 Sharpe's next stop was Hawaii where he quickly became the top contender for the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship.In November 1978 when the previous champion, Don Muraco, won the NWA Pacific International Heavyweight Championship, was forced to vacate the Hawaiian championship, Sharpe was awarded the title, later losing it to Mando Guerrero on November 22.After a brief stint in the Mid Atlantic, he returned to the WWF in 1979.