All four Hawai'i surfers in the Girls under 18 division won first-round heats in the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships yesterday.

The first round was run in 2- to 3-foot waves at Maresias Beach, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Hawai'i surfers advancing to the second round of the winner's bracket were Monica Byrne-Wickey, Bethany Hamilton, Lani Hunter and Lipoa Kahaleuahi.

Hamilton, whose left arm was severed in a shark attack in 2003, won her heat despite a 3-point deduction for an interference penalty.

"I was feeling nervous, especially starting with an interference," Hamilton said. "It was a junk closeout (wave), so I don't know what I was thinking. But I think the competition will get harder and harder now, so I definitely want to take it up a notch."

Hunter posted one of the top heats of the day with a two-wave score of 11.67.

After the first two days of competition, all 12 Hawai'i surfers have advanced to the second round of the winner's bracket (the eight Hawai'i surfers in the boys divisions advanced on Sunday). Each team in the contest is allowed to enter 12 surfers — four each in the Boys under 18, Boys under 16, and Girls under 18 divisions.

Hawai'i is the defending champion of the event, which is considered the world championship for surfers age 18 and younger.

The Boys divisions are expected to resume today.

KENNELLY ADVANCES TO FOURTH ROUND IN TAHITI

Kaua'i's Keala Kennelly advanced through two heats yesterday to get to the fourth round of the women's division of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.

The opening day of the women's contest was held in 3- to 4-foot waves at Teahupoo, Tahiti.

Kennelly surfed yesterday despite a back injury she sustained in Fiji last week.

She placed second in her first-round heat to earn a bye in the second round. She then edged Australia's Samantha Cornish in the third round, 10.17-9.94.

Fellow Hawai'i surfers Megan Abubo and Rochelle Ballard were eliminated in the third round.

The men's division of the Billabong Pro Tahiti did not run heats yesterday. Hawai'i surfers in the men's division are Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Fred Patacchia Jr., Roy Powers and Pancho Sullivan.

The contest is part of surfing's World Championship Tour. It is considered one of the most prestigious events on the tour because of the treacherous waves at Teahupoo.