‘A significant moment’: Kailua surfer Cash Hoover punches ticket to pro tour

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Cash Hoover, 16, punched her ticket to the World Surf League.

Hoover won the La Union International Pro in January, taking an early wave score lead and never looked back.

“A significant moment that I’ll remember, because it’s something I’ve been working for for so long and something that I’ve wanted for so long,” Hoover told Hawaii News Now.

She beat out a field of 120 surfers and secured one of two women’s wildcard invites into the longboard tour for the 2026 season.

It’s the culmination of a journey that started as a grom, learning to surf from her dad.

“Doing a lot of other events to try to qualify, which I was really close to,” Hoover said. “So just securing my spot before the year starts really is helpful.”

Now set to compete on tour, the Kailua native is ultra focused on perfecting her craft.

“Staying focused and competing with all the best people that are trying to qualify in the world was a big learning moment for me,” she said.

It’s a drive and determination her parents say came naturally.

“She has developed this love and passion for surfing, but she also has this knack of competing where, you know, she doesn’t really get nervous like other people get nervous,” said Cash’s mom, Michelle Hoover. “She goes into it excited and she goes into it with this drive.”

The Hoover ohana has been by Cash’s side every step of the way with her dad as coach and her mom helping her with homeschooling while also traveling with her to surf meets.

“I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere else without my mom and dad, and my dad taught me how to surf,” Hoover said. “So if it wasn’t for my dad, I wouldn’t even be doing the sport, so I’m really thankful and my mom always films me wherever we go with my dad, so it’s a really big family commitment, so I’m really happy.”

Now looking forward, Hoover is excited to surf amongst some of her childhood idols.

“It’s really cool to be now competing against the girls and watching everyone and being able to travel with them around the world,” Hoover said. “So it’s really cool to just be there with them now when I watched them growing up.”

She’s a rising star, looking to charge the waves and her pro career head on.

“You know, whatever her dreams might carry on beyond that,” Michelle said. “I think she’s going to be surfing for a while.”

“Hopefully one day I can be in my twenties and see those girls almost being on tour and just have that same cycle that I get to watch,” Cash added.