After their heartbreaking loss to Hi-Tech Surf Sports in 2018, Hawaiian Island Creations (HIC) of Kailua has officially won the 2019 Hawaiian regional title to secure a spot in the Oakley Surf Shop Challenge National Championship event at Playa Colorado in Nicaragua.<br /><br />Conditions were clean with 2-3ft waves at Ala Moana Bowls on Oahu’s South Shore for stop five of the 2019 Oakley Surf Shop Challenge series. <br /><br />Round one saw eleven teams battle it out for the four coveted spots in the finals. Reigning regional champs Hi-Tech Surf Sports had the high score in round one (37.29) while the squads representing HIC Kailua, T&C Surf Designs 1, and Town & Country Surfboards also put up strong first round performances to clinch a berth in the finals.<br /><br />With swell increasing throughout the day, the final would turn out to be an action-packed heat. Standout performers Dustin Quizon (T&C Surfboards), Kekoa Bacalso (T&C Surfboards), Rob Grihlo (T&C Surf Designs 1), and Sean Moody (T&C Surf Designs 1) all scored waves in the excellent range. However, it was HIC Kailua’s whammy surfer Josh Moniz who locked in the high score of the day, a perfect 10 (for a total wave score of 20), while his fellow team rider Joel Centeio immediately followed suit with a 9.1. At the final horn it was HIC Kailua’s sitting comfortably in the top spot with a total team score of 37.57.<br /><br />Congratulations to HIC Kailua team members Sean Sugihara, Josh Moniz, Joel Centeio, and Nakoa Sabate!
