Duane DeSoto can be forgiven for wanting to be a little selfish with the prizes he won from the 33rd Annual Buffalo's Big Board Surfing Classic over the weekend.

"I think I'm going to keep the bully board because ours is old and beat up," he said.

But DeSoto walked away with a carload of other prizes, including several surfboards and bodyboards, and he plans to donate those to worthy causes. Most notable, he will offer a new longboard to a fundraiser for his wife's cousin, Christy Huddy, who is facing major medical bills related to a car accident.

"This is perfect timing because the fundraiser is on Feb. 28," DeSoto said.

He will also donate prizes to Na Kama Kai, a nonprofit organization created to help children learn ocean sports through ocean awareness.

DeSoto's spirit embodies that of Buffalo's Big Board contest.

"This contest is about fun, friendship, family, sharing, that kind of thing," said Brian Keaulana, one of the contest directors. "Every year, you see guys giving away their boards to somebody else who might need it more than them."

The contest was created in 1977 by legendary Makaha surfer and lifeguard Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana as a way to unite the Leeward Coast community.

This year, more than 200 surfers of all ages — and sizes — participated. There were 16 divisions, so the contest needed two weekends to be completed.

"We had 16 divisions, and every single one is special in its own right," said Brian Keaulana, who is Buffalo's oldest son. "This is not just a surfing contest. We have all these different toys that you can play with in the ocean, so that's why we have so many different divisions."

DeSoto was one of the standouts. He made seven finals, and won four of them, including the prestigious open men's surfing division.

He also won the tandem bully board division with his wife, Malia, and the team bodysurfing division with his uncle, Ronald.

"The highlight for me is just hanging out on the beach all weekend with family and friends," DeSoto said.

Mel Pu'u made nine finals, and won three of them, including the hotly contested tandem surfing division. Pu'u and partner Nani Auwae beat three other teams that own world championships in tandem surfing.

But the most talked about division was the alaia board division, which was added this year.

Alaia boards are the earliest form of surfboards. Basically, they are thin planks of wood with no fins.

"The alaia board doesn't float like a regular surfboard and you don't have the fins to help you turn and stuff," Brian Keaulana said. "You have to be in the right spot every time to ride the wave. I think everybody who tried it got to appreciate their culture and the ocean a little more."

Hoptong Smith of Makaha won the alaia board division after practicing on it a few times this month.

"It's hard to control — it's way different from a surfboard," Smith said. "That's what makes it fun. It's challenging.

Brian Keaulana said he was surprised at how many children were interested in riding the alaia boards.

"They were asking all kinds of questions, which is good because they're learning about the history of it," he said. "Some of them said they did research on the Internet ... when you hear stuff like that, it's all worth it."

Buffalo's Big Board contest featured more than $20,000 in prizes donated by various sponsors.

"A lot of people gave out of the goodness of their heart, which is saying a lot in this economy," Brian said. "We want to pass on that message to the next generation."

NOTES

The fundraiser for Christy Huddy is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Saturday at Pipeline Cafe. Admission is $30, and includes food and entertainment. For information, visit http://www.iheartchristy.blogspot.com.

FINAL RESULTS

Foreign surfers: 1, Hosoii. 2, Kota Sakuraoka. 3, Daiji. 4, Yasu Kujirai. 5, Juri Ko. 6, Yasu Tanaka. Bully board (250 pounds and over): 1, Mel Pu'u. 2, Kekama Helm. 3, Jay Young. 4, Ele Keliikoa. 5, Denver Larita. 6, Melvin Keawe. Tandem bully board: 1, Duane DeSoto/Malia DeSoto. 2, Keoni Keaulana/Mio Keaulana. 3, Craig Davidson/Gina Davidson. 4, Nalu Froiseth/Caitlin Garcia. Women's open surfing: 1, Kumi Trausch. 2, Moanikea Uemura. 3, Pake Salmon. 4, Maile Enos-Branigan. 5, Desire DeSoto. 6, Teddi Lee Sipe. Men's open surfing: 1, Duane DeSoto. 2, Keoni Keaulana. 3, Mel Pu'u. 4, Makamae DeSoto. 5, Jason Patterson. 6, Craig Davidson. Legends (60-older): 1, Flash Dubiel. 2, Bunky Bakutis. 3, Buffalo Keaulana. 4, Tek Yoon. 5, Joe Romero. Surfing 250-pounds and over: 1, Mel Pu'u. 2, Kainalu Froiseth. 3, Eddie Maldonado Jr. 4, Bruce DeSoto. 5, Jay Young. 6, Van Kauwalu. Open stand-up paddle: 1, Keoni Keaulana. 2, Duane DeSoto. 3, Noland Martin. 4, Kekoa Auwae. 5, Mel Pu'u. 6, Brian Keaulana. Novice stand-up paddle: 1, Ronson Silva. 2, Mowgli Siscom. 3, Jacob Martin. 4, Danilo Couto. 5, Jody Ragsdale. 6, Danilo Rodrigo. Team surfing: 1, Duane DeSoto/Ikaika Kalama. 2, Keoni Keaulana/Brandon Martin. 3, Mel Pu'u/Craig Davidson. 4, Jackson Kyne/Sheldon Paishon. Paipo board: 1, Mel Keawe. 2, Mel Pu'u. 3, Ronald DeSoto. 4, Jay Young. 5, Ikaika Van Gieson. Team bodyboard: 1, Keoni Keaulana/Mio Keaulana. 2, Craig Davidson/Moanakea Uemura. 3, Duane DeSoto/Desire DeSoto. 4, Dave Parmenter/Kathy Terada. Alaia board: 1, Hoptong Smith. 2, Charlie Carroll. 3, Keoni Keaulana. 4, Noland Martin. 5, Jackson Kyne. 6, Duane DeSoto. Team bodysurfing: 1, Duane DeSoto/Ronald DeSoto. 2, Noland Martin/Brandon Martin. 3, Mel Pu'u/Craig Davidson. 4, Brian Keaulana/Dave Parmenter. Tandem surfing: 1, Mel Pu'u/Nani Auwae. 2, Brian Keaulana/Kathy Terada. 3, Kalani Vierra/Ala Vierra. 4, Chuck Inman/Tiffany Rabacal. Canoe surfing: 1, So Sorry. 2, Team Quik. 3, Russ K. 4, Home Grown.