On Saturday, November 7, 2026, Haleʻiwa’s own Honolua Blomfield won the women’s title at the HTA Haleʻiwa Pro Longboard, presented by Hurley, surfing her home break in front of her home community. For a three-time WSL Longboard World Champion, it was one more trophy. For the North Shore, it was something more personal: one of our own winning in our own waters.
We have been teaching surfing in Haleʻiwa since 2005, and days like this remind us why this town is so special. Here’s what happened, why the community is celebrating, and how you can experience North Shore surfing yourself this winter.
What happened at the 2026 HTA Haleʻiwa Pro Longboard?
The HTA Haleʻiwa Pro Longboard, named for its sponsor, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA), is a World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Qualifying Series event held on Oʻahu’s North Shore. It was Honolua Blomfield’s first LQS event at her home break, and she surfed it like a world title was on the line:
- Best heat of the event. Blomfield’s Semifinal earned a 16.67 two-wave total, the top heat score of the contest.
- Women’s champion. She won the Final with a 13.33 total.
- Men’s champion. Fellow Hawaiʻi surfer Kai Sallas needed an 8.00 or better in the final minutes, found a 9.23, edged Kaniela Stewart, and claimed his second Haleʻiwa longboard title.
Two Hawaiʻi champions, crowned on the North Shore, on a beautiful longboard day. It doesn’t get much more local than that.
Why is the North Shore so proud of Honolua Blomfield?
Honolua Blomfield hails from Haleʻiwa, and her career has carried the North Shore’s name around the world:
- Three WSL Longboard World Titles. She won her first in 2017 at age 18, her second in 2019, and her third in 2021.
- Youngest three-time champion. Her 2021 title made her, at 22, the youngest three-time World Longboard Champion in league history.
- World gold medals. She won the 2013 ISA Open Junior division, beating all of the boys, and won women’s gold at the 2024 ISA World Longboard Championship.
Those titles were won in Taiwan, Malibu, and El Salvador, but she brought every one of them home to Haleʻiwa. Watching her win at home felt like the whole town finally getting to cheer from the sand and say mahalo in person.
Her style matters too. Blomfield is known for graceful, classic longboarding: smooth footwork, patience, and long rides on the nose. It’s a reminder that surfing isn’t only about power and speed. It’s about rhythm, balance, and reading the wave.
What does a hometown win mean for young surfers on the North Shore?
When a champion comes from your own town, the dream feels reachable. Every keiki paddling out for the first time in Haleʻiwa can look at Honolua Blomfield and see where practice, respect for the ocean, and love of surfing can lead.
That spirit is part of why North Shore Surf Girls exists. Our founder, Carol Philips, competed at Pipeline and started the school in Haleʻiwa in 2005 so more people could feel at home in North Shore waters. We’re women-founded, and our lessons welcome everyone: men, women, couples, families, and kids.
Can beginners learn to surf on the North Shore in winter?
Yes. Winter brings the North Shore’s biggest waves and the world’s best surfers, but beginners can still learn safely with a local instructor who knows where to go. Our winter lessons are held in the protected waters at Puaʻena Point in Haleʻiwa, where the sheltered inside area can offer smaller waves when conditions are suitable.
- Every lesson starts with a land lesson on the beach.
- Surfboards and rash guards are provided.
- Every instructor is an American Red Cross certified lifeguard who acts as the in-water lifeguard for their own students.
- The final lesson spot always depends on ocean conditions and safety.
Want to learn in the same town that raised a world champion? Choose private and semi-private surf lessons for one-on-one coaching, or a family private surf lesson for the whole ʻohana.
Is there more pro surfing to watch in Haleʻiwa this season?
Yes. The shortboard HTA Haleʻiwa Pro is still underway and waiting for the right swell to run its Finals Day, and the Lexus Pipe Masters follows in December. Winter is contest season on the North Shore, so many visitors watch world-class surfing and take their own first lesson on the same trip. See our North Shore surf contest calendar for 2026–2027 and our Pipe Masters 2026 preview, and check the WSL each morning for contest calls.
Learn Where Champions Grew Up
Winter is a busy season on the North Shore, so reserve your Haleʻiwa surf lesson before your trip.
Questions? Call 808-637-2977
Honolua Blomfield and Haleʻiwa Pro FAQs
Who won the 2026 HTA Haleʻiwa Pro Longboard?
Honolua Blomfield won the women’s title and Kai Sallas won the men’s title at the 2026 HTA Haleʻiwa Pro Longboard on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
How many world titles has Honolua Blomfield won?
Honolua Blomfield has won three WSL Longboard World Titles, in 2017, 2019, and 2021, plus women’s gold at the 2024 ISA World Longboard Championship.
Where are North Shore Surf Girls winter surf lessons held?
North Shore Surf Girls holds winter surf lessons in the protected waters at Puaʻena Point in Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu, and the final spot is chosen each day based on ocean conditions and safety.
Results as of November 7, 2026. Sources: World Surf League, Freesurf Magazine, Honolulu Star-Advertiser.