Pearl City High School took first in the Duel in the Desert Spirit Sport Cheerleading and Dance National Championship this past weekend in Palm Springs, Calif.

"They're excited. It's Pearl City High School's first national championship," said Kimi Golonka, a former Kahuku High cheerleader in her first year at Pearl City.

The all-girls Pearl City team competed in the medium varsity (high school age, 12 or fewer), edging out Westlake High (California).

"A lot of different schools were excited to see us because we had a little hula in our routine. So lots of the fans would ask about us. We made lots of friends."