Maui's Granger Larsen is ready to graduate from scholastic surfing.

Ideally, he'd like to do it with honors.

Larsen warmed up for his final summer of amateur surfing by winning the open men's division of the NSSA Hawai'i Region Championships this week.

The three-day event was run in waves that ranged from 2 to 5 feet at Kewalo Basin. NSSA stands for National Scholastic Surfing Association, and more than 120 youth surfers — with qualifying grades — from around the state participated this week.

The top surfers from the Region Championships will represent Hawai'i at the NSSA National Championships in June at San Clemente, Calif.

"This is my last year doing these contests, so I really want to do good at nationals," said Larsen, 18. "I never won the open men's (division) at nationals, so I'd like to get that."

The open men's division is considered the top division for males in NSSA contests.

Larsen defeated three other Maui surfers in the final this week. Billy Kemper placed second, Albee Layer was third, and Kai Barger fourth.

"The final was all Maui boys, and everybody was ripping, so I'm psyched to get it," said Larsen, who is from Lahaina.

Alessa Quizon of Makaha won the open women's division — the top division for females.

"The waves were really good," said Quizon, 14. "I'm glad I did good in the open women because that's the big one."

Punahou School sophomore Carissa Moore — who owns a record 11 NSSA national titles — did not enter the Hawai'i Region competition, and will not enter the national championships.

"Carissa is concentrating on other events, and we will miss her at nationals," NSSA Hawai'i Region director Bobbi Lee said. "But it gives the other girls a great opportunity."

Coco Ho of Sunset Beach won the explorer women's division, and Leila Hurst of Kaua'i won the explorer girls division.

"There's so many good girls, even if Carissa is not there," Quizon said. "Anybody can win it."

More than 70 surfers from Hawai'i are expected to compete at the NSSA National Championships. It is considered one of the top events in the country for amateur surfers.

"Pretty much all the best guys in the United States are there," Larsen said. "If you can get a win, it's huge."

This week's regional competition wasn't all about first-place trophies. Several scholarships and prizes were awarded as well.

For example, Monyca Byrne-Wickey of Maui and Ry Cowan of Kaua'i received $2,500 college scholarships.

Also, several professional surfers awarded financial assistance for the Hawai'i youths to fly to the national championships.

Kaoli Kahokuloa, 12, received one of the best prizes — a first-class ticket to the national championships, courtesy of pro surfer Makuakai Rothman.

"He has a clothing sponsor (Quiksilver), but we were planning on paying the airfare out of our pocket," said Kaoli's mother, Elea. "This is a big surprise. And first class! That's so awesome."

Other pro surfers contributing airfares were Kekoa Cazimero, Mikey Bruneau, Fred Patacchia Jr., Jason Shibata, Flynn Novak and Mikala Jones.

"The NSSA was such a huge part of my career," Shibata said. "A lot of us got to where we are now because of organizations like NSSA. It's just a small way to give back."

NSSA HAWAI'I REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS

OPEN DIVISIONS

Men: 1, Granger Larsen. 2, Billy Kemper. 3, Albee Layer. 4, Kai Barger. Women: 1, Alessa Quizon. 2, Nage Melamed. 3, Monyca Byrne-Wickey. 4, Malia Manuel. Boys: 1, Koa Smith. 2, Ian Gentil. 3, Luke Hitchcock. 4, Kain Daly. 5, Makai McNamara. 6, Seth Moniz. Longboard: 1, Kaoli Kahokuloa. 2, Bullet Obra. 3, DK Walsh. 4, Michael Stuart. 5, Kazuma Saita. 6, Shaun Walsh. Juniors: 1, Tanner Hendrickson. 2, Ezekiel Lau. 3, John John Florence. 4, Keanu Asing. 5, Matty Costa. 6, Makana Eleogram. Mini-groms: 1, Imaikalani DeVault. 2, Kalani David. 3, Kaulanu Apo. 4, Seth Moniz. 5, Pierre Graham. 6, Kona Oliveira.

EXPLORER DIVISIONS

Juniors: 1, John John Florence. 2, Levi Gonzales. 3, Granger Larsen. 4, Tyler Newton. 5, Albee Layer. 6, Alex Smith. Boys: 1, Kaimana Jaquias. 2, Keanu Asing. 3, Ezekiel Lau. 4, Luke Hitchcock. 5, Makai McNamara. 6, Matty Costa. Men: 1, Kai Barger. 2, John John Florence. 3, Dylan Goodale. 4, Granger Larsen. 5, Albee Layer. 6, Alex Smith. Girls: 1, Leila Hurst. 2, Alessa Quizon. 3, Nage Melamed. 4, Alisha Gonsalves. 5, Kelia Moniz. 6, Malia Manuel. Women: 1, Coco Ho. 2, Leila Hurst. 3, Alessa Quizon. 4, Nage Melamed. 5, Monyca Byrne-Wickey. 6, Alisha Gonsalves. Longboard: 1, Bullet Obra. 2, Kazuma Saita. 3, DK Walsh. 4, Shaun Walsh. 5, Michael Stuart. Menehune: 1, Seth Moniz. 2, Luke Hitchcock. 3, Makai McNamara. 4, Koa Smith. 5, Joshua Moniz. 6, Ian Gentil. Masters: 1, Christian Budroe. 2, Scott Shimoda. 3, Dale Sabate. Seniors: 1, Dale Sabate. 2, Eric Olson. 3, Christian Budroe. 4, Brian Suratt. 5, Raymond Shito. Super Seniors: 1, Raymond Shito.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.