Consistent south shore surf prevailed throughout the month. Though it was nice to have such a good run of surf, surfers were bummed out that surf heights never went over 6 feet all summer and even the 6 foot waves were scarce. There was one swell that probably had a six foot wave every 2 hours and that was one of only three of those swells all summer long.
Winter is still far from getting under way. We had one swell in the 1-3 ft range and a couple other swells about 1/2 that size all month on northern shores. The crowds were a lot bigger than the waves since surf has been unusually inconsistent on north shores this summer. There are 2 swells on the horizon for north shores next week while the south shores go dormant. The weather made a drastic change towards the end of last month; from hot to cool and the sun is rising and setting much earlier.
The community is filled with voting billboards and politicians waving at you all the time as we prepare for elections. I think surfers are taking politics more seriously these days with a perpetual push towards new developments on the North shore and a threat to our roadways, waters and way of life, not to mention a seeming increase in sewage spills and run off.
Body Surfing has been going through a renaissance in recent seasons here on the north shore. There is a steadily growing community of keen bodysurfers, just waiting on those magic glassy days at OTW and Pupukea. Some have been out enjoying some of the small swells at OFF THE WALL recently.
Tandem surfing seemed to make a comeback at last month's Duke Fest in Waikiki and they are the highlight of summer to Hawaii's media.
Tandem surfing
The Kawela Bay project is still finding loopholes to push its way through the court system. No one really seems to know what's going on.
Kawela Bay
Looks like the Catholic Church at Waimea has finally privatized their parking lot. First they put up no parking signs and now there is a new gate being build around it. It was nice of them to let surfers use it all these years. Parking is going to be at more of a premium than ever during big swells this winter.
Girl Fest came to Hawaii this month exhibiting women DJs, poets and a film documentary festival. This kept Honolulu's nightclub scene busy for about 2 weeks. Matty Liu has been holding his weekly chemistry lounge at Longhi's these days. He hosted the Kai Mana Awards party for Free Surf Magazine this month. WSSM (Womens Surf Style Magazine) has expanded from its root in Hawaii to California and recently Florida.
The new Go! airlines is really holdin' it down here for interisland flights forcing all major carriers to submit to the sale price of $29 each way to outer islands. Go!, hosted by Mesa Airlines has reportedly had an incredible start here in Hawaii and plans to keep low fares available to customers.
This month's report will be dedicated to legendary photographer Warren Bolster who took his own life this month. Warren struggled with his health both physically and mentally for years and was said to have been on a high dosage of oxycontin to keep him out of pain. Nonetheless, we all saw him out at Pipeline, Ala Moana and other intense line ups right to the end. He was last seen by most at the Dukes Fest in Waikiki. His images which pioneered surf photography will surely live forever. RIP Warren.
by Lane Davey
