Kaua'i's Mia Melamed won the women's division of the Surfing America USA Championships this week at Huntington Beach, Calif.

It was the third time that Melamed won the women's division at the event.

The USA Championships is considered one of the top contests for amateur surfers.

In other divisions involving Hawai'i surfers, La'akea Davis placed third in men's longboard, and Nelson Ahina placed fourth in junior longboard.

The adult and longboard divisions were completed earlier this week. The youth divisions — featuring dozens of Hawai'i surfers — will run through the weekend.

HENDRICKSON WINS THREE NSSA DIVISIONS

Maui's Tanner Hendrickson took advantage of home-island surf to win three divisions at the NSSA Hawai'i RVCA Series event last weekend.

The two-day contest ran in 1- to 3-foot waves at Lahaina Harbor.

Hendrickson won the open men, explorer men and explorer junior divisions.

Kaua'i's Malia Manuel won the open women and explorer women divisions.

Other division winners were Kolohe Andino (open juniors), Ian Gentil (open boys), Noa Mizuno (open mini-groms), D.K. Walsh (open longboard), Koa Smith (explorer boys), Seth Moniz (explorer menehune), Maluhia Kinimaka (explorer girls) and Kai Lenny (explorer longboard).

It was the second of nine events on the 2008-09 NSSA Hawai'i RVCA Series. The top surfers in the series will represent Hawai'i at the 2009 NSSA National Championships at California next July.

FARNWORTH REPEATS AT BIG ISLAND CONTEST

Soleil Farnworth won the men's open championship for the second consecutive year at the 24th annual Quiksilver/Kama'aina Nissan Big Island Pro-Am Surfing Trials last week.

Joey Oda placed second, Casey Halpern was third and Jalian Johnston finished fourth. All four received a spot in a professional contest on O'ahu's North Shore this winter.

Shruti Greenwood won the women's division, Koa Enriquez repeated as champion in the longboard division, and Ricky Alvarez won the bodyboard division.

The contest was run in 4- to 6-foot surf at Honoli'i Beach Park, Hilo.

SURF FILM PIONEER TO BE HONORED ON MONDAY

Bud Browne, called "the father of surf films," will be honored at a memorial service Monday.

It is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at Waimea Falls Park, and an exhibit of his photography will be on display.

Browne gained fame for making surf films in the 1950s and '60s. He died last week at the age of 96.