Kai was given a wildcard to the Global Challenge for good reason. The underground powerhouse from Maui is quickly developing into a force to be reckoned with. While fellow Garden Isle stars like Dusty Payne and Clay Marzo steal the spotlight, Kai’s quietly been going about his business…which as of late has consisted of massive forehand gaffs and long, no-hands, backside pits. The capable goofy-footer—who has shades of both Freddy Patacchia and Sunny Garcia in his surfing—has refined his act, thriving in anything from perfect six-foot Honolua, to the kegging Brazilian beach breaks of Fernando De Noronha, to your everyday, run-of-the-mill beach break junk. Feasting on a steady diet of pro junior events and travel, it’s safe to say 2008 was Kai’s big breakout season… getting the cover of Surfer magazine’s October issue, heaps of editorial, blowing it up in Bali, and if that doesn’t wasn’t enough, he wins the WORLD JUNIOR TITLE.