The three-day contest was completed today in 1- to 2-foot waves at the Ala Moana Bowl. More than 200 surfers from around the state were invited to participate in the event.

"I was amazed at what some of the kids were doing," said David Shipley, who served as head judge for the contest. "I know Australia has a lot of great kids, but I think the cutting edge of surfing is right here in Hawai'i. There are definitely some professionals coming out of this group."

This year's state championships offered prize money for the first time in the 45-year history of the contest, and the surfers showed that they were worthy.

"It gave the kids a little taste of what's out there, and hopefully it will inspire them to continue to a professional career, because a lot of them have the talent to do it," Shipley said.

Maui surfers were especially impressive, taking top honors in the two top divisions — open men and junior men.

Kai Barger, a senior-to-be at King Kekaulike High, collected $500 for winning the open men's division, which is for any age. He had a two-wave score of 17.23 (out of 20), which was one of the highest totals of the contest.

"Winning states means a lot," Barger said. "You do contests all year leading up to this. And Bowls was firing, so it was fun just to be out there."

Fellow Maui surfer Matt Meola was a surprise winner in the junior men's division. That division is for competitors age 18 and younger, and many of them are on the verge of becoming full-time professionals.

He was one of three Maui surfers in the junior men's final, joining Granger Larsen and Dege O'Connell. Kaua'i's Alex Smith was the other finalist.

Meola, 18, is in his second year of competitive surfing. He is a recent home-school graduate.

"I was surprised to be in there with those guys," said Meola, who also received $500. "We go against each other in Maui all the time, so it was good."

Meola received a two-wave score of 13.40, edging O'Connell's total of 13.35.

"It was close the whole way," Meola said. "I think anybody could have won it."

Meola also placed second in the open men's division, even though Larsen described him as "the underdog" among the Maui surfers.

Larsen also made both finals, placing third in junior men and fifth in open men.