• Current QS No. 1 Luke Tema, Emerging Contender Chesney Guinette Ready for more North Shore
• Kaniela Stewart, Natalia Wunderlick and Longboard Elite Set for Maiden WSL Haleiwa Debuts
• Epic Conclusion for Women’s QS, Men’s and Women Longboard Season in Store

HALEIWA, Oahu, Hawaii (Friday, November 22, 2024) – The opening day stage is set for the World Surf League (WSL) The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro, a men’s and women’s Quaifying Series (QS) and Longboard Regional QS 1000, beginning November 25 through December 7. This marks the pinnacle of the women’s 2024/2025 QS season along with the men’s and women’s 2024/2025 Longboard Regional QS season. 2025 Challenger Series spots and WSL Longboard Tour qualifiers will be determined as the men’s QS look to continue building vital points. A possible start looms on the opening day of the window, Monday, November 25, with a promising forecast throughout the holding period.

“The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is proud to partner with WSL to showcase all of the surfing talent cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands – shortboard and longboard, kāne and wāhine – at the HIC Haleʻiwa Pro,” said Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā, Chief Stewardship Officer, HTA. “We can’t wait to celebrate Kawailoa, the iconic North Shore break where the event takes place, one of the most famous waves in the world.”

“The win was special because all my friends were there watching and Sunset is pretty much in my backyard. Staying in the moment is so important because I’m able to enjoy my heats instead of worrying about the result,” said Tema. “It definitely gives me a little confidence knowing I can do it but I’m still going into Haleiwa one heat at a time with no expectations. It seems like it’s hard for events to find sponsors so I’m grateful that HIC continued to sponsor such a sick event at Haleiwa.”

Now the emerging competitor will face off with familiar faces including Haleiwa’s own Shion Crawford (HAW), current Championship Tour (CT) contender Imaikalani deVault (HAW), former CT competitors Ezekiel Lau (HAW), Eli Hanneman (HAW), Dusty Payne (HAW), Ian Gentil (HAW), proven QS elite Joshua Moniz (HAW), Torrey Meister (HAW), and a plethora of the regional standouts.

“It’s awesome for the women to have a platform to showcase their surfing at such a high-caliber wave and to have such a stand up company supporting the event once again,” said Guinette. “It’s amazing to see all the ways HIC supports the surfing community, from their continued support of the amateur grom contests every year all the way up to the WSL level. The HIC ohana exemplifies the aloha spirit. I have been surfing Haleiwa since I was a mini grom first starting on the inside and slowly working my way to the outside. Still at 15 it’s a challenge to navigate the crowded lineup and choose the waves you want but still of course respecting the uncles.”

Guinette prepares to take on the likes of current No. 1 Eweleiula Wong (HAW), No. 2, and 2023 event runner-up, Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW), Challenger Series hopefuls Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW), Kiara Goold (PYF), and more looking for a major result.

“It felt super special to get a win at Bowls and now having that gives me a little more confidence going into Haleiwa,” said Stewart. “It means a lot to me and the crew to have an event on the North Shore because it shows that you need to be able to surf bigger more powerful waves and you need to be able to surf smaller waves at Bowls, although it can get some power to it when it gets good. With a baby on the way I’m super excited for that journey. But having a baby is going to help me be a lot more grounded to my family and know that win or lose I have a loving family to go home to and focus on.”

2023 WSL World Longboard Champion Kai Sallas (HAW) and 2024 World No. 3 John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) join the likes of WSL Longboard Tour qualifiers Micah DeSoto (HAW), Zachary Newton (HAW) and more looking for vital points.

“It’s very exciting that we get to have another event for the Hawaii region, especially on North Shore. It’s refreshing that there is more opportunity for local surfers from around the island to showcase their surfing,” said Wunderlich. “I’m super stoked I was able to clinch a spot for next year’s Tour. I learned to surf at Haleiwa so a win would mean the world. It’s where I spent most of my time as a kid and I know my younger self would be over the moon. There is definitely going to be fierce competition, but taking a regional title home would be very special.”

Wunderlich joins the likes of current No. 2 Sive Jarrard (ASM), who holds the qualification spot, 2024 WSL World Longboard Title contender Sophia Culhane (HAW), Cash Hoover (HAW), Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW), and many more.

Event organizers will convene Monday, November 25, at 7:00 a.m. HST for a possible 8:00 a.m. HST start.

The event window opens November 25 through December 7. Event organizers will select the best four days of the event window to run competition.