Kamehameha surf team wins national championship

The Kamehameha surf team is all smiles after winning the team's first national championship at the 2014 National Scholastic Surfing Association Interscholastic Championships, besting four-time defending champion San Clemente 110-107 in the surf at Dana Point, Calif.

June 20, 2014

Contributed by Pakalani Bello

The Kamehameha surf team won its first national championship at the 2014 National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Interscholastic Championships June 15, besting four-time defending champion San Clemente 110-107 in the surf at Salt Creek, Dana Point, Calif.

The team was led by the efforts of KS Maui junior Imai DeVault and KS Kapālama junior Cayla Moore, who each won the individual title in their respective division. DeVault won the varsity boys shortboard title with Moore winning the varsity girls shortboard division. Kealohi Sabate also finished fifth in the girls shortboard division to help push KS to victory.

KS Kapālama science teacher Lea Arce is the head coach for the Kamehameha surf team, and was an instrumental part of the formation of the team.

“I’m very excited that the validation (of the national championship) is something I’ve been seeking for a long time,” Arce said. “I hope that this validates our team as a real surf team and that the national championship will open doors for other schools. I’m hoping that this championship will solidify the need for surfing as an interscholastic sport in Hawai‘i. Surfing can be used as a way to motivate these young men and women in their culture, but also their passion for the ocean and land as another outlet in addition to the sports that are already offered.”

The surf team has won the Hawai‘i state championship in each of the last five years. They have also placed in the top five nationally in 2012 and 2013, before breaking through this year.

Photos courtesy of Arielle Taramasco.

KS Maui junior Imai DeVault and KS Kapālama junior Cayla Moore each won the individual title in their respective division.