The Honua Finals, often referred to as the “World Cup of Interscholastic Surfing,” is set to return to the Ala Moana Bowls on Oʻahu this July, marking a major event in the international youth surfing calendar.
Scheduled to run during a holding period from July 31 to August 3, the competition will take place over the two days with the most favorable surf conditions. The prestigious invitational will feature top high school surf teams from around the world, including teams from Japan, New Zealand, Canada, California, and across the Hawaiian Islands — Maui, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi Island.
“The Honua Finals is creating a pathway for Hawaiʻi’s surfers to perform on a global stage, while expanding opportunities throughout the islands and making the sport more accessible to the next generation,” said event organizer Davin Kazama. “Throughout the years, we have seen young, local surfers miss out on opportunities to establish themselves as athletes — not because they lack the talent or drive, but because they lack the funding needed to travel to elite competitions held thousands of miles away.”
Organizers say the competition aims to reinforce Hawaiʻi’s place as the spiritual and competitive heart of the surfing world. It also aligns with broader community efforts to formally recognize surfing as an interscholastic sport in the state.
Those efforts took a significant step forward during the 2025 legislative session. Lawmakers passed House Bill 133, which allocates $1.37 million to the Department of Education for the development of competitive surfing programs in public high schools. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.
Presented by Nike Swim, the Honua Finals is supported by a range of sponsors including Duke’s Waikiki, Wai Kai, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Royal Hawaiian Center, HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union, Livestream Hawaiʻi, and the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation.
The return of the Honua Finals underscores the growing momentum behind youth surfing in Hawaiʻi, both as a cultural tradition and as a formally recognized competitive sport.