 Hawai‘i’s Elite Amateur Competitors
Despite Hawai‘i’s diminutive
size, it pumps out large numbers of exceptional amateur rippers.
Compared to the amount of land and population on the mainland, the 50th
State is always ahead of the class at the NSSA National Championships
on the mainland as well as the International Surfing Association (ISA)
World Championships. Our groms often make their national and
international peers look like dunces due to the advanced education they
receive from Hawai‘i’s high-performance waves.
The curriculum for groms in the Islands: School of Hard Knocks. Here,
the learning curve is high for keiki. Here, the reef’s vast geometry
sharpens a young surfer’s reflexes. Here, the uncles and aunties of the
community give grommets extra tutoring in the lineups.
Although amateur and scholastic surfing in Hawai‘i is still not
adequately supported by the Department of Education, the State, or
private institutions like Kamehameha Secondary School, Island groms
continue to dominate rankings world-wide. The following young people
are the waveriders who will fly the Hawaiian flag abroad and chair
their bruddahs and sistahs up the beaches of Australia, South Africa,
Europe, South America and any other foreign places with great waves.
They are the future of Hawaiian surfing. —Daniel Ikaika Ito
Graduating Class of 2007
Kai Barger
Kekoa Cazimero
Granger Larsen
Bethany Hamilton
Tonino Benson
Torrey Meister
Dusty Payne
 Advanced Placement
John John Florence
(2006 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing youngest competitor)
Carissa Moore:
#1 NSSA Explorer Girls
# 1 NSSA Explorer Women
#4 NSSA HI Open Women
2007 Roxy Pro Champion
Alana Blanchard:
#5 NSSA HI Explorer Women
#10 NSSA HI Open Women
2-time Women’s Pipeline Champion (2005 & 2007)
Honors:
Eala Stewart: #1 Hasa SB Menehune 2A
John Quizon: #2 HASA SB Menehune 2A
Keanu Asing: #1 HASA SB Boys
#1 NSSA Explorer Boys
Matty Costa: #2 HASA SB Boys
#3 NSSA HI Open Juniors
Derek Wong: #1 HASA SB Junior Boys
Brennan Boudreau: #2 HASA SB Junior Boys
#2 HASA SB Open Men
Alessa Quizon: #1 HASA SB Girls
#3 NSSA HI Open Women
Missy Valdez: #2 HASA SB Girls
Nelson Ahina: #1HASA LB Menehune
Kainoa Philpotts: #2 HASA LB Menehune
Kekoa Cazimero: #1 HASA SB Open Men
#2 NSSA HI Explorer Men
#4 NSSA Explorer Juniors
Granger Larsen: #1 NSSA HI Explorer Men
#1 NSSA HI Open Men
# 2 NSSA Explorer Juniors
Tanner Hendrickson: #2 NSSA Explorer Boys
#2 NSSA HI Open Juniors
Carissa Moore: #1 NSSA Explorer Girls
# 1 NSSA Explorer Women
Malia Manuel: #2 NSSA Explorer Girls
#1 HI Open Women
Kai Barger: #1 NSSA Explorer Juniors
#2 NSSA HI Open Men
Cedric Caires: #1 NSSA HI Open Longboard
#1 NSSA Explorer Longboard
Shaun Walsh: #2 NSSA Explorer Longboard
Koa Smith: #1 NSSA Explorer Menehune
#1 NSSA HI Open Boys
Kealamakia Naihe: #2 NSSA Explorer Menehune
Luke Hitchcock: #2 NSSA HI Open Boys
#3 NSSA Explorer Menehune
Kiron Jabour: #1 NSSA HI Open Juniors
Megan Apo: #2 NSSA HI Open LB
#3 NSSA Explorer LB
Benji Brand: #1 NSSA HI Open Mini Grom
Ian Gentil: #2 NSSA HI Open Mini Grom
Leila Hurst: #2 NSSA HI Open Women
#3 NSSA Explorer Girls
#4 NSSA Explorer Women
Coco Ho: #2 HI Explorer Women
Small photos:
Erika Steiner
Ashley Hunter
Monyca Byrne-Wickey
Mia Melamed
Missy Valdez
Alyssa Wooten
Kelia Moniz
Maile Enos Branigan
Nage Melamed
Davey Brand
Nathen Rex*
Alex Smith*
Kealamakia Naihe
Luke Hitchcock
Kain Daly
Kaoliopuuwai Kahokulea
Ian Gentil
Imai Devault*
Seth Moniz*
Kalani David*
Chaz Kinoshita
Lahiki Minamishin*
Kaikea Elias
Kiron Jabour*
Albee Layer*
Austin Vincent
Mo Defreitas
Kaulana Apo
Eli Olsen
Kaito Kino
Christian Pendleton
Kaiea Bosgra
Evyn Tyndzik
Kapu Ping*
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