Hard Rock Cafe event #10
Presented by Quiksilver

HASA
Makaha, Oahu
28 - 29 March 2009

Dennis & Makana Pang Tap Into the Source at Makaha

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 30 March, 2009 : - - Honolulu -- Approaching 50, the world's oldest surfing association - the Hawaii Surfing Association (HSA), has seen many faces move through the ranks. But even though close to half a century has passed, not all the names have changed.

There's a totally rip-able little two-foot swell reeling off at Makaha and Dennis and Makana Pang are back for the next leg of the ongoing HSA Hard Rock Cafe Surf Series.

Last weekend, Makana - 4-feet tall, eight years old, and 45 pounds wet, was claiming the victory of his career in the Menehune 1A division on the wind-blown shores of Sandy Beach. It was a proud day for his father, Dennis, 53, 5'3" and slightly heavier wet, who made his own start in HSA during his small kid days. From those beginnings, Dennis went on to become a pioneer pro surfer and one of Hawaii's well known shapers and big-wave chargers.

It's not quite the life-threatening 20-foot surf that Pang Sr. has charged over the winters with esteemed company like the Downings, Gerry Lopez, the Aikaus, et al., although it almost looks like it as Makana hits the famous Makaha shorebreak. He's definitely back to defend the throne he's barely had time to sit on.

Makana will surf two divisions this weekend, the Menehune 1A and the Menehune 2A, for slightly more advanced young surfers.

For Pang Sr., it's not quite the prestige of the Makaha International he surfed -- and won-- back in the day, but he's here and it's too hot to sit on the beach, so he "might as well" head out and get wet in the Grand Masters division.

By 1pm, Makana has surfed and lost in his first heat of the 2A division but has already forgotten about it. He "had fun", doesn't remember what was going through his head while he was sitting in the lineup with his rivals, and can't quite recall his best ride. But he does know he doesn't plan on losing again when he heads out in the 1A division.

For now, he's happy to simply settle in with a rapidly melting ice-cream he just talked out of the faded pink truck that's been cranking out the same wind-up music for 40 years. He's hanging out in the shade of a lowered truck bed of one of the "uncles" to see if his dad can follow his own coaching.

Pang Sr. posts a comfortable win in his first heat (automatic semi-final) against Uncle Raymond Shito and Uncle Bruce DeSoto to advance to the final. But Dennis loses his grip on the victory after Kal Faurot taps into a little more old-time competitive inspiration in the final to eek out a fraction more fun in the small surf at hand.

"I got second," Dennis relays to an interested party on the other end of the phone. He has just accepted a 9-inch tall, "gold"-plated surfer trophy that the contest director joked was as tall as him. He's heard that one before.

"I could have won, but apparently I didn't go 'vert' enough, according to Makana," he chuckles. "Plus the other guys were 'throwing buckets', according to Makana, and he reckons I needed to push harder."

It might have been that in contemplating what his dad needed to do to win, Makana set his own focus straight. He surfed like a menehune possessed in his 1A contest and returned to the beach with a successful defense of his title.... for another week at least.

The Pangs didn't drive home to the North Shore empty-handed this weekend. While Dennis' "gold" trophy garnered little of his own attention on the dash of his old combi van, eight-year-old Makana is captivated by his own. Apparently his dad's favorite words of inspiration were worth listening to: "Competition is about learning to lose, Makana, and then you learn from your mistakes and next time you win."

The HSA Hard Rock Cafe Surf Series moves to Kaka'ako next weekend, April 4 & 5. Results from each stage of the Hard Rock Cafe Surf Series will count toward qualification for the Hawaii State Championships at Ala Moana Bowls, June 4, 5 & 6. Makana is on track to qualify for the States.

Results: Surfers listed in order of finish.

JUNIOR MEN: Kylen Yamakawa, Kainoa Haas, Brandon Kuakini, Eli Olson
MEN: Davin Jaime
MASTER: Darren Mahoe, Scott Shimoda, Bruce Yamashita, Thomas Spear
SENIOR MEN: Richard Tom, Robert Howard, Richard Jaquias, Matt Kenny
GRANDMASTER: Kal Faurot, Dennis Pang, Merv Lum, Raymond Shito
OPEN MEN: Hizon Lin Kee, Ronson Silva, Kaito Kino, Keoni Jones
GIRLS: Tatiana Weston-Webb, Baiyley Nagy, Mahina Maeda, Maili Enos Branigan, Dax McGill, Kaili Rodman
WOMEN: Dana Tortuga, Mari Sullivan, Izumi Baldwin, Laurie Rodman, Bonnie Campanella, Jennifer Lee
MENEHUNE 1A: Makana Pang, Michael Ikalani, Micah Liana, Vincent Starn
MENEHUNE 2A: Elijah Gates, Mo Freitas, Vincent Starn, Kaulana Apo
BOYS 2A: Kaito Kino, Austin Vincente, Cole Yamakawa, John Quizon
BODYBOARD BOYS: Kealii Alapai, Nainoa Barnes, Micah Villanueva, Micah Liana, Ulu Wilbur Delima, Booboo Cazimero
JUNIOR MEN LONGBOARD: Nelson Ahina, Manuhoa Kane
BODYBOARD MEN: James Clancy, Mark Gervacio
DROPKNEE: Sheldon Libres, Mark Gervacio, James Clancy
MENEHUNE LONGBOARD: Kui Adric, Slater Trout, Micah Liana, Makani Adric, Vincent Starn, Jordan Brueggeman
MASTER  LONGBOARD: Shane Hamamoto
MEN LONGBOARD: Waiakae Winchester, Daniel Johnasen, Cedric Caires, Rico Garliyo, Justin Matsui, Ah Hee Mau
SENIOR MEN LONGBOARD: Gino Bell, John Quisano, Frederico Algono, Gavin Hasegawa, Daniel Stein
GIRLS LONGBOARD: Kui Adric, Kelly Graf, Makani Adric, Tia Blanco
WOMEN LONGBOARD: Stacia Ahina, Ashley Ahina, Mimi Horiuchi, Jennifer Lee
LEGENDS LONGBOARD:Layton Sun, Bruce Desoto, Raymond Shito, Tommy Reyes, Herb Pruse, Warren Hoohuli
OPEN LONGBOARD: Cedric Caires, Justin Matsui, Daniel Johnasen, Waiakea Winchester, Nelson Ahina, Ah Hee Mau
JUNIOR MEN BODYBOARD: Sheldon Libres
STANDUP PADDLE: Chris Martin, Tommy Chun Ming, Alika Willis, Bruce Desoto, Sam Pae, Bouvey Bradbury   
BULLYBOARD: James Clancy, Kimo Leong, Mark Gercacio, Joe Kelling, Raymond Shito    

Remaining Events of the Hard Rock Cafe Surf Series
Kakaako Flies, April 4,5/11.12
Kewalos, May 2,3
(Hawaii State Champs, Ala Moana Bowls, June 4,5,6)

www.hasasurf.org

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