Opting to stay in Hawai'i rather than travel to a higher-paying professional contest in California, Uemura won the Aston Hotels Surf Classic longboard contest yesterday at Kuhio Beach, Waikiki.

"It's kind of expensive to fly to the Mainland and I think I rather surf at home anyway," said Uemura, 20.

Yesterday's contest was the fifth and final event of the 2003 Hawaiian Longboard Federation's Steinlager Series.

Uemura was the only competitor to win the professional division more than once this season (he also won the second event in the series).

"It's been a pretty good year," said Uemura, who is the son of well-recognized surfer China Uemura. "I kind of just look to have fun in these contests, but I'm always stoked to win."

In 1- to 3-foot waves at the "Queen's" break, Uemura took control of the final early in the heat and then held off a charge from each of the other three finalists.

Uemura's first two waves received scores of 8.33 and 8.00, giving him a lead he would not relinquish.

"Queen's is not a real high-performance wave, so you just gotta take what it gives you," said Uemura, who earned $600 for the victory. "That's all I was doing. When there was a chance to noseride, I did that, if not, I went for the more modern maneuvers."

Nanakuli's Kekoa Auwae placed second with scores of 8.83 and 7.00. His 8.83 ride came early in the heat and was the highest score of the final.

"I was just trying to work the wave as long as I could," he said. "After that one, I felt really confident. But I knew it was going to be close all the way. Everybody was catching good waves."

Auwae made the finals in four of the HLF contests this season, and yesterday was his third runner-up finish.

"I was hoping this would be the one," said Auwae, 19. "It's a little frustrating to get second that many times, but the ball doesn't roll your way sometimes. I'm still happy to make all the finals."

Auwae won the HLF season series with 3,250 points.

Joey Valentin placed third yesterday, with his top two waves receiving scores of 7.33 and 7.17.

He finished second in the final HLF series standings, but placed first in the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) of Hawai'i 2003 longboard ratings. The ASP Hawai'i tour consisted of six events.

Kamu Auwae, Kekoa's older brother, placed fourth yesterday with his top two waves receiving scores of 6.33 and 5.5.

The professional division was sponsored by Hawai'i Pacific University this season.

Finals in the amateur divisions of the HLF will be completed today at Queen's.

Final results

Aston Hotels Surf Classic

1, Kekoa Uemura. 2, Kekoa Auwae. 3, Joey Valentin. 4, Kamu Auwae. 5 (tie), Ezra Rodrigues and Scott Fong Jr. 7 (tie), Ned Snow and Venton Siliado.

HPU Pro Division Final Season Standings