Kalani's Dara Ajimine became the first three-time state bowling champion yesterday, winning the Billy Tees/HHSAA Bowling State Championships by 83 pins at Lihu'e Bowling Center on Kaua'i.

Ajimine, a senior, rolled a three-game series of 575 yesterday for a 1,752 total. She also led after the first round with a six-game total of 1,177.

"It's exciting," Ajimine said. "I put a lot of pressure on myself. I really wanted it."

Baldwin's Corey Gushikuma won the boys crown with 1,788 pins to become the first Maui Interscholastic League bowler to win a boys state title since 1979.

Ajimine won the 2006 girls state title at the Lihue Bowling Center and claimed last year's crown by one pin at Hilo Lanes.

Sacred Hearts' Venny Jean Turner finished second with 1,669 pins and Kapolei's Kimie Roller placed third with 1,583 in the girls competition.

For the boys, Kalani's Jonathan Nakagawa finished second with 1,760 pins, and Bryson Apo of Kealakehe placed third with 1,755.

Kalani won the girls team title with 7,482 pins. Kapolei was second with 7,333 and Hilo finished third with 7,033.

Also scoring for the Falcons were: Brandi Kawamoto (24th, 1,456 pins); Chayna Matsuo (32nd, 1,426); Janelle Takahata (33rd, 1,426); and Kayla Takara (35th, 1,422).

It was Kalani's first girls team title since 1994.

"It's exciting. The team hasn't won in a long time and it's my last year, too," Ajimine said.

Mililani was the defending girls state team champion.

Pearl City won its first boys team title since 2001 with 8,004 pins. Waiakea finished second with 7,967 and two-time defending champion Hawai'i Baptist placed third with 7,740.

Pearl City's top bowlers were: Jonathan Carino (12th, 1,678); Micah Lee (14th, 1,652), Jordon Ono (17th, 1,633), Derek Suefuji (22nd, 1,608). Also bowling for the Chargers were Robert Nakanishi (97th, 1,141), Evan Hayashi (100th, 1014) and Kevin Oshiro (101st, 666).