Above all else, the Quiksilver Makahiki Games is about fun and games for some of Hawai'i's best watermen.

That was evident yesterday, when a water-balloon fight broke out — in the ocean — among the paddlers in the canoe-surfing final.

"When it comes down to it, we all want to win," Makaha's Brian Keaulana said. "But this is all in fun. Bragging rights, mostly."

The final day of the two-day competition was completed yesterday in 3- to 5-foot waves at Makaha Beach. The event features longboard surfing, tandem surfing, canoe surfing and stand-up paddle surfing.

This year was the 13th annual Makahiki Games, and the stand-up paddle surfing competition made its debut.

In stand-up paddle surfing, competitors must stand on a longboard at all times (no lying down like in regular surfing), and use a canoe paddle to maneuver the board and catch waves.

Bonga Perkins, a former longboarding world champion, won the stand-up paddle surfing division yesterday.

"It's getting more and more popular, so guys are getting better and better," Perkins said.

He described the sport as "technical" because it involves various aspects.

"There's a lot going on all at once," Perkins said. "You have to know how to paddle, you need good balance, you have to know how to catch the waves, and then you have to actually surf. It's a killer, I tell you."

Perkins put on a clinic yesterday, scoring a perfect 10 for a long ride in the final.

"You have to know how to use that paddle, too, because that's like an extra arm," he said. "It helps your balance if you use it the right way."

Ned Snow, who is currently Hawai'i's top-ranked professional longboard surfer, tried stand-up paddle surfing for the first time this weekend, and he placed second to Perkins.

"I've practiced before, but just paddling around for exercise," Snow said. "I never tried it in the surf before (yesterday). It was really fun. When you're standing up on the board like that, it really gives you an advantage because you can see what's coming and paddle yourself into position. In regular surfing, you're lying down and paddling, so you don't really get to see all of the waves."

Keaulana, who is considered one of Hawai'i's top all-around watermen, said stand-up paddle surfing has become one of his favorite training methods.

"Out of everything I do, this is the one that gives me the greatest workout," Keaulana said. "You're using strength, and you're using balance. It's such good core training."

Keaulana entered all four divisions of the Makahiki Games, and he was the captain and steersman for the "Stunts Unlimited" team that won the canoe surfing division. Other paddlers on his crew were Keone Downing, Dave Parmenter and Terry Ahue.

Each team could use four paddlers in the canoe, and the judging was based on length of rides and maneuverability of the canoe on the waves.

The water-balloon fight broke out while the canoes were paddling out to start the final.

"I enjoy everything, all the events, whether (the waves are) 2 feet or 20 feet," Keaulana said. "But the canoe surfing is sweet because it's a team thing and there's so much smack talk. It would be classic if you could record what we were saying out there."

If there is a serious division in the Makahiki Games, it is the longboard surfing competition. Most of Hawai'i's top pros were entered, and the top performers earned points toward qualifying for the world championship contest later this year.

Honolulu's Kekoa Uemura won the longboard final Saturday, snapping the three-year winning streak of Makaha's Duane DeSoto.

DeSoto placed second, Kai Sallas was third, and Kamu Auwae fourth.

In the tandem-surfing division, Mel Pu'u and partner Nani Kealoha won, edging Keaulana and Kathy Terada.

FINAL RESULTS

Longboard surfing: 1, Kekoa Uemura, $1,500. 2, Duane DeSoto, $750. 3, Kai Sallas, $350. 4, Kamu Auwae, $250. 5 (tie), Kapono Nahina and Lance Ho'okano, $200. 7 (tie), Keegan Edwards and Dave Parmenter, $100.

Tandem surfing: 1, Mel Pu'u/Nani Kealoha, $400. 2, Brian Keaulana/Kathy Terada, $200. 3, Kalani Vierra/Blanch Yoshida, $150. 4, Makamae DeSoto/Shae Kamaka'ala, $100. 5, Bobby Friedman/Tiare Friedman.

Canoe surfing: 1, Stunts Unlimited (Brian Keaulana), $800. 2, Team Quik (Mel Pu'u), $400. 3, Team Honolua (Archie Kalepa), $200. 4, Leeward Kai (Ryan Van Gieson), $100.

Stand-up paddle surfing: 1, Bonga Perkins, $400. 2, Ned Snow, $200. 3, Leleo Kinimaka, $150. 4, Dave Kalama, $100.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.