KOLOA — Long-time bodyboarder Kawika Kau’i never lost sight of the second annual Garden Island Boogie Board Classic’s underlying mission statement.
Saturday’s bodyboarding classic held at Kuhio Beach was put on to promote the sport to the island’s keiki to preserve Kaua’i’s reputation as a bodyboarding mecca.
“I just like a day at the beach with all of the local people getting together,” Kau’i said. “It is great families spending time with each other and connecting with the ocean and each other.”
Kau’i, now 31 and a Kaua’i resident, will only compete in Saturday afternoon’s competition as his one contest a year in the open men’s division.
Kau’i, a former International Boarding Association, and Hawai’i Surfing Association competitor, took advantage of this opportunity to showcase his skills and advanced to Sunday’s quarterfinal in the men’s open heat.
Kau’i’s strategy to advance to the quarterfinal round in the second heat was about timing.
“There was a nice open face wave, and I wanted to stay up and didn’t want to break behind the wave,” Kau’i said. “I kept thinking the wave was going to break, and it ended upholding.”
Kau’i stated he felt he got lucky during the second heat of the competition.
“Normally the center surf break waves kept coming in from the east side and continued breaking during the competition,” Kau’i said. “It was a weird opportunity to get a couple of good waves.”
Tragedy to triumph
For Bryce Hollis, a 17-year-old Big Island resident, participating in the Garden Island competition marked his return to the sport.
Hollis, who took a one-year hiatus from the sport to focus on his health, enjoyed competing for the first time in Kaua’i.
A year ago, Hollis suffered a traumatic experience.
During a whip out while surfing, he experienced a compound fracture in his leg and a broken wrist.
The injury was so severe he had to have a metal plate inserted into his leg.
The wound didn’t heal and became an MRSA infection. A bacterial infection usually spread by sharing personal items.
Having to have a PICC line inserted into his body so he could cure the infection took a while before he could return to the water.
Now recovered, he made the trip to Kaua’i to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday and compete in the classic, marking his return to competition.
Maintaining distance
The tournament featured 300 competitors competing in nine different skill levels, and social distancing was something event organizer Chris Burkart remained conscious of.
“We are trying our best, and we have to remind people to wear masks,” Burkart said. “People are always walking by, and we had to remind them to mask up. There were more families huddled up, and I think they are doing a good job. We have to remind people because of everyone slacks off.”
Entering Sunday’s competition, Burkart anticipates it will be easier to patrol in a sport that isn’t conducive for social distancing.
“I am happy for the turnout publicly,” Burkart said.
•••
Jason Blasco, sports reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
Super Grom (9 AND under, keiki push-in) : Round 1 : Heat 1
Moana Liddell 8.74
2.) Chloe Pascual 8.34
3.) Joshua Hamilton 8.30
4.) Thomas Hamiltion 7.80
5.) Lā’iku Reilly 7.26
6.) Amaezin Grace 5.83
Super Grom (9-AND-under, keiki push-in) Round 1 Heat 2
1.)Shiloh Hunt 13.70
2.)Laelia Valeria 7.77
3.)Nanea Trask 7.70
4.) Zion Carbonell 7.10
5.) Aukanai’i Koa 7.00
Super Grom (9 AND under, keiki push-in) Round 1 Heat 3
1.) Maiha Kjeldsen 15.33
2.) Laola Seraphin 10.86
3.) Lelehune Reilly 8.67
4.) Alexander Acob 7.60
5.) Iris Haines 5.40
Super Grom (9 AND under, keiki push-in) Semifinal Heat 1
Sun 11:12 am
Moana Liddell
Chloe Pascual
Laola Seraphin
Lelehune Reilly
Nanea Trask
Zion Carbonell
Super Grom (9-and-under, keiki push-in) Semifinal
Heat 2
Sun 11:28 am
Maiha Kjeldsen
Shiloh Hunt
Laelia Valeria
Joshua Hamilton
Thomas Hamiltion
Alexander Acob
Final
Super Grom (9 AND under, keiki push-in) Final Heat
1Sun 02:27 pm
1st From Semifinal Heat 1
1st From Semifinal Heat 2
2nd From Semifinal Heat 1
2nd From Semifinal Heat 2
3rd From Semifinal Heat 1
3rd From Semifinal Heat 2
Menehune (ages 10 – 13)Round 1 Heat 1
1.) Kona Rasmussen 9.67
2.) David O’Rourk 8.73
3.) David O’Rourke 5.40
4.) Chance Kawakami 5.07
5.) Hobie Fujimoto 3.00
Menehune (ages 10 – 13) : Round 1 Heat 2
1.) Springwater Kaulili 9.74
2.) Koa McDaniel 9.50
3.) Makoa Miguel 6.27
4.) Kaiea Nishi 5.70
5.) Lyon Foster 4.84
6.) Kyran Luis 3.70
Menehune (ages 10 – 13)
Round 1 Heat 3
1.) Aarya Tabalno 8.70
2.) Kupaa Kaiminaauao 6.27
3.) Konalu Yamamoto 5.70
4.) Travis Wood 4.10
5.) Karter Reichle 3.63
6.) Alexandra Iida 1.30
Menehune (ages 10 – 13) Round 1 Heat 4
1.) Kamaehu Kahaunaele 14.46
2.) Keanu Lanoza 8.00
3.) Keanu Lanoza 7.87
4.) Zayen Asuncion 6.20
5.) Kaden Itamura 2.50
6.) Samuel Cotter 2.30
Menehune (ages 10 – 13) Round 1 Heat 5
1.) Alex Sakamoto 8.24
2.) Hunter Aina 7.67
3.) Mikah Labuanan 6.50
4.) Shiloh Tabalno 4.77
5.) Kahanu Kahaunaele 4.40
6.) Benn Haines 3.87
Menehune (ages 10 – 13) Round 1 Heat 6
1.)Nash Burkart 11.77
2.) Koapaka Brandenburg 7.34
3.) Maddox Domingo 6.10
4.) Benjamin Kimball 5.17
5.) Layne Montemayor 3.66
6.) Ryder Harr 2.33
Quarterfinals
Menehune (ages 10 – 13) Quarterfinal Heat 7
1.) Kona Rasmussen 11.67
2.) David O’Rourke 5.67
3.) Koa McDaniel 5.50
4.) Springwater Kaulili 4.67
5.) Makoa Miguel 4.33
6.) Dailen Grace 2.00
Menehune (ages 10 – 13) :
Quarterfinal : Heat 2
Aarya Tabalno 11.93
Kamaehu Kahaunaele 9.73
Kailer Chow-Agor 8.66
Konalu Yamamoto 7.53
Kupaa Kaiminaauao 7.50
Keanu Lanoza 6.00
Menehune (ages 10 – 13) Quarterfinal Heat 3
Nash Burkart 12.83
Hunter Aina 6.33
Koapaka Brandenburg 5.34
Maddox Domingo 4.33
Alex Sakamoto 3.00
Semifinal
Kona Rasmussen
David O’Rourke
Hunter Aina
Koapaka Brandenburg
Kailer Chow-Agor
Konalu Yamamoto
Second Heat
Nash Burkart
Aarya Tabalno
Kamaehu Kahaunaele
Koa McDaniel
Springwater Kaulili
Maddox Domingo
Final
Menehune (ages 10 – 13)
Final Heat 1Sun 02:06 pm
1st From Semifinal Heat 1
1st From Semifinal Heat 2
2nd From Semifinal Heat 1
2nd From Semifinal Heat 2
3rd From Semifinal Heat 1
3rd From Semifinal Heat 2
Quarterfinal
Juniors (14 – 17) Quarterfinal Heat 1
Bryce Hollis 11.16
Kaedin Grace 8.34
Blake Heresa 7.00
Torren Domingo 5.34
Juniors (14 – 17) Quarterfinal Heat 2
George Rocha-Islas 9.84
Santiago Kirchner 9.50
Nash Burkart 7.17
Shaden Ahn 6.83
Palenapa Kaohelaulii 2.67
Juniors (14 – 17) Quarterfinal Heat 3
Mana Fujihara 10.84
Kanaloa Trask 10.03
Kaikea Simpson 9.16
Shaestin Grace 7.67
Marciano McCullah 6.16
Izaak Visitacion 1.33
Juniors (14 – 17) : Semifinal : Heat 1Sun 10:30 am
Bryce Hollis
Kaedin Grace
Kanaloa Trask
Kaikea Simpson
Nash Burkart
Shaden Ahn
Juniors (14 – 17) : Semifinal : Heat 2Sun 10:51 am
Mana Fujihara
George Rocha-Islas
Santiago Kirchner
Blake Heresa
Final
Juniors (14 – 17) Final Heat
1Sun 01:45 pm
1st From Semifinal Heat 1
1st From Semifinal Heat 2
2nd From Semifinal Heat 1
2nd From Semifinal Heat 2
3rd From Semifinal Heat 1
3rd From Semifinal Heat 2
Final
Girls (17-AND-under) Final Heat 1Sun 12:05 pm
Kailee Kaleinanialoha Gorospe
Brianna Tabayoyong
Mehana Kamalani
Kaiwi Wong
Nihiku Mamala
Kaipo’i Koa
Open Men (18+) : Round 1 : Heat 1
Open Men (18+) : Quarterfinal : Heat 1Sun 08:45 am
Travis Smith
Adam Bice
Lawrence Defontorum
Open Men (18+) : Quarterfinal : Heat 2Sun 08:03 am
Patrick Orr
Chase Wusstig
Noah Aquino
Justin Medeiros
Open Men (18+) Quarterfinal Heat 3Sun 08:24 am
Kepa Kruse
Matt Holzy
Preston Shinew
Semifinal
Open Men (18+) Semifinal Heat 1Sun 09:48 am
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 1
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 1
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 3
Open Men (18+) : Semifinal
Heat 2Sun 10:09 am
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 3
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 2
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 2
Open Men (18+) Final
Heat 1Sun 12:26 pm
1st From Semifinal Heat 1
1st From Semifinal Heat 2
2nd From Semifinal Heat 1
2nd From Semifinal Heat 2
Open Women (18+) Final Heat
1Sun 11:44 am
Lindsey Yasui
Marina Miller
Kanesa Duncan
Kawehi Louis-Diamond
Cassady Kruse
Cassandra Silva
Semifinal
Masters (35+) Semifinal
Heat 1Sun 09:06 am
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 1
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 1
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 3
Masters (35+) Semifinal
Heat 2Sun 09:27 am
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 3
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 2
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 2
Final
Masters (35+) Final Heat 1S
Sun 12:42 pm
1st From Semifinal Heat 1
1st From Semifinal Heat 2
2nd From Semifinal Heat 1
2nd From Semifinal Heat 2
Quarterfinal
Open Pro
Quarterfinal Heat
1Sun 07:00 am
Jeffrey Hubbard
Sammy Morretino
Kaolino Baker
Lanakila Dusenberry-Lee
Open Pro Quarterfinal Heat
2Sun 07:21 am
Jacob Romero
Alex Brown
Kellen Yamasaki
Matt Holzy
Open Pro Quarterfinal Heat 3
Sun 07:42 am
David Hubbard
David Phillips
Kepa Kruse
Travis Smith
Open Pro Quarterfinal Heat 4
Sun 08:03 am
Kawika Rohr-Kamai
Mack Crilley
Chris Burkart
Drake Humiston
Semifinal
Open Pro Semifinal Heat 1
Sun 09:48 am
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 1
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 2
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 1
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 2
Open Pro Semifinal Heat 2
Sun 10:09 am
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 4
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 3
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 4
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 3
Final
Open Pro Final Heat 1
Sun 01:03 pm
1st From Semifinal Heat 1
1st From Semifinal Heat 2
2nd From Semifinal Heat 1
2nd From Semifinal Heat 2
Quarterfinal
DK Pro Quarterfinal Heat 1
Sun 08:24 am
David Hubbard
David Phillips
Kaolino Baker
Cole Peralto
DK Pro Quarterfinal Heat 2
Sun 08:45 am
Jacob Pembrook
Kellen Yamasaki
Mack Crilley
Cody Mailou-Kauai
DK Pro Quarterfinal Heat 3
Sun 09:06 am
Kawika Rohr-Kamai
Kaleo Hudz
Abe Balmores
Josh Trotter
DK Pro Quarterfinal Heat 4
Sun 09:27 am
Justin Cadiente
Justin Medeiros
Kaimani Harris
Sammy Morretino
Semifinal
DK Pro Semifinal Heat 1
Sun 10:30 am
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 1
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 2
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 1
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 2
DK Pro Semifinal Heat 2
Sun 10:51 am
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 4
1st From Quarterfinal Heat 3
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 4
2nd From Quarterfinal Heat 3
Final
DK Pro Final Heat
1Sun 01:24 pm
1st From Semifinal Heat 1
1st From Semifinal Heat 2
2nd From Semifinal Heat 1
2nd From Semifinal Heat 2
