Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) and Finn McGill (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, after Sive Jarrard (ASM) and Nelson Ahina III (HAW) earned their wins in the longboard earlier this week. Johnson and McGill stood apart in pumping, six-to-eight-foot wave faces in a building swell that peaked at ten-to-twelve-foot wave faces in the Final.
Johnson Reestablishes Herself as Queen of Haleʻiwa
After 2021, when the Challenger Series first hit Haleʻiwa, Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) fulfilled her legacy as one of the town’s own and claimed a major victory, eventually helping her qualify for the Championship Tour (CT). Since, Johnson has become one of the Tour’s elite with multiple CT victories, a recent World Title showdown appearance, and earned her place at the forefront of leading women’s charging to new heights with her showcases at Pipeline, Tahiti, and now adds another Haleʻiwa win to her name after an unbelievable performance throughout Finals Day.
“After the runner-up last year, I was definitely more fired up to get it this year. I’m super grateful to be able to compete at home when the waves were really good, and just happy to show my surfing in my hometown,” said Johnson. “A win is amazing. It always helps the confidence, but I’m really excited to carry that into the next season and out at Pipe soon. It’s going to be amazing to be back in the jersey at Pipe, and hopefully the girls get some good waves, and we’re just taking turns getting drained.”
Pictured: Bettylou Sakura Johnson’s (HAW) Final performance was one for the ages. Credit: WSL/ Heff
The women’s Final was nothing short of world-class. Five-time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Carissa Moore (HAW), 2025 Rookie of the Year Erin Brooks (CAN), recent World Title contender and decorated CTer Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), plus former Pipe Pro CT winner and current Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui No. 1 Moana Jones Wong (HAW) squared off in pumping conditions. A slow start gave way to jaw-dropping fireworks from Johnson, unleashing her forehand attack to post an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10) after Brooks broke her board early on in the heat. Then, Moore was able to find her opportunity and posted an 8.20 of her own. Following one of the biggest sets of the day, more waves pulsed into the lineup, and Johnson locked into another proper set wave where she attacked with her vicious forehand once more and dropped a 9.47 to put the field into a combination situation heading into the final minutes.
Moore was able to break the combination with an 8.40 toward the end, but Johnson held firm and kept the event title on home soil.
McGill Goes Near-Perfect to Claim Incredible, Back-to-Back 2025 Wins
One of the North Shore’s perennial QS contenders, Finn McGill (HAW) has now established himself as a force to be reckoned with after his third-career QS win in a calendar year. McGill, 25, recently won the Sunset Pro to kickstart the region’s three-event conclusion to the 2025 season and now reinforces his lead as No. 1. A former World Junior Champion, McGill now sets his sights on the Florence Pipe Pro Presented by HTA to sweep the North Shore events and seal his place back among the Challenger Series elite in 2026.
“I’m just absolutely stoked. It was such a crazy Final with me, Barron, Ian, who were just on the CT this year, and Shion, and any of us could win. Shion deserves to be on the CT, so it’s crazy to have this contest at home and just to have one of those Finals with just waves, waves, waves,” said McGill. “It’s literally everything a surfer can ask for, and it happened. The last time I won out here, I think I was 10 years old, and I won against Barron (laughs). I was in fourth priority and a four wave set came, I just turned on it and I just said let’s have some fun, and I got that 9.73. Let’s go do Pipe now (laughs).”
Pictured: Finn McGill’s (HAW) absurd Finals Day showing included multiple excellent scores from start to finish. Credit: WSL/ Heff
Another stacked Final featured multi-CT victor Barron Mamiya (HAW), 2023 Rookie of the Year Ian Gentil (HAW), Challenger Series contender Shion Crawford (HAW), and current regional No. 1 Finn McGill (HAW), who was fresh off a Sunset Pro win. Gentil wasted no time laying into yet another excellent score on his Finals Day surge, posting an 8.77 to set the pace. But, Mamiya and McGill weren’t far behind, posting a 7.53 and 7.83, respectively, on the next exchange with Crawford looking to break through. But, Gentil didn’t stop swinging along with Crawford, both posting mid-seven-point rides for Gentil to take control of the heat before Mamiya unleashed more of his world-class forehand to post an 8.00.
Mamiya, needing an 8.08, found another opportunity to strike but fell just short of the requirement ahead of McGill, who then on to showcase his power and precision on a Haleʻiwa wall to post a near-perfect 9.73. But, it wasn’t over as Gentil and Mamiya were able to strike close to the dying moments as Mamiya laid into more of his power before an impressive air-reverse to post a 9.00, though he needed a 9.56 and McGill emerged victorious.
Pictured: A warm welcome back to WSL competition for Carissa Moore (HAW) ended with a brilliant runner-up finish. Credit: WSL/ Heff
Five-Time World Champion Carissa Moore and CT Standout Barron Mamiya Earn Runner-up
When the North Shore turns on, it brings out the best in Hawaiʻi’s contenders, and the field brought more incredible performances throughout Finals Day from Joshua Moniz’s (HAW) 9.83 to Erin Brooks’ (CAN) 9.50, and more. But, making her magnificent return to WSL competition, Carissa Moore (HAW) put on a world-class showcase in her Semifinal bout to post a 17.03 (out of a possible 20) heat total before finishing runner-up to Johnson in the Final. The five-time World Champion and former Olympic Gold Medalist, Moore, now prepares for more to close out 2025.
“I’m so grateful to make the Finals at this event, my first event back and being in the jersey since the Olympics and becoming a mom. I wasn’t sure how it was all going to go so to make the Final it gives me some confidence moving forward,” said Moore. “It’s seriously a dream come true having my husband and my daughter on the beach. There for a good luck kiss and greet me when I come in win or lose, it really has become the biggest blessing to become a mom. It’s so cool to see consistency of events back here on the North Shore to support the local surfers, it’s such a breeding ground for talent to get them into the Challenger Series and the CT.”
Pictured: Barron Mamiya (HAW) overpowered his way through Finals Day for a runner-up finish. Credit: WSL/ Heff
After a 10-point ride from Barron Mamiya (HAW) in the Round of 64 reset the scale, the North Shore’s own continued to post ridiculous performances, even while feeling under the weather following the run of swell. Mamiya opened with an 8.33 in his Round of 32 before posting a 15.83 heat total in the Quarterfinals. But, an immaculate 18.20 heat total highlighted Finals Day, entering the Final where he finished runner-up to McGill, and now locks in for another run at Pipe.
“It’s sick to make a Final again. And to surf Haleʻiwa with no one out is always a good time,” said Mamiya. “I had a good time and wish I could’ve won. But, it’s all good. I feel like I put on a good performance so I feel good about about that.”
Pictured: The ultimate proving ground of Pipeline now awaits at the Florence Pipe Pro Presented by HTA. Credit: WSL/ Keoki
Florence Pipe Pro Presented by HTA Set to Conclude Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui QS Season
The Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui season comes down to one final event toward Challenger Series qualification, and the Florence Pipe Pro Presented by HTA will provide the ultimate stage December 10 through 20, 2025. Another world-class field awaits an expanded, four-day event running period to include more competitors in the draw at surfing’s mecca. From World Champions John John Florence (HAW) and Carissa Moore (HAW) to the region’s premier contenders looking to stake their claim at Pipeline, it’s all set to unfold on a live broadcast provided by Salt + Air, plus supporting sponsor H20 Audio.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Women’s QS Rankings:
1 – Moana Jones Wong (HAW)
2 – Kiara Goold (PYF)
3 – Aelan Vaast (PYF)
4 – Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW)
Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Men’s QS Rankings:
1 – Finn McGill (HAW)
2 – Mihimana Braye (PYF)
3 – Barron Mamiya (HAW)
4 – Joshua Moniz (HAW)
5 – Oliver Zeitz (NDL)
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Women’s Final Results:
1 – Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 18.30
2 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.60
3 – Erin Brooks (CAN) 11.66
4 – Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 9.60
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Men’s Final Results:
1 – Finn McGill (HAW) 17.56
2 – Barron Mamiya (HAW) 17.00
3 – Ian Gentil (HAW) 16.34
4 – Shion Crawford (HAW) 14.24
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 17.03 DEF. Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 14.17, Luana Silva (BRA) 11.23, Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) 9.30
HEAT 2: Erin Brooks (CAN) 16.50 DEF. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 15.90, Zoie Zietz (NLD) 14.20, Skai Suitt (HAW) 8.40
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Barron Mamiya (HAW) 18.20 DEF. Ian Gentil (HAW) 17.17, Joshua Moniz (HAW) 16.00, Kai Martin (HAW) 14.84
HEAT 2: Finn McGill (HAW) 16.60 DEF. Shion Crawford (HAW) 16.50, Mihimana Braye (PYF) 14.76, Jackson Bunch (HAW) 12.94
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Joshua Moniz (HAW) 17.37 DEF. Ian Gentil (HAW) 16.34, Luke Tema (HAW) 13.54, Oliver Zietz (NLD) 11.40
HEAT 2: Barron Mamiya (HAW) 15.83 DEF. Kai Martin (HAW) 13.13, Eala Stewart (HAW) 12.50, Tama Hannemann (HAW)
HEAT 3: Jackson Bunch (HAW) 16.27 DEF. Shion Crawford (HAW) 16.23, Cody Young (HAW) 16.17, Tereva David (PYF) 12.24
HEAT 4: Finn McGill (HAW) 17.66 DEF. Mihimana Braye (PYF) 12.50, Shayden Pacarro (HAW) 11.60, Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 4.43
HTA HIC Haleʻiwa Pro Men’s Round of 32 Results:
HEAT 1: Ian Gentil (HAW) 14.27 DEF. Kai Martin (HAW) 13.83, Eli Hanneman (HAW) 13.26, Diego Ferri (HAW) 10.70
HEAT 2: Joshua Moniz (HAW) 14.20 DEF. Tama Hannemann (HAW) 9.60, Steve Roberson (HAW) 6.83, Kingston Panebianco (HAW) 5.80
HEAT 3: Eala Stewart (HAW) 10.67 DEF. Luke Tema (HAW) 10.66, Benji Brand (HAW) 9.76, Thatcher Johnson (HAW) 7.57
HEAT 4: Barron Mamiya (HAW) 13.20 DEF. Oliver Zietz (NLD) 12.50, Logan Bediamol (HAW) 9.90, Kiron Jabour (HAW) 6.33
HEAT 5: Jackson Bunch (HAW) 13.90 DEF. Shayden Pacarro (HAW) 11.50, Luke Swanson (HAW) 9.30, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 0.51
HEAT 6: Cody Young (HAW) 13.27 DEF. Finn McGill (HAW) 12.03, Eimeo Czermak (PYF) 10.80, Evan Valiere (HAW) 8.10
HEAT 7: Mihimana Braye (PYF) 14.50 DEF. Tereva David (PYF) 10.16, Kainalu McCormick (HAW) 9.87, Sam Debonet (USA) 9.50
HEAT 8: Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 17.33 DEF. Shion Crawford (HAW) 16.23, Rylan Beavers (HAW) 15.70, Nalu Deodato (HAW) 9.60
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