2012 Pohai Na Keiki Nalu

 


2012 19th Annual Pohai Na Keiki Nalu Event

 

“Gathering of the Surf Kids”

 

Launiupoko Beach Park, Maui Hawaii  -  June 12th, 2012


Brothers Nick and Tony Nunez each claimed individual longboard titles and finished third in their respective shortboard divisions at the 19th annual Pohai Na Keiki Nalu (Gathering of the Surf Kids) Saturday at Launiupoko Park.

Tony Nunez


Over 160 entries in nine divisions surfed clean one to three foot waves. The contest proceeds, over $1,500, went to Olivia Bianco, a Lahaina seven-year-old, who has brain cancer.

Nick, a Lahaina Intermediate seventh-grader, won the 10-12 longboard division, defeating defending champion, Noah Hill, of Venice, Calif. He also finished third in the 11-12 shortboard.

Noah Hill

Tony, a King Kamehameha III fourth grader-to-be, won the 9 & under longboard, and placed third in the 9-10 shortboard. It was the first time they had won titles at the Pohai. Both defeated 23 other longboard surfers.

Tony Nunez

“That’s cool,” Nick said. “We both could win together, I was cheering for him.”

Nick Nunez


Both boys also placed second in their weight classes at the AAU Hawaii Wrestling State Championship last month.

Tony likes competing with his brother in the water and on the mat. “Ninety per cent of the time, I’m practicing with him.”

Hill defended his 9-10 shortboard title, edging Eli Hanneman, of Lahaina, in an exciting heat that was not decided until the last minute of their 15-minute final.

Hill was taking mostly lefts while Hanneman was going right almost every time. “Going left, you get a good vertical outside turn, then a flat section of a few carves, and then the last little end section, you can do anything,” Hill said.

Both Hill and Hanneman could meet up in three weeks at the National Scholastic Surfing Association national championships in Huntington Beach, California.

Another surfer who impressed the judges was eight-year-old Jackson Bunch, a third-grader at Doris Todd School in Paia. Bunch was named first by every judge in all of his 7-8 shortboard heats. He finished second to Tony in the 9 & under longboard.

Jackson Bunch


“I pretty much surf every day,” Bunch said. “But not when I’m sick.”

Sophia Johnston, of Lahaina, celebrated her 13th birthday on Friday by winning the girls shortboard on Saturday. This is her final year of eligibility for surfing in the Pohai. She defeated last year’s champ, Summer Macedo, who was second.

Sophia Johnston


“I had a lot of fun,” Johnston said. “This was my last year, so winning it was awesome.

Caden Granum, of Wailea, also repeated, winning the 9 & under bodyboard.

Cade Granum


The other winners were Leo McKuin (6 & under shortboard), Marco Rista (11-12 shortboard), and Cordon Stapp (10-12 bodyboard.)

 

Results:

 

Shortboard

 

6 & under

1. Leo McGuin

2. Eric Roberson

3. Makoa Akuna

4. Keegan Hart

5. Kekoa Kiesling

6. Cash Berzolla

 

7-8 years

1. Jackson Bunch

2. Luc Guidroz

3. Seth Thompson

4. Chase Anderson

5. Ben DeWilde

6. Ty Simpson-Kane

 

9-10 years

1. Noah Hill

2. Eli Hanneman

3. Tony Nunez

4. Axel Rosenblad

5. Ocean Macedo

6. Cole Alves

 

11-12 years

1. Marco Rista

2. Payce Duryea

3. Nick Nunez

4. Alexander Strand

5. Jack Bowers

6. Ethan Anderson

 

Girls

1. Sophia Johnston

2. Summer Macedo

3. Alyson Kar

4. Emma Gomez

5. Tatiana Ringsby

6. Skyla Adelano-Howard

 

Longboard

 

9 & under

1. Tony Nunez

2. Jackson Bunch

3. Ocean Macedo

4. Ty Simpson-Kane

5. Axel Roseblad

6. Kai Jenkins

 

10-12 years

1. Nick Nunez

2. Noah Hill

3. Payce Duryea

4. Dante Silva

5. Jack Bowers

6. Summer Macedo

 

Bodyboard

 

9 & under

1. Caden Granum

2. Stryder Olsen

3. Max McKuin

4. Leo McKuin

5. Waikili Chappell

6. Jaedan Correll

 

10-12 years

1. Cordon Stapp

2. Mark Garnaas

3. Tani Kuluhiwa-Kim

4. Michael Pszyk

5. Dante Silva

6. Aukai Storer



Download a Entry Forms, HERE.