Sophia Culhane and Nelson Ahina III Earn Runner-up Finishes, Ahina III Joins WSL Longboard Tour

Sive Jarrard Rejoins World’s Best Longboarders with Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Regional Win

ALA MOANA BOWLS, O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi (Monday, June 9, 2025) – Today, Kelis Kaleopa’a (HAW) and Kai Sallas (HAW) claimed victories at the Local Motion Surf Into Summer At Home In The Hawaiian Islands, 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 Sive Jarrard (HAW) the 2024/2025 Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Regional Longboard winners as Jarrard rejoins the WSL Longboard Tour. Also, Sophia Culhane (HAW) earned a runner-up finish ahead of her 2025 World Title campaign kicking off later in the summer alongside Nelson Ahina III (HAW), who qualifies for the WSL Longboard Tour after back-to-back runner-up results.

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 Kelis Kaleopa’a (HAW) and 2023 WSL Longboard Champion Kai Sallas (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.

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.

“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.”

“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.”

A clash of WSL Longboard Tour talents unfolded in the men’s Final with Sallas taking on perennial World Title contender Kaniela Stewart (HAW), 2024 WSL Longboard Tour No. 3 John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) and former WSL Longboard Tour competitor Nelson Ahina III (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.

However, it was not enough after Sallas’ near-perfect 9.33, the day’s highest single-wave score, all but sealed a masterful win.

For Nelson Ahina III (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.

“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.”

“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.”

An incredible season for Sive Jarrard (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.

“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.”

The 2025 WSL Longboard Tour kicks off at the Huntington Longboard Classic, beginning July 26 through 30.

Final 2024/2025 Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Men’s Longboard Regional Rankings:
1. Kai Sallas (HAW)
2. Nelson Ahina III (HAW)
3. John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW)
4. Scotty Fong Jr. (HAW)

Local Motion Surf Into Summer Women’s Final Results:
1 – Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 15.60
2 – Sophia Culhane (HAW) 14.20
3 – Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) 13.30
4 – Summer Romero (USA) 9.00

Local Motion Surf Into Summer Men’s Final Results:
1 – Kai Sallas (HAW) 17.23
2 – Nelson III Ahina (HAW) 15.77
3 – John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 15.37
4 – Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 14.14

Local Motion Surf Into Summer Women’s Semifinals Results:
HEAT 1: Summer Romero (USA) 11.83 DEF. Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) 11.83, Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 10.26, Sive Jarrard (ASM) 8.00
HEAT 2: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 15.33 DEF. Sophia Culhane (HAW) 11.00, Keani Canullo (HAW) 10.13, Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW) 8.60

Local Motion Surf Into Summer Men’s Semifinals Results:
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
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

Local Motion Surf Into Summer Women’s Quarterfinals Results:
HEAT 1: Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 10.17 DEF. Summer Romero (USA) 8.40, Kaiya Oliva (USA) 6.50, Nique Miller (USA) 5.33
HEAT 2: Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) 11.40 DEF. Sive Jarrard (ASM) 9.97, Bella Eberz (HAW) 8.13, Sarasa Ishibashi (HAW) 4.93
HEAT 3: Sophia Culhane (HAW) 10.94 DEF. Keani Canullo (HAW) 10.50, Hanae Rose (USA) 6.73, Coral Sallas (USA) 5.13
HEAT 4: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 14.50 DEF. Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW) 11.17, Sheadyn Friel (HAW) 8.43, Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA) 7.57

Local Motion Surf Into Summer Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Kai Sallas (HAW) 14.17 DEF. Ethan Speltz (USA) 12.23, Zachary Newton (HAW) 9.23, Keone Young (HAW) 7.50
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
HEAT 3: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 12.97 DEF. Kaimana Domen (USA) 10.67, Matthew Vasquez (USA) 10.00, Scotty Fong Jr (HAW) 7.50
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

Local Motion Surf Into Summer Women’s Round of 18 Results:
HEAT 1: Summer Romero (USA) 8.16 DEF. Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA) 7.60, Joie Kaiu (USA) 7.27, Puaiohi DeFries (HAW) 6.83

Local Motion Surf Into Summer Men’s Round of 24 Results:
HEAT 1: Ethan Speltz (USA) 12.57 DEF. Gabriel Nascimento (BRA) 11.00, Esteban Nuñez (MEX) 8.80, Kaimana Banes (HAW) 7.54
HEAT 2: Kala Willard (HAW) 12.40 DEF. Zachary Newton (HAW) 9.94, Moana Domenech (PYF) 9.60, Tony Brigante (HAW) 6.10
HEAT 3: Matthew Vasquez (USA) 12.57 DEF. Peter. Tahutini. (PYF) 9.60, Yoshiaki Uchimura (JPN) 7.56, Micah Desoto (HAW) 6.56
HEAT 4: Eizen Grace (HAW) 12.47 DEF. Kaimana Domen (USA) 10.90, Kaeo Skeele (HAW) 6.63, Logan Turick (CAN) 4.03

For more information, please visit www.WorldSurfLeague.com.