Bonga Perkins of Hale'iwa will begin defense of his longboard surfing world championship next week in Japan.

The first event of the 2009 Oxbow ASP World Longboard Tour is scheduled to start Tuesday at Akabane Beach, Tahara, Japan. It is the first of two events that will determine the 2009 world champion of longboard surfing.

Perkins won the second world title of his career last year.

He got a good warmup last month when he won a pro longboard contest in Chiba, Japan.

Perkins will be the No. 1 seed at the Tahara contest. Other seeded surfers from Hawai'i are Ned Snow (No. 9) and Duane DeSoto (No. 15). Fellow Hawai'i surfers Keegan Edwards and Kai Sallas are also in the event.

The second contest of the 2009 World Longboard Tour is scheduled for Oct. 25 to 31 at Maldives. The two events will carry equal points, and the world championship will be awarded to the best overall performer in both contests.

HEMMINGS INDUCTED INTO WALK OF FAME

Former world champion surfer and current Hawai'i state senator Fred Hemmings became a member of the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame yesterday.

Hemmings was voted in by the selection committee under the "surf pioneer" category.

Hemmings won a surfing world championship in 1968, and then became a founder and promoter of several significant surfing contests, including the Pipeline Masters and the Triple Crown of Surfing.

He was the only surfer with Hawai'i ties in the 2009 class of inductees.

Hemmings name will be imbedded in the granite stone sidewalk across from the famous Huntington Beach Pier.

Several Hawai'i surfers were inducted in previous years, including Duke Kahanamoku, Gerry Lopez, Eddie Aikau, Buffalo Keaulana, Rabbit Kekai, Rell Sunn and Andy Irons.

EXPERT WATERMEN TO PROVIDE SURF LESSONS

Hawai'i watermen Brian Keaulana, Brock Little and Aaron Napoleon are expected to be among the guest instructors at a surf clinic tomorrow for the Boys & Girls Club of Hawai'i.

The clinic is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to noon at White Plains Beach.

NEW WQS CONTEST FOR HAWAI'I SURFERS

The inaugural "Sponsor Me Hawai'i" surfing contest is scheduled for Aug. 15 to 22 at Ala Moana Bowls.

The event has already received a 1-star sanctioning from the ASP's World Qualifying Series.

For entry information, contact the ASP Hawai'i office at asphi@hawaii.rr.com.