Slow work paid off for Kapono Nahina yesterday.

Nahina won the pro-am division of China Uemura's 25th Annual Longboard Surfing Classic yesterday. The final was run in 1- to 3-foot waves at the "Queens" break off Kuhio Beach, Waikiki.

"This means a lot to me," said Nahina, who is 29 and lives in Hale'iwa. "A lot of (longboard) events got canceled the last couple years, so there's not that many for us to do. This is actually one of the biggest events for us. Everybody knows Uncle China and what he does for the sport, so to win it ... I can't even describe what it feels like."

Nahina is a professional longboard surfer, but his main job is as a carpenter. He said the carpentry business has been "super slow" for the past five months.

"The only good thing about that is I got a lot of water time," he said. "I've been surfing almost every day."

Nahina was in near-perfect form in the final, receiving scores of 9.0 (out of 10) and 7.8 for his two best waves.

"There were a lot of waves, so it was fun," he said. "Everybody was surfing really well. I think I just got lucky at the end."

The win also broke a long victory drought for Nahina. His last win came in 2006.

"I haven't had a win in I don't know how long," he said. "I lost count. It feels good just to get a win again."

Nelson Ahina, a senior-to-be at Roosevelt High who is still considered an amateur competitor, was an impressive runner-up.

He received scores of 8.0 and 7.5 for his two best waves.

Many of the top-ranked competitors — including 2008 world champion Bonga Perkins — did not enter yesterday's event due to a conflicting contest in Japan.

"There's still a lot of good surfers here," Nahina said. "There was a lot of talent out there."

Keegan Edwards of Honolulu started the contest and advanced to the final. However, he had to withdraw so he could make his afternoon flight to Japan.

Kekoa Auwae of Nanakuli placed third, and was the only competitor to reach the finals of both the pro-am and stand-up paddle (SUP) divisions.

"I'm disappointed, actually," said Auwae, 25. "I'm proud I made two finals, but everybody remembers the winner. They don't remember second or third."

Auwae also placed third in the SUP division. Many of the pro-am surfers also entered the SUP division.

Auwae posted the highest scores of the early rounds, which were run in 4- to 5-foot waves Thursday.

"The first day was one of the best days I've surfed at Queens, especially for a contest," he said. "It came down (yesterday) but was still good.

Auwae had to surf several back-to-back heats yesterday because he kept advancing through both the pro-am and SUP divisions.

"I wouldn't say I ran out of gas," he said. "I just kept falling on a lot of my waves. I got out-surfed."

Robin Johnston of O'ahu's North Shore won the men's SUP division. Kekoa Uemura — China Uemura's son — placed second. Scotty Fong Jr. was fourth.

Jennifer Koki was a surprised winner of the women's SUP division.

"I'm so stoked," said Koki, 26. "I haven't been on my stand-up board too much the last couple months. I've been training more on my longboard."

Candice Appleby placed second, Geodee Clark was third, and Kawehi Whitford was fourth.

Appleby was considered the favorite in the women's SUP division.

"Candice is definitely the girl to beat," Koki said. "She goes out and beats the top guys. I guess that's why I'm so surprised to win it."

The contest will continue with amateur divisions today and tomorrow.

The event has been run every year since 1985 by China Uemura and his family. China was a former national champion in longboard surfing, and he created the contest as a way "to give back" to the community that helped him travel around the world as a competitor.

"I've been doing this contest since I was a little kid," Auwae said. "It's amazing, I consider this one of the best contests in the world now."

Koki added: "People come from far and wide to participate in this contest. It's one of the more prestigious events for longboarding. We all look forward to it."

In keeping with tradition, proceeds from the contest will be donated to a local charity. This year's benefactor is Shriner's Hospital for Children.