On February 11 & 12, surfers of the NSSA Hawaii Region packed their boards and headed to Pine Trees in Hanalei Bay on the beautiful Garden Island of Kauai. Surf was in the 4'-8' face range.

Conditions were challenging as consistent sets fired into the Pine Trees shorebreak and wave selection was key. Evidence of this was John John Florence’s and Clay Marzo’s 10 point rides that left them short of victory. Both had to settle for less than average back up waves.

National Explorer Juniors champion, Granger Larsen was the standout of the event, winning both the Open Mens and Open Juniors divisions over a star-studded talent filled line up.

In the Explorer Divisions, 2005 National Champions, Dusty Payne, Casey Brown and John John Florence won divisions. Ezekial Lau won his division in Explorer Menehune and in the Open Mini Grom division Lahikiola Minamishin took advantage of Koa Smith’s vacation to win. Another notable performance was David Brand’s victory in the Open Boys division.

In the Women’s divisions, stand outs are starting to emerge. Leila Hurst won her second Explorer Girls title in a row, and managed to final in the other two women’s events as well. Leila’s been one of the most consistent surfers in the women’s division this year, and is looking to keep that consistency through Nationals. In the Explorer Women’s division, last year’s national champ, Bethany Hamilton, posted another victory. In the Open Women’s division, Coco Ho posted another season win. Other notables in the women’s divisions are Erika Steiner and Savanna Sussman, two newcomers to the NSSA this season, who made two finals appearances apiece.

The last event of the NSSA Hawaii Region is scheduled for Haleiwa on the island of Oahu, for February 25 & 26.

Explorer Girls
1. Leila Hurst
2. Malia Manuel
3. Erika Steiner
4. Savanna Sussman
5. Ashley Hunter
6. Coco Ho

Explorer Women
1. Bethany Hamilton
2. Leila Hurst
3. Erika Steiner
4. Coco Ho
5. Savanna Sussman
6. Andrianna Medeville

Explorer Menehunes
1. Ezeikiel Lau
2. Matty Costa
3. Luke Hitchcock
4. Keanu Asing
5. Mana Mederois
6. Keala Naihe

Explorer Boys
1. John John Florence
2. Tanner Hendrickson
3. Kiron Jabour
4. Kyle Galtes
5. Dylan Goodell
6. Keanu Asing

Explorer Juniors
1. Dusty Payne
2. Clay Marzo
3. Kekoa Cazimero
4. Kyle Ramey
5. Casey Brown
6. Tyler Newton

Explorer Men
1. Casey Brown
2. Chas Chidester
3. Nathan Rex
4. Dusty Payne
5. Alex King
6. Torrey Meister

Explorer Longboard
1. Cedric Caires
2. Cyrus Croskery
3. Megan Apo
4. Kamalu Hawelu

Open Women
1. Coco Ho
2. Malia Manuel
3. Lani Hunter
4. Leila Hurst
5. Monyca Byrne-Wickey
6. Bethany Hamilton

Open Mini Groms
1. Lahikiola Minamishin
2. Kalani David
3. Luke Hithcock
4. Kaoli Kahokuloa
5. Kalen Galtes
6. Makai McNamara

Open Boys
1. David Brand
2. Matty Costa
3. Keanu Asing
4. Kaikea Elias
5. Nathan Florence
6. Ezekiel Lau

Open Juniors
1. Granger Larsen
2. John John Florence
3. Dege O'Connell
4. Kiron Jabour
5. Levi Gonzales
6. Tyler Newton

Open Mens
1. Granger Larsen
2. Kekoa Cazimero
3. Torrey Meister
4. Wesley Larsen
5. Casey Brown
6. Tonino Bensen

Open Longboard
1. Cedric Caires
2. Cyrus Croskery
3. Megan Apo