Mel Pu'u and Duane DeSoto were the official big winners at the 32nd annual Buffalo's Big Board Surfing Classic, and they have the haul of prizes to show for it.

But just about every other contestant walked away with something else big — a smile.

The final day of the four-day contest was completed yesterday at Makaha Beach.

"This is like a goody-fest," DeSoto said. "Even if you don't make a final, it's worth it. This contest is like a big party."

The event has become an annual tradition run by the Keaulana family. It features various wave-riding divisions, including bodyboarding, bullyboarding, canoe-surfing and stand up paddle surfing.

Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana, a longtime surfer and lifeguard at Makaha Beach, started the contest in 1977 as a way to unite the Leeward Coast community.

"Every year, it changes a little bit," DeSoto said. "But it never loses that sense of pride for Makaha."

Pu'u, who is from Makaha, won four divisions and reached the final in four others.

Pu'u, 47, beat several younger competitors to win the open surfing division. However, he said his most significant victory came in the canoe-surfing division.

His four-person canoe team featured two of his daughters, Leimomi and Nalu, and longtime family friend Craig Davidson.

"That was probably the best win I ever had in any event," Pu'u said. "I'm so happy for my girls."

Leimomi is 16 and Nalu is 14. It was the first time they entered a canoe-surfing contest with their father. Mel and Leimomi Pu'u also placed second in the team bodyboard division.

Mel also won the longboard and bullyboard divisions for competitors who weigh 250 pounds or more. He weighed in at 251.

"I barely made it," he said. "All my friends are big boys, so I wanted to have fun with them. But to tell you the truth, I want to try to be under 250 next year."

In keeping with the festive spirit, Pu'u gave one of his first-place surfboards to Pierret Hapipi, a competitor from Tahiti. Hapipi broke down in tears at the awards ceremony.

"I saved my money for two years to come to this contest," Hapipi said. "Makaha truly is a special place. It is like paradise."

DeSoto also won four divisions, and placed second in another. He was raised in Makaha, but now resides in 'Ewa.

"I've been doing this contest for 20 years; it never gets old," said DeSoto, 30.

He also upheld the family tradition of the contest. He won the team bodysurfing division with his uncle, Ronald, and then won the team bodyboarding division with his cousin, Desire.

Bonga Perkins and daughter Tehani won the team bullyboard division, and Kalani Vierra and daughter Keala took the tandem surfing division.

TEAM DIVISIONS

Surfing: 1, Duane DeSoto/Bonga Perkins. 2, Kamu Auwae/Kekoa Auwae. 3, Brian Keaulana/ Dave Parmenter. 4, Mel Pu'u/Craig Davidson. Bodysurfing: 1, Duane DeSoto/Ronald DeSoto. 2, Mel Pu'u/Craig Davidson. 3, Brian Keaulana/Dave Parmenter. 4, Candice Appleby/Kainalu Froiseth. Bodyboarding: 1, Duane DeSoto/Desire DeSoto. 2, Mel Pu'u/Leimomi Pu'u. 3, Brian Keaulana/Ha'a Keaulana. 4, Melvin Keawe/Visha Bungo. Bullyboarding: 1, Bonga Perkins/Tehani Perkins. 2, Keoni Keaulana/Ku'uipo Keaulana. 3, Kamu Auwae/Nani Auwae. 4, Jimmy Keaulana/Tiare Keaulana. Tandem surfing: 1, Kalani Vierra/ Keala Vierra. 2, Brian Keaulana/Kathy Terada. 3, Mel Pu'u/Nani Auwae. 4, Bobby Friedman/Tiare Friedman. Canoe surfing: 1, Team Quik. 2, Stunts Unlimited. 3, Rash. 4, Holy Mo-Lee.

INDIVIDUAL DIVISIONS

Open men: 1, Mel Pu'u. 2, Duane DeSoto. 3, Kainalu Froiseth. 4, Kamu Auwae. 5, Jimmy Keaulana. 6, Hoptong Smith. Open women: 1, Visha Bungo. 2, Maile Enos-Branigan. 3, Candice Appleby. 4, Moanakea Uemura. 5, Leimomi Pu'u. 6, Nalu Pu'u. Beachboy surfing: 1, Brian Keaulana. 2, Kamu Auwae. 3, Bonga Perkins. 4, Craig Davidson. 5, Keoni Keaulana. 6, Kainoa McGee. Novice Beachboy: 1, Brandon Martin. 2, Visha Bungo. 3, Kentaro Kojima. 4, Ron Galindo. 5, Allen Mozo. 6, Ants Guerrero. Foreign surfers: 1, Takashi Hosoii. 2, Rico Leroy. 3, Kojima Kentaro. 4, Kota Sakuraoka. 5, Pierret Hapipi. 6, Taiki Mori. Paipo board: 1, Duane DeSoto. 2, Jimmy Keaulana. 3, Craig Davidson. 4, Bunky Bakutis. 5, Kekoa Auwae. 6, Hoptong Smith. Legends, 70-older: 1, Tom Bionde. 2, Charlie Carroll. Legends, 60-older: 1, Flash Dubiel. 2, Ants Guerrero. 3, Terry Hoffman. 4, Gilbert Perea. 5, Leighton Tseu. 6, Joe Romero. Bullyboard, 250 pounds or more: 1, Mel Pu'u. 2, Mike Aiwohi. 3, Bruce DeSoto. 4, Kenneth Makanani. 5, Jay Young. 6, Denver Lauriat. Surfing, 250 pounds or more: 1, Mel Pu'u. 2, Kainalu Froiseth. 3, Mike Aiwohi. 4, Bruce DeSoto. 5, Kimo Leong. 6, Eddie Maldonado Jr.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.