It will be followed by the Vans World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach, which is also a QS 10,000-rated contest, and ends with the Billabong Pipe Masters at Banzai Pipeline, the last contest on the 2019 Championship Tour.
Christie is on the CT but is also chasing points on the second-tier QS as he looks to retain his place on the CT for 2020.
The top 22 surfers on the CT points standings are safe for next year.
The only way back for those below them is earning a spot through the QS.
The top 10 on the QS qualify for the 2020 CT.
Christie is outside the top 22 on the CT. He is sitting 33rd overall on 10,905 points. Brazilian Peterson Crisanto is 22nd on 20,290.
Christie has also competed in some QS contests and is well back in the standings in 122nd spot on 3800 points.
However, the way the competitions are formated, a couple of big performances will lift him considerably up the standings, and Christie has enjoyed success in Hawaii in the past.
Whatever happens, Christie continues to be positive and enthusiastic, taking each contest and wave as it comes and maintaining a philosophy of enjoying and appreciating what surfing has given him.
“Grateful to be here for another winter,” he said on his Facebook page.
“Mahalo nui to all the locals for allowing us to come and surf your waves and enjoy your slice of paradise for six weeks. You have my utmost respect always.”
Christie is seeded into Round 3 of the Hawaiian Pro, which was on standby this morning (NZ time). Eight heats of Round 3 had been completed.
Christie is in Heat 12 and is up against American and fellow CT surfer Conner Coffin, Brazilian Luel Felipe and South African Matthew McGillivray, who is sitting 14th on the QS rankings.
