Sive Jarrard (ASM) and Nelson Ahina III (HAW) emerged victorious at the HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro, a men’s and women’s World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 2,000-level event and Regional Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 1,000-level event, to take control of the Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Regional Longboard rankings. Pristine, three-to-five-foot wave faces provided ample opportunity for the region’s top longboard talents to showcase their style and footwork, with Jarrard and Ahina III rising to the top.
Jarrard Successfully Defends Her Haleʻiwa Crown
After a brilliant run through the 2024/2025 season, Sive Jarrard (ASM) asserted herself as one of the region’s next threats with a maiden in Haleʻiwa last year before backing it up at Ala Moana Bowls to qualify for the WSL Longboard Tour. Despite a tough year among the world’s best, Jarrard returned to the region to show she’s still the one to beat with consecutive wins at the famed lineup of Haleʻiwa.
“Starting off at No. 1 feels good, and I’m just excited to get back into the groove of surfing contests,” said Jarrard. “I’m so happy to have the blessing to come back to this iconic event. I love Haleʻiwa, it’s such a beautiful wave. I didn’t even know I scored a 7.83 when it happened, but I’m so happy the wave came through. I knew I needed a huge score, and the Lord delivered. I’m really excited for the rest of this season.”
Pictured: Jarrard started her Finals Day run with a Quarterfinal win and didn’t slow down until she topped the podium. Credit: WSL/ Heff
The women’s Final featured proven contender, 2025 WSL Longboard Tour rookie, Sive Jarrard (ASM), perennial QS and LQS threat Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW), 2025 Longboard Tour wildcard Cash Hoover (USA), and breakthrough talent Alana Johnson (HAW). Jarrard’s early start helped push her to the lead ahead of Hoover’s opening wave, but Johnson found a solid opportunity to show her style and flow, posting a 6.07 (out of a possible 10) to overtake Jarrard’s two-wave total. Jarrard and Hoover found another exchange, with Jarrard finding a quick but critical nose ride to post a 5.83 alongside Hoover’s 6.60. But, Johnson’s form was hard to beat, as she then found another late afternoon to post a 6.67 for a solid lead over the field.
In the dying minutes, Jarrard found the wave of the heat and surfed it to its potential to post a near-excellent 7.83 to take the lead and successfully defend her event title.
Ahina III Takes Down Elite Final For Maiden WSL Victory
Nelson Ahina III (HAW) has showed he’s one of the island’s premier talents, but only recently made his resurgence among the WSL’s elite. Kauaʻi’s Ahina III earned a runner-up at this event in 2024 before following up with another second-place finish, both to Kai Sallas (HAW), at the Local Motion Surf Into Summer which qualified him for the 2025 WSL Longboard Tour. Now, with a maiden WSL win to his name, Ahina III prepares to defend that No. 1 spot to requalify.
“A win is the best feeling. Something that takes a long time to soak in my head, and I’m sure tomorrow I’ll feel so much the moment of what just happened,” said Ahina III. “You can learn so much from everyone in the event, and everyone has a very special feature to bring. In my eyes, anyone can be the world’s best, but it’s on God’s time. The world’s best can bring the best in you, so I thank them all.”
Pictured: Ahina III’s first-career WSL win showed he’s far from done among the region’s best. Credit: WSL/ Heff
The region’s best of the best encompassed the Final with defending event victor and 2023 World Longboard Champion Kai Sallas (HAW) facing multi-World Longboard Title contender Kaniela Stewart (HAW), 2025 Longboard Tour rookie Nelson Ahina III (HAW), and Tahiti’s in-form Moana Domenech (PYF). Ahina III found the first wave of substance and showcased his ability on the nose before laying into two solid rail gauges to post a 7.17. Minimal scores from Sallas and Domenech held a slight advantage over Stewart before he found an opportunity to find an extended nose ride before transitioning to a finishing cutback, posting a 6.93. But, Ahina III kept his composure and answered with a 6.17 to push his lead heading into the last half of the heat before Stewart nearly took the lead, posting a 6.83.
Then, under the five-minute mark, Ahina III sealed his maiden victory with an excellent 8.67 and take over the rankings in the process after starting his surge in the Round of 20.
“The Tour is definitely a place of humbling, intimidation, and growth. From this event I learned to believe in myself, which is teaching me to grow as a competitor. Although wins can feel so good, my runner-up or early elimination results taught me a lot more about myself and in competition.”
Pictured: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) provided his signature style and flow from start to finish. Credit: WSL/ Heff
Kaniela Stewart and Alana Johnson Claim Pivotal Runner-up Finishes
A dominant showcase from Kaniela Stewart (HAW) in his Quarterfinal debut earned one of the day’s best single-wave scores of an 8.83. The perennial World Longboard Title contender, Stewart, fell out of rhythm among the world’s best in 2025 to finish No. 12 on the rankings and now looks to bounce back among the region’s best. But another display of his signature style and poise in the Semifinals reminded spectators of his world-class abilities, posting a 15.27 heat total to slide toward the Final and earn a marquee runner-up result to remain in contention for requalification.
“This result means a lot to me, especially trying to requalify for the Longboard Tour. From here I just have to keep the confidence up and keep surfing, training, and hopefully get back there,” said Stewart. “It sucks having to requalify for the Tour, but at the same time, I’m stoked we have multiple events to do so means a lot. It’s awesome to have everyone from town make the journey and come to the North Shore. I have all my friends and family, and I got to see my brother, who lives out here. I’m so stoked to have everyone together and have a great event. Big thank you to my sponsors, Kai Sallas, Tenore, and DNA, who I’ve been training with a lot, it just really helps to have all of them and build that momentum.”
Pictured: Alana Johnson (HAW) put on a showcase toward her maiden WSL Final. Credit: WSL/ Heff
An incredible showing for Alana Johnson (HAW), 18, catapulted her to No. 2 on the rankings to start the 2025/2026 season. Johnson earned her first-ever WSL Final appearance after advancing behind Longboard Tour standout Sophia Culhane (HAW) before besting her in the Semifinals alongside Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW). Johnson’s showing in the Final had her at the early lead before Jarrard’s remarkable comeback, and now Johnson prepares for another opportunity at Ala Moana Bowls.
“It means a lot to make it to the Finals. This is my first WSL Final that I’ve made and it means a lot to get these points toward qualifying for the Longboard Tour,” said Johnson. “Hopefully, I can do well at Bowls and make another Final. This is a big confidence booster and I’m stoked to be ranked second right now. I just want to keep the momentum going and I’m super happy with how the contest went, and the results.”
Event organizers have called QS competition OFF for Wednesday, December 3, and will reconvene on Thursday, December 4, at 7:00 a.m. HST to determine the next call.
The HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro QS 2,000 and LQS 1,000 event runs through December 7, 2025. Competition will run on the best four days of the event window with the LQS 1,000 as a one-day event.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Longboard Women’s Final Results:
1 – Sive Jarrard (ASM) 13.66
2 – Alana Johnson (HAW) 12.74
3 – Cash Hoover (USA) 11.57
4 – Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW) 6.83
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Longboard Men’s Final Results:
1 – Nelson Ahina III (HAW) 15.84
2 – Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 13.76
3 – Kai Sallas (HAW) 11.73
4 – Moana Domenech (PYF) 10.90
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Longboard Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Alana Johnson (HAW) 12.10 DEF. Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW) 8.96, Sophia Culhane (HAW) 7.74, Kaiya Oliva (USA) 4.30
HEAT 2: Cash Hoover (USA) 9.00 DEF. Sive Jarrard (ASM) 7.30, Bella Eberz (HAW) 7.27, Hanae Rose (USA) 4.24
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Longboard Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 15.27 DEF. Nelson Ahina III (HAW) 11.70, Gabriel Nascimento (BRA) 10.50, Shane Stedman (USA) 7.93
HEAT 2: Kai Sallas (HAW) 15.14 DEF. Moana Domenech (PYF) 14.13, Micah Desoto (HAW) 8.17, Kalanoweo Desoto (HAW) 4.27
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Longboard Women’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Sophia Culhane (HAW) 15.33 DEF. Alana Johnson (HAW) 12.50, Sarasa Ishibashi (HAW) 7.17
HEAT 2: Kaiya Oliva (USA) 11.13 DEF. Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW) 8.40, Sheadyn Friel (HAW) 3.67, Elizabeth Weitz (HAW) 3.37
HEAT 3: Sive Jarrard (ASM) 12.66 DEF. Bella Eberz (HAW) 11.57, Puaiohi DeFries (HAW) 10.93, Sally Cohen (HAW) 8.70
HEAT 4: Cash Hoover (USA) 16.07 DEF. Hanae Rose (USA) 11.00, Lotus Manatad-Watson (HAW) 5.67, Raquel Heckert (BRA) 4.04
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Longboard Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 15.66 DEF. Nelson Ahina III (HAW) 13.30, Tony Brigante (HAW) 7.53, Yoshiaki Uchimura (JPN) 7.03
HEAT 2: Gabriel Nascimento (BRA) 9.50 DEF. Shane Stedman (USA) 6.93, Keone Young (HAW) 2.57, Logan Turick (CAN) 2.47
HEAT 3: Moana Domenech (PYF) 10.23 DEF. Kalanoweo Desoto (HAW) 9.93, Zachary Newton (HAW) 9.60, Kaiwa Foster (HAW) 6.90
HEAT 4: Kai Sallas (HAW) 15.83 DEF. Micah Desoto (HAW) 9.34, Jameson Roller (USA) 7.60, Stephen Haugse (HAW) 2.06
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Longboard Men’s Round of 20 Results:
HEAT 1: Nelson Ahina III (HAW) 11.57 DEF. Shane Stedman (USA) 11.00, Bode Davis (HAW) 7.64, Luke Redmond (AUS) 7.10
HEAT 2: Kaiwa Foster (HAW) 11.00 DEF. Jameson Roller (USA) 10.83, Chad Biggs (USA) 8.53, Ryan Muller (USA) 4.70
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