Bonga Perkins might be a former world champion of longboard surfing, but that doesn't mean he can't be a future one as well.

Perkins proved that he can still beat the best Hawai'i has to offer by winning the pro longboard division of the 14th annual Quiksilver Makahiki Games.

The two-day event was held over the weekend at Makaha Beach.

"It was more of a statement for me to win it," said Perkins, 35. "There's a lot of good young pros coming up, so for me to come up a winner, that was huge for me. I consider it a really good result."

Perkins won the longboard world championship in 1996, and has been a top 10 competitor virtually every year since then.

"I'd like to think I'm still going strong," said Perkins, who resides in Hale'iwa. "Coming back to Makaha and winning this is a good sign, I think."

Most of the state's top professional longboard surfers were in the field.

Makaha's Russ Keaulana placed second. Like Perkins, Keaulana is a former world champ who is still holding his own against younger surfers.

"I keep telling Bonga I'm ready to give this up already — too old," said Keaulana, 41. "I was surprised I made the final."

Perkins wasn't surprised to see Keaulana in the four-man final.

"Rusty bleeds Makaha salt water; he knows every nook and cranny out there," Perkins said. "Anytime there's a contest at Makaha, you have to watch for him."

Perkins received $1,250, and Keaulana won $600. Kai Sallas placed third and Kaimana Beauford was fourth.

The Makahiki Games is sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals, so the top performers from the event earned points toward qualifying for international events later this year.

The Makahiki Games also features tandem surfing, canoe surfing, and stand-up paddle surfing, and many competitors prove their worth as watermen by entering all the divisions.

Mel Pu'u and partner Nani Kealoha won the tandem surfing division for the second consecutive year.

Stunts Unlimited, led by captain Brian Keaulana, won the canoe surfing division.

Wai'anae's Kamu Auwae won the stand-up paddle surfing division.

FINAL RESULTS

Longboard surfing: 1, Bonga Perkins, $1,250. 2, Russ Keaulana, $600. 3, Kai Sallas, $400. 4, Kaimana Beauford, $250. 5 (tie), Kekoa Uemura and Kamu Auwae, $150. 7 (tie), Duane DeSoto and Ned Snow, $100.

Tandem surfing: 1, Mel Pu'u/Nani Kealoha, $400. 2, Brian Keaulana/Kathy Terada, $200. 3, Jason Patterson/Jeanette Romero, $150. 4, Bobby Friedman/Tiare Friedman, $100.

Stand-up paddle surfing: 1, Kamu Auwae, $400. 2, Keoni Keaulana, $200. 3, Ikaika Kalama, $150. 4, Nolan Keaulana, $100. 5, Leleo Kinimaka. 6, Dave Parmenter.

Canoe surfing: 1, Stunts Unlimited (Brian Keaulana), $800. 2, Team Quiksilver (Mel Pu'u), $400. 3, Show Me Da Money (Dude Kaaekuahiwi), $200. 4, Steinlager (Bonga Perkins), $100.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.