Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau has been chosen as winner of the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award.

The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced the award Wednesday.

Liufau helped lead the Buffaloes to a 10-2 record and Pac-12 South Division championship after CU went 4-9 last year.

Formal presentation of the award will be made at the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner on Jan. 20 on Oahu.

Other finalists included Cole Hikutini (Louisville), Lowell Lotulelei (Utah), Kai Nacua (BYU), and Juju Smith-Schuster (USC).

Past winners are Marcus Mariota and Ronnie Stanley.

See polynesianfootballhof.org for more information about the 2017 enshrinement weekend, including the inaugural Polynesia Bowl, Jan. 21 at Aloha Stadium.

Hoopla 2016 set for Thursday

“Hoopla 2016,” a fundraiser for the University of Hawaii Wahine Basketball team, will be held Thursday at the Hukilau Restaurant at the Executive Centre in downtown Honolulu, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at 2016WBBHoopla.eventbrite.com and are $100 per person and include two drinks. Corporate sponsorships ($1,500) are also available.

Last year’s Hoopla raised $39,000 for the team. The funds helped with summer school expenses for five returning players and nine new players, coach Laura Beeman said. Some of the funds were also used to purchase new software to help with the team’s film sessions in the breakdown of games and for the staff to use in improving how they teach during practice and post-game sessions. Remaining funds also helped toward costs to improve the team’s locker room and conference room, where the team spends most of their time outside of the classroom or the basketball court, Beeman added.

Hawaii longboarders advance in China

Three Hawaii surfers won their heats on Wednesday to advance to the third round of the World Surf League Jeep World Longboard Championship at Riyue Bay on Hainan Island, China.

Duane DeSoto posted the highest score among the Hawaii entrants in the second round while advancing past Japan’s Shohei Akimoto 17.16-13.00. Kai Sallas posted a score of 14.56 to advance past Martin Coret (12.10) of Reunion Island. Ned Snow advanced over Grant Beck of South Africa 14.93-11.16. Kaniela Stewart was eliminated by Matthew Moir of South Africa 13.07-10.77.

Sallas and Snow are slated to meet in the third round. DeSoto is paired with another Hawaii competitor in Nelson Ahina.