<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Kelis Kaleopa’a</strong> (HAW) and<strong> Kai Sallas </strong>(HAW) have claimed victories at the <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/543782/whos-in-local-motion-surf-into-summer-at-home-in-the-hawaiian-islands" target="_blank">Local Motion Surf Into Summer At Home In The Hawaiian Islands</a>, a Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Longboard Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000, in pristine three-to-five-foot conditions at the famed Ala Moana Bowls. A pivotal day also crowned Sallas and<strong> Sive Jarrard </strong>(HAW) the 2024/2025 Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Regional Longboard winners as Jarrard rejoins the WSL Longboard Tour. Also, <strong>Sophia Culhane </strong>(HAW) earned a runner-up finish ahead of her 2025 World Title campaign kicking off later in the summer alongside <strong>Nelson Ahina III </strong>(HAW), who qualifies for the WSL Longboard Tour after back-to-back runner-up results. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Kaleopa’a and Sallas Add Second Surf Into Summer Title to Their Resume</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another impeccable Waikīkī sweep of the Local Motion Surf Into Summer At Home In The Hawaiian Islands was complete courtesy of WSL Longboard Tour standouts <strong>Kelis Kaleopa’a </strong>(HAW) and 2023 WSL Longboard Champion <strong>Kai Sallas</strong> (HAW). This marks Kaleopa’a and Sallas’ second win at Ala Moana Bowls, adding to the legacy of the event’s history as both prepare for the 2025 season among the world’s best longboarders. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kaleopa’a, 20, continues to show she remains one of the WSL Longboard Tour’s elite each year and reinforced that with a dominant performance in today’s Final for her second event win. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Going back-to-back at this event at home is super special. This is my first event in about nine or ten months and it's been quite a harder year for me so this win feels really good,” said Kaleopa’a. “It's also one of my favorite events just for the reason that everyone who competes in it grew up here. It's not that serious and just supporting one another is also really special. This is the first event of this season and I'm glad it went really well and was moreso just to get my feet and my mind back into the competition mode.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The women’s Final featured Kaleopa’a taking on fellow WSL Longboard Tour contenders <strong>Sophia Culhane</strong> (HAW) and <strong>Natalia Wunderlich </strong>(HAW) alongside former WSL Longboard World Champion <strong>Summer Romero</strong> (USA). A brilliant start for Kaleopa’a left the field chasing her 15.60 (out of a possible 20) heat total after showcasing brilliant nose rides and flow through pulsing Ala Moana Bowls conditions. Wunderlich and Culhane’s 6-point rides kept them in the hunt heading into the final minutes. Then, Kaleopa’a’s fellow Waikīkī standout, Culhane, had one last opportunity to earn the 9.17 (out of a possible 10) required but fell just short with a 7.77 to crown Kaleopa’a the event victor once again. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For Sallas, a second event win earned him the 2024/2025 Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui season sweep for a second Regional Longboard victory. The 44-year-old South Shore icon, Sallas’ form in the last three years has been nothing but dominant with three regional victories and the 2023 World Longboard Title. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I'm super stoked to compete in these WSL regional events, and it's just always nice to compete at home. It's super special because the waves are absolutely firing so that was a stacked Final and stoked to get that win,” said Sallas. “Winning the Haleʻiwa event and this one, getting the regional title, I can walk away with confidence heading back to the Tour. I feel good, I feel confident and I'm just stoked.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A clash of WSL Longboard Tour talents unfolded in the men’s Final with Sallas taking on perennial World Title contender <strong>Kaniela Stewart</strong> (HAW), 2024 WSL Longboard Tour No. 3<strong> John Michael Van Hohenstein</strong> (HAW) and former WSL Longboard Tour competitor <strong>Nelson Ahina III</strong> (HAW). A world-class showcase of nose riding and footwork from Sallas and Stewart started off the Final with Sallas posting a 7.90 and Stewart’s excellent 7.17. Ahina III answered with an excellent 7.00 along with Van Hohenstein’s 8.17. But, Sallas kept finding his form to post another 7.90 and regain the lead before Ahina III’s 8.77 put him back into the heat. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, it was not enough after Sallas’ near-perfect 9.33, the day's highest single-wave score, all but sealed a masterful win. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Sophia Culhane and Nelson Ahina III Earn Runner-up Finishes, Ahina III Joins WSL Longboard Tour</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For <strong>Nelson Ahina III</strong> (HAW), a brilliant resurgence on among the longboard contingent earned him the 2025 WSL Longboard Tour qualification spot. Back-to-back Final appearances and runner-up finishes put Ahina III back on the watch list after last competing for a World Title in 2016, as he returns among the world’s best with his formidable power and flow to test them across the globe. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I'm kind of just soaking it in right now, but it feels so special to be on the WSL Longboard Tour. I worked so hard to get here, and the mentality is up and down like a rollercoaster ride, but I'm just happy right now,” said Ahina III. “I'm stoked to see how everybody surfs again on the Tour and get that mindset back. Hopefully I can get in tune and make it all the way to the last stop and go for that World Title." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A now perennial World Title contender <strong>Sophia Culhane</strong> (HAW) nearly returned atop the podium at Ala Moana Bowls for a second victory all her own. Culhane’s form through Finals Day reminded the field of her world-class style and poise as she now prepares to take on the world’s best on the 2025 WSL Longboard Tour after finishing No. 8 in the world last season.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“It's super special, and I look forward to this event every year, especially living just down the road. I just want to thank WSL, Local Motion, and everyone for putting on an amazing event,” said Culhane. “I'm really looking forward to all the stops this year. They're all amazing, and getting to travel with my friends is the best, and I can't wait to surf some great waves.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Sive Jarrard Rejoins World’s Best Longboarders with Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Regional Win</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">An incredible season for <strong>Sive Jarrard</strong> (ASM) catapulted her to a Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Regional Longboard victory and back among the WSL Longboard Tour after falling off in 2024. Jarrard’s composure under pressure earned her a victory at The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haliewa Pro, and her Quarterfinal success today sealed her as the regional qualifier. With Kaleopa’a’s win, Jarrard remained atop the rankings to claim her first regional victory. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I can't believe it, it's so exciting. That was my goal this year, to qualify, so I feel so blessed,” said Jarrard. “Bowls was so good today, it was firing all day, and to prepare myself for the Tour, I'm just going to keep surfing and keep having fun. I just want to say thank you to my sponsors and all my family. Especially my sister Lucy and brother John for always inspiring me and pushing me to be better at surfing, I couldn't have done it without them.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 2025 WSL Longboard Tour kicks off at the Huntington Longboard Classic, beginning July 26 through 30. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Final 2024/2025 Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Women’s Longboard Regional Rankgs:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Sive Jarrard (ASM)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. Sophia Culhane (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. Natalia Wunderlich (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. Kelis Kaleopa’a (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Final 2024/2025 Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Men’s Longboard Regional Rankgs:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Kai Sallas (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. Nelson Ahina III (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. Scotty Fong Jr. (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Local Motion Surf Into Summer Women’s Final Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 - Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 15.60</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Sophia Culhane (HAW) 14.20</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 - Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) 13.30</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4 - Summer Romero (USA) 9.00</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Local Motion Surf Into Summer Men’s Final Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 - Kai Sallas (HAW) 17.23 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Nelson III Ahina (HAW) 15.77</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 - John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 15.37</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4 - Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 14.14</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Local Motion Surf Into Summer Women’s Semifinals Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Summer Romero (USA) 11.83 DEF. Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) 11.83, Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 10.26, Sive Jarrard (ASM) 8.00</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 15.33 DEF. Sophia Culhane (HAW) 11.00, Keani Canullo (HAW) 10.13, Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW) 8.60</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Local Motion Surf Into Summer Men’s Semifinals Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Kai Sallas (HAW) 16.80 DEF. Nelson III Ahina (HAW) 15.17, Ethan Speltz (USA) 14.60, Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 14.23</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 14.10 DEF. John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 12.90, Kaimana Domen (USA) 10.20, Kalanoweo Desoto (HAW) 8.03</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Local Motion Surf Into Summer Women’s Quarterfinals Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 10.17 DEF. Summer Romero (USA) 8.40, Kaiya Oliva (USA) 6.50, Nique Miller (USA) 5.33</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) 11.40 DEF. Sive Jarrard (ASM) 9.97, Bella Eberz (HAW) 8.13, Sarasa Ishibashi (HAW) 4.93</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Sophia Culhane (HAW) 10.94 DEF. Keani Canullo (HAW) 10.50, Hanae Rose (USA) 6.73, Coral Sallas (USA) 5.13</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 14.50 DEF. Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW) 11.17, Sheadyn Friel (HAW) 8.43, Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA) 7.57</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Local Motion Surf Into Summer Men’s Quarterfinal Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Kai Sallas (HAW) 14.17 DEF. Ethan Speltz (USA) 12.23, Zachary Newton (HAW) 9.23, Keone Young (HAW) 7.50</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 12.87 DEF. Nelson III Ahina (HAW) 10.53, Gabriel Nascimento (BRA) 8.66, Kala Willard (HAW) 4.87</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 12.97 DEF. Kaimana Domen (USA) 10.67, Matthew Vasquez (USA) 10.00, Scotty Fong Jr (HAW) 7.50</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 14.10 DEF. Kalanoweo Desoto (HAW) 11.17, Eizen Grace (HAW) 9.43, Peter. Tahutini. (PYF) 8.70</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Local Motion Surf Into Summer Women’s Round of 18 Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Summer Romero (USA) 8.16 DEF. Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA) 7.60, Joie Kaiu (USA) 7.27, Puaiohi DeFries (HAW) 6.83</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Local Motion Surf Into Summer Men’s Round of 24 Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Ethan Speltz (USA) 12.57 DEF. Gabriel Nascimento (BRA) 11.00, Esteban Nuñez (MEX) 8.80, Kaimana Banes (HAW) 7.54</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Kala Willard (HAW) 12.40 DEF. Zachary Newton (HAW) 9.94, Moana Domenech (PYF) 9.60, Tony Brigante (HAW) 6.10</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Matthew Vasquez (USA) 12.57 DEF. Peter. Tahutini. (PYF) 9.60, Yoshiaki Uchimura (JPN) 7.56, Micah Desoto (HAW) 6.56</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: Eizen Grace (HAW) 12.47 DEF. Kaimana Domen (USA) 10.90, Kaeo Skeele (HAW) 6.63, Logan Turick (CAN) 4.03</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">www.WorldSurfLeague.com</a>.</div>