Hawaii's Finest Take Flight for 2nd Stop of 2009 Rip Curl GromSearch fueled by H20 Overdrive

This past Saturday July 11, Hawaii’s best youth came out to Kewalo Basin in hopes of Rip Curl GromSearch glory and an invite to the National Finals at Salt Creek.  With rippable surf gracing the line-up, the light-footed surfing of Kain Daly, Keala Naihe, Kaulana Apo and more had the beach buzzing.

Oahu local boy Isaiah Moniz stepped up to the challenge and laid down the committed surfing the judges wanted to see. Isaiah grabbed the $250 and the loot in the 14/under, but fell short to Kylen Yamakawa in the dying moments of the 16/under final to put a stop to Isaiah’s dominant run.

“I look at the GromSearch as such a great opportunity,” said Isaiah. “I just wanted to come out and do my best. I surf at Kewalos all the time so I have been pumped up for the event and just happy I got into both finals.”

It was Kaulana Apo in the 12/under, who locked down a near excellent score to get the win over Landon McNamara. Lanikai Maro of Tahiti was in town, as her Uncle Buttons [Kaluhiokalani] was on hand to support her as she got the win.

With big moves going down like the Wahoo's burritos at lunch, deciding the H2O Overdrive Maneuver of the Event was an unenviable task; however, Big Island big hitter Keala Naihe’s full-fledged backside blow tail-to-reverse prevailed to win the $100 cash. Event shop supporter, North Shore Surf n Sea, handed out $50 gift cards to Sportsmanship Awards winners Kaulana Apo and Kirra Seal for their awesome attitude shown throughout the event.

The G-Search movement takes flight to the Mid-Atlantic, as the Outerbanks is locked-and-loaded for next event. Log on to surfingthemag.com to cast your vote in the coming days for the "Rip Curl GromSearch Video Elections presented by Surfing Mag", as well as get connected at Surfline's exclusive community site at surfline.com/gromsearch. For all media inquiries, please contact Rip Curl marketing coordinator Chelsea Johns: cjohns@ripcurl.com

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF STOP #2, 2009 RIP CURL GROMSEARCH FUELED BY H20 OVERDRIVE, Kewalo Basin, Hawaii:

H20 Overdrive Maneuver of the Event: Keala Naihe- $100

North Shore Surf n Sea Sportsmanship Awards: Kaulana Apo- $50, Kirra Seal- $50

BOYS 16/UNDER
1. Kylen Yamakawa- $250
2. Isaiah Moniz
3. Kain Daly
4. Eala Stewart

BOYS 14/UNDER
1. Isaiah Moniz- $250
2. Eala Stewart
3. Dylan Aoki Walsh
4. Keala Naihe

BOYS 12/UNDER
1. Kaulana Apo- $250
2. Landon McNamara
3. Pierce Watamull
4. Makai Clemons

GIRLS 16/UNDER
1. Lanikai Maro- $250
2. Kirra Seal
3. Sabrina Jensen