OceanFest and Girls Who Surf

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Friday - August 24, 2007

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Aloha, surfers!

First wave: Things are starting to look up ... not way up ... but up. Country awakened from its summer slumber and got playful this last Wednesday. Town will bring in some “real” waves next week around Tuesday, lasting through the weekend! Now August doesn’t have to be a total loss in the surf department.

Yukiko Whiteside won first place in the Junior Wahine Short Board Finals in the Girls Who Surf competition last weekend at Kewalos

Second Wave: Happening right now through Sunday is the sixth annual Duke Kahanamoku Foundation’s Duke’s OceanFest. Waikiki’s biggest and most diverse ocean sports festival will present a host of enjoyable events ranging from paddle, swim, surf and tandem to volleyball, surf polo and the “The Great Hawaiian 105 KINE Luau.” The lineup is amazing and so is the host of sponsors joining in the cause ... “Duke’s OceanFest is fun, it’s exciting, it’s Waikiki at its best, and it’s all being done to support Hawaii’s scholar-athletes and community organizations who are committed to perpetuating the spirit of Duke Kahanamoku,” says Fray Heath, president of the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation (ODKF).

It really is an OceanFest unlike any other. How can you get more authentic? I felt the mana last year when I surfed the MidWeek team’s Legends Longboard event with Joey Cabell ... what a blast just being out there ... a part of it all. The goals of Duke’s OceanFest are to raise funds for ODKF’s college scholarship and athletic grants program, and pay respect to the legacy of Duke Kahanamoku with a celebration of surfing and ocean sports. The purpose is fulfilled every year thanks to all who participate and to Jim Fulton and crew, plus all the sponsors. Please come down and feel the magic of Duke’s spirit of aloha ...and our blessings of nature and sport. Duke was born Aug. 24, 117 years ago. For a complete schedule of events, log on to www.dukefoundation.org. Thank you for your contribution.

By the way, don’t forget to check out the C4 Waterman Honolua Surf Co. Stand Up Beach Boy Saturday. It’s very cool to watch.

No blanks in the event calendar ... last weekend Kewalos hosted the “Girls Who Surf ” competition. Surf was small but competition a big success. You have to count the fun factor when evaluating anything. So score a victory for the wahine ... who say move over, boys ... the girls are back in town (They never really left).

Girls know how to round up prizes, too. My guess is that it’s a genetic shopping talent: roundtrip interisland tickets on go! Airlines, ukulele from Ukulele Pua Pua, fish surfboard by Willie Amodo, apparel and merchandise from Hawaiian South Shore, Box Fin Surfing, and Pipe Dreams Surf Co., photo session with WahineSurfer.net, rashguards from Xcel! - all this, on top of the usual fame, glory, respect and admiration won. Wow, and thanks to Cherrie, judges Pinoi Makalena, Joedee Clark, Meagan Gordinez and Malia Saxman, and other volunteers helped to make the event a tremendous success.

SNN has the results posted at surfnewsnetwork.com for this and the first NSSA event of the season held in Lahaina last weekend as well. Please check out the calendar link ... I’ve got lots there all the way to Dec. 31, but I’m sure I’m missing something you know about ... E-mail me anytime: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Special shout out to Gary Miyata of garymscreations.com for da great shot!

Have fun in the sun and surf! Aloha till next week ... GQ, Dropping in 4 U!