Surfer Photographer Ha'a Eats with Compassion, the Aloha Way

The Beet May 8, 2020

If she’s not in running 20 feet underwater, 50-pound rock in tow, Ha’a Keaulana is either at work, photographing other surfers at Mākaha Beach, or making Tofu Musubi in an air fryer.  Born 27 years ago into Hawaii’s unofficial “First Family of Surfing”, riding waves is in this West Side of Oahu native’s DNA. Her nickname is Ha’a, but her full name, Kaiha’ale’a, translates to “Joyful Dancing Sea” – apropos, given her family dynasty.

Ha’a’s grandfather is legendary waterman “Buffalo” Keaulana, icon and four-decade host of Buffalo’s Big Board Classic surf contest. Her father, Brian, is a big-wave surfer and the film industry’s go-to water stunt expert while Brian’s brother, Rusty, is a three-time World Longboard Champ. On top of all that: Ha’a cousin is actor Jason Mamoa, a.k.a. “Aquaman.”

Read More: Surfer Photographer Ha'a Eats with Compassion, the Aloha Way

Fishpeople | Lives Transformed by the Sea

 Fishpeople tells the stories of a unique cast of characters who have dedicated their lives to the sea. Featuring Kimi Werner, Eddie Donnellan, Dave Rastovich, Matahi Drollet, Ray Collins and Lynne Cox. Directed by Keith Malloy

Epic Big Wave Surf Foiling in Nazare w/ Laird Hamiton, Terry Chung, Luca...

Moving at a speed where your mind slows things down to gain control... In early 2020 Laird Hamilton, Terry Chung, Luca Padua and Benny Ferris were out with top surfers across the globe in Nazare Portugal to surf waves that come about rarely, if ever. After extensive experimentation with setups and technique, this group was going to go after the breaks in Nazare in a different way, on surf foils that allow for an unreal speed on the water and an entirely new experience. Documented by Patrick Wieland, on custom classic foils engineered by the team at Lift Foils.

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Friend and Waterman Wyatt Werneth and his Wife Pam Need Your Support!

Wyatt Werneth….. you know him as many things - Waterman, Veteran, Firefighter, Lifeguard, Stuntman, Volunteer, Dad, Husband, Friend and one of the most “joyful” souls you’ll ever meet. In mid-January, Wyatt was diagnosed with neck cancer. While Pam & Wyatt would have preferred to tell their friends what’s happening personally, they are busy seeing doctors and prepping Wyatt for this journey.

His treatment will be intensive and brutal - 5 days a week of radiation and chemo for 7 weeks in Orlando at the VA Lake Nona Medical Center. The daily 2 hour commute along with the intensive treatments and ongoing Dr visits will be exhausting and difficult. Thankfully, the VA will cover his medical expenses but Pam’s jewelry business, Jewelry by Pam, cannot sustain them financially during the treatments and healing time.

Even though Wyatt will be unable to work during this intense treatment, he has served his country and community passionately. He served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. He is and has been an exceptional volunteer in his community including firefighting and currently as a rescue swimmer for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Aviation unit. He is an Officer with the US Navy Sea Cadet Corp. Close to his heart is his most recent volunteer project, Drown Zero Rescue Stations. He designed and implemented these stations to prevent drownings in unguarded beaches. In 2007, he was awarded the Guinness World Record for paddling the coast of Florida in 10 days to raise awareness of ocean drownings in Brevard County. He is also a member of the Cocoa Beach Rotary Club and Cocoa Beach Kiwanis Club. Wyatt has spent his life helping people. He is a very giving human being, always ready to help and encourage anyone.

Which is why, as people find out about his diagnosis, the first question is - What can I do to help? This GoFundMe page is the best way to help alleviate the financial stress of paying travel and living expenses during this difficult time. It’s our turn to help him and his family! Thank you in advance from the bottom of their hearts! To contribute:  GoFundMe

GoFundMe Organized by Kim Walker and Robert Long of Pam Werneth. Feb 20, 2020

Read; Wyatt Werneth has committed entire life to ocean safety and will be honored with Space Coast Public Service Lifetime Achievement Award

Kai Lenny: Interesting Facts About The Hawaiian Waterman

Kai Lenny is widely regarded as one of the world's most accomplished and complete watermen.

Surfing Today FEBRUARY 3, 2020

The Maui-born athlete often credits windsurfing for helping him excel in big wave surfing, bodysurfing, hydrofoil surfing, kitesurfing, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), prone paddling, wing surfing, and canoeing.

In other words, when Lenny is in the water, we can inevitably expect him to deliver stunning performances in extreme ocean conditions, rivers, bays, lakes, and surf pools.

The all-round watersports fanatic enjoys stepping outside of his comfort zone - he takes high risks and expects high rewards.

Kai Lenny is a natural-born competitor, but also a methodical, disciplined, and highly organized professional.

The Hawaiian carefully maintains and selects his equipment, loves testing new shapes, and always watches a lot of videos before paddling out at new surf spots.

Kai is has a busy agenda, but when he is not chasing swells, the waterman dedicates his time to raising awareness about plastic pollution in the ocean and the dangers of microplastics.

Lenny also supports and sponsors children's events and several charitable projects.

The regular-footer is known for being a charismatic, friendly, polite, gentle, positive, and warm person, and his signature smile lights up everyone's mood.

Let's take a look at Kai Lenny's most important bio and career details.  Read More

How Diving Can Improve Your Surfing, with Mark Healey

Hawaiian waterman explains the benefits of descending beneath the surface

Surfline January 29, 2020

These days, the virtual world is nearly as tangible as the good ol’ fashioned terra firma. There it is, constantly in our pockets, awaiting our scrolls and likes and hashtags. But Oahu’s own Mark Healey lives in the real world, unplugged à la The Matrix. He’s in the sea – surfing, diving, and fishing. He’s on land – hunting wild boar. He’s in the air – or, rather, he’s breathing it in ways to help him in his pastimes above. He’s a man of the physical world in all its material forms; although his Instagram account is still a solid follow. Just sayin’.

And one of Healey’s favorite side hustles – outside of his main muse, surfing – is diving. He’s become a well-respected free diver and award-winning spear fisherman, which, in an era when simply packing a bomb at Pipeline or hucking air reverses on repeat has become blasé, is important. You need to be more than just a good surfer to be recognized. You need to be an eco-warrior or a musician or a mixed martial artist or (in Healey’s case) an all-around “waterman.” And, more importantly, it also helps to have something else to do when the waves go flat.

But the best part is, Healey’s hobbies help him when big swells do arrive. And diving in particular. So, for another edition of our ongoing series on cross-training, we picked Healey’s brain about what it’s like to go beneath the surface, and how it helps when he comes back to the lineup.

MARICHALAR CONTINUES HIS GLOBAL JOURNEY ABOARD HIS PWC

 

We recently informed you about Alvaro De Marichalar’s journey across the globe where he began his voyage around Spain and to the Canary Islands.

We have just received word that he successfully made the long trip across the Atlantic Ocean and is in the Caribbean.  Alvaro has been trekking through Saint Barth’s island, Puerto Rico, and Cuba.

He plans to then journey through the Gulf of Mexico region across Florida, Texas, and down Mexico to the Panama Canal.  The next stage of his U.S. visit will take him up the west coast from California to Washington and then up to Alaska.

We imagine his riding gear will be dramatically changing as he nears the polar regions and eventually makes his way along the Alaska coast and across to Russia.

Marichalar then plans to continue back south along Japan and finally westward again on his journey back to Spain.  We wish him luck and be sure to stay tuned for more information on his historic 1519 world tour.

From The Watercraft Journal by; BRICE LECKRONE