Professional longboard surfers Bonga Perkins, Ned Snow and Kekoa Uemura are expected to be among the guest instructors at the Na Kama Kai Ocean Awareness Clinic tomorrow at Kaimana Beach.

The clinic is free for children ages 2 to 12, and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Na Kama Kai is a nonprofit organization run by professional longboard surfer Duane DeSoto of 'Ewa.

"The goal is to create opportunities for needy kids — and all kids, really — to enjoy the ocean and learn swimming and surfing and other ocean activities," DeSoto said. "This is Hawai'i, and I feel like every kid who lives here should have an opportunity to enjoy the ocean, regardless of where you're from or what your situation is."

Parents need to accompany their children to the clinic and sign a waiver form before participating.

The clinic is part of the E Malama i ke Kai Ocean Awareness Festival. The festival at the Kapi'olani Park Bandstand will feature live entertainment, children's games, craft and food booths, a silent auction and Hawaiian cultural presentations.

The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will benefit Punana Leo o Kawaiaha'o — a Hawaiian language immersion preschool.

MERLE-JONES WINS WQS CONTEST IN CALIFORNIA

Kaua'i's Jesse Merle-Jones won the Koastalkaos.com Pro men's surfing contest last week at Oceanside, Calif.

Merle-Jones edged California's Shey Yates in the final.

The event was part of the 2008 World Qualifying Series. Wai'anae's Sunny Garcia placed fourth in the contest and moved up to No. 10 in the 2008 WQS ratings.

The top 16 surfers in the final 2008 WQS ratings will be called up to the 2009 World Championship Tour.

LONGBOARDERS HALFWAY TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

The World Longboard Tour consists of just two contests in 2008, so the recently completed Oxbow WLT event marked the halfway point of the tour.

Bonga Perkins of Hale'iwa placed third in the Oxbow WLT contest in France, so he is in position to challenge for the world title at the final contest.

The final event of the tour will be held at Lower Trestles, San Clemente, Calif., in either October or November.

Duane DeSoto of 'Ewa tied for ninth place in France, and also has a shot at the 2008 world title.