duane was also in awe of Mel’s generosity. Puu’s canoe crew, Team Quik, took the Canoe Surfing division championship. For his win, Mel was awarded a crip graphite canoe steering paddle, but decided to give it away to Duane during the awards ceremony. “Uncle Mel is so classy. He won a paddle, and I went up to him on the side and asked to buy it, then he went up and gave it to me in front of everybody,” DeSoto recalls. "Uncle Mel has a big heart, man, because that could have been money for his family if he wanted it to be. That’s at least a $500-dollar paddle.” Mel’s kindness toward Duane was exactly what Uncle Buffalo and Aunty Momi Keaulana envisioned for this contest when it first began 31 years ago. While the Keaulana ‘ohana would never imagine that Buffalo’s Big Board Surfing Classic would be the most grueling and true test of a Hawaiian Waterman, they always knew that the younger generation, like Duane DeSoto, would perpetuate the waterman ethos they experienced at Buff’s.—Daniel Ikaika Ito 31st Annual Buffalo Big Board Classic Results Canoe Surfing: 1) Team Quik, 2) Stunts Unlimited, 3) Leeward Kai, 4) Team Honolua. Tandem Surfing: 1) Brian Keaulana and Kathy Terada, 2) Mel Puu and Nani Auwae, 3) Kalani Vierra and Blanche Yoshida, 4) Bobby and Tiare Friedman. Legends: 1) Bunky Bakutis, 2) Flash Dubiel, 3) Ants Guerrrero, 4) Grant Kauhane, 5) Gillbert Perea, 6) Bob Caires. 250 Pounds-Plus Surfing: 1) Mel Puu, 2) Bruce DeSoto, 3) Manny DeSoto, 4) Jordan Patterson, 5) Joe Fernandez, 6) Kimo Leong. 
Women’s Surfing: 1) Desire DeSoto, 2) Haa Keaulana, 3) Maili Enos, 4) Kumi Ishii, 5) Claudia Parmenter, 6) Melanie Bartels.Foreign Surfing: 1) Taku Araki, 2) Markos Monteiro, 3) Takashi, 4) Toru Yamaguchi, 5) Yuji Hata, 6) Jamie Mitchell. Bullyboard 250 Plus: 1) Kimo Leong, 2) Mel Puu, 3) Mel Keawe, 4) Bruce DeSoto, 5) Manny DeSoto, 6) Kalani Kahaleoumi. Team Bodysurfing: 1) Mike Stewart and Don King, 2) Ronald and Duane DeSoto, 3) Kevin and John Flanagan, 4) Damien Reyes and Hop Tong Smith. Team Bodyboard: 1) Craig Davidson and Maunakea Uemura, 2) Du ane and Desire DeSoto, 3) Keoni and Kuuipo Keaulana, 4) Mel Puu and Leimomi. Team Surfing: 1) Bonga Perkins and Ned Snow, 2) Keoni Keaulana and Jericho Leedy, 3) Duane and Ceto DeSoto, 4) Brian Keaulana and Dave Parmenter. Bullyboard Tandem: 1) Keoni and Kuuipo Keaulana, 2) Brian Keaulana and Kathy Terada, 3) Jericho Leedy and Moanakea Uemura, 4) Duane and Malia DeSoto. Paipo: 1) Bonga Perkins, 2) Duane DeSoto, 3) Kaimana Beauford, 4) Lanson Ronquillo, 5) Mac Hall, 6) Jay Young. Men’s Open Surfing: 1) Rusty Keaulana, 2) Duane DeSoto, 3) Keoni Keaulana, 4) Dave Parmenter, 5) Mel Puu, 6) Bonga Perkins. Beach Boy/Stand-Up Paddle Surfing: 1) Brian Keaulana, 2) Keoni Keaulana, 3) Noland Martin, 4) Duane DeSoto, 5) Kamu Auwae, 6) Craid Davidson.
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