Around 200 females of various ages are expected to compete in China Uemura's 11th Annual Wahine Surfing Classic this weekend at Kuhio Beach, Waikiki.

The contest is for females only, with age divisions ranging from "Pee Wees" (10 and younger) to "Kupunas" (60 and older). There will be separate divisions for shortboard surfing and longboard surfing.

There will also be a pro-am longboard division, which will offer a total prize purse of more than $2,000.

"I think we should hit 200 (entries), and I want to limit it to that," contest director China Uemura said. "There's supposed to be waves this weekend, so a lot of girls want to enter now."

Heats will run throughout the day, tomorrow and Sunday.

Uemura, a former national longboard surfing champion, started the contest in 1997 as a way to give females more contest exposure.

He also started the event as a way to help charities — this year, proceeds from the event will be donated to The Sex Abuse Treatment Center of Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children.

China Uemura's 23rd Annual Longboard Classic — which is open to men and women — is scheduled for July 26 to 29 at Kuhio Beach, Waikiki.

'STATES' COMING UP

The Hawai'i Amateur Surfing Association State Championships is scheduled to run June 7, 8 and 9 at the Ala Moana Bowl.

Around 300 surfers and bodyboarders from around the state are expected to compete. The top finishers will represent Hawai'i at the Surfing America USA Championships at Huntington Beach, Calif., in October.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.