The surfing term "clean conditions" played a significant role yesterday at Ala Moana Bowls.

The opening day of the Hawai'i Amateur Surfing Association State Championship contest was run yesterday in "clean" waves of 2 to 4 feet. Light winds and a bright sun made for picturesque conditions — at least above the surface.

"It was fun, had some good barrels," said Wai'anae's Hizson Lin-Kee Jr., who was one of yesterday's standouts in the boys division.

It was also the first time a surfing contest was run near Magic Island since the infamous sewage spill in the Ala Wai Canal in late March. Ala Moana Bowls is considered one of the best waves on O'ahu's south shore.

The state Department of Health had posted warning signs of water contamination at Ala Moana Bowls for two months after the sewage spill. The signs were removed two weeks ago, clearing the way for the state championship contest to run this weekend.

HASA director Wendell Aoki said the contest would have moved to Sandy Beach if the warning signs had not been removed. He said he was not aware of any competitors refusing to surf in the contest because of the water conditions.

"The number one concern is the safety and well-being of the kids," said Tommy Asing, whose son Keanu competed in the boys division yesterday. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't safe. I'm confident (Aoki) is making the right call for everybody involved."

Preliminary heats in the various youth divisions were run yesterday, and every surfer made a beeline to the showers after surfing.

"We're all rinsing off," said Lin-Kee, 15. "Some guys are even washing with soap."

A group of surfers from the Big Island shared an industrial-sized container of antibacterial disinfectant.

"As soon as the kids are out of the water, we're putting it on them," said Bill Brown, whose daughter Allie competed in the girls division. "We feel safe because the state cleared it, but you just want to be careful."

Jill Smith of Kilauea, Kaua'i, has three sons in the competition this weekend. She was especially concerned yesterday because her youngest son, Koa, surfed with a scrape on his foot.

"We've been cleaning it all day, putting on the Neosporin," she said. "I've always been concerned about this place. It was dirty even before the sewage spill. But if you ask the boys, they'd much rather surf here than (Sandy Beach)."

Indeed, many of the surfers were pleased with yesterday's waves.

"When the waves are like this, it's not even close," said Allie Brown, 16. "When it's a better wave, you get better performance."

When Tommy Asing found out that the contest would run at Ala Moana Bowls, he took his son there to practice on Thursday.

"Before the contamination, we used to surf here on a regular basis," he said. "(Thursday) was the first time we came back, and it seems like everything was back to normal."

His 13-year-old son Keanu said: "I didn't surf a good wave in a long time, so it felt good to surf Bowls again."

Hizson Lin-Kee Sr. said he was not too concerned about letting his son surf in yesterday's conditions. He said they normally practice in the Wai'anae and Makaha waves.

"I think there's contamination everywhere," he said. "There's a sewer plant out where we live and we surf out there all the time."

For some surfers in the contest this weekend, the risk may be worth the reward. The top finishers will represent Hawai'i at the USA Championships, July 11 to 19 at Oceanside, Calif.

"These (kids) worked hard all year to get to this point," Bill Brown said. "And when the waves are firing like it is today, it's a great opportunity."

Preliminary heats will continue today, and the finals are scheduled to run tomorrow.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.