It certainly is Summer. As yesterday marked the first day of summer, the waves this past week have confirmed it. Small almost non existent surf on both sides of the island.
Off The Wall, north shore
We had lots of fun surf in town however through most of the month. One swell delivered some 5 ft waves and a few days with 4 ft, but it was a pretty consistent 2-3 ft in town until the very end of the month.
Ala Moana Bowls
Buttons surfing at Ala Mo Bowls
The Northshore had a couple really fun little swells late May early June, but became virtually unridable until the end of the month when Northshore victims were extremely excited to enjoy some trade wind wrap at Lani's, Kami's and Chuns.
Mike Latronic at Backdoor, north shore
Myles Padaca at Backdoor, north shore
The weather has been a bit weird here. It gets really hot at times, but then we have had some really cool trades and the water temperature is cooler than normal so sometimes I feel like I have a fever. You get really hot on the land, but in the water your hands go numb, in June?
The amateur contest season was in full effect this month. First we had the Local Motion at Bowls, then the State Championship at Bowls, then the China Rip Curl Girls meet at Queens.
The annual Military Surf Classic was held at Kalealoa and then the T&C Grom Fest at Queens. Carissa Moore seems to be the leading grom fest. Rumors circulate about her beating all the boys at the Grom contest and others.
Carissa Moore at the China classic, Waikiki
Since school got out early June, it seems like every day is a grom fest.The little buggas are just grabbing every way they can see. It seems like we are in the pass it on era. Most guys I know are teaching their kids how to surf so its like you get double for your trouble out in the line up, but end up having more fun watching the grommets catch waves than if you were to ride them yourself.
The stand up paddle thing seems to be the new remedy to the summer blues. It seems like every time I look at the ocean theres one of them out there paddling, you know just paddling.
Personally, I am a bit nervous what the line ups will look like next winter with this paddle surf thing being the new "hype" and everyone wanting to be "the first" to do it here and there and get famous for it, you know the drill. All the local mags around here have been promoting the heck out of this thing. Brian Keaulana even started his own stand up paddling company.
Tony Moniz at Waikiki
The jr. lifeguards are at it again. A great program lead by our Hawaii lifeguards grooming our youth about water safety. A shark attack recently occured a Silva's, but the surfer was unharmed. Carol Phillips is leading the charge by holding a hearing today for the Save Kawela Bay Project. It sounds like they are trying to close the parking lot at Kaiser/Bowls. They have been dredging out the lagoon over there for about a year now and have a big wall up so people cant see what they are doing. Its weird. The parking has been pathetic down there with the surfers, construction workers and hotel; its by far the worse I've ever seen.
The Volcano is going off on the Big Island so much that they even had to shut down some of the park there and have been getting several little earthquakes on the Big Island. The pictures they have been showing on the TV of the Lava are beautiful.
E40 came to the Blaisedell Arena and got hypy this month. Local MCs (rappers); The Direct Descendents threw a party for there new album called Dirty Aloha. Seasoned artist Big Moxx opened for the crew and it was a great show. They frequent a place called Jazzmines in Honolulu. I checked it out this month and really enjoyed jammin to some local Jazz crews there.
Though women aren't exactly welcome at the Banzai Pipeline, the Pipeline Posse's new clothing line has a really cool range of tee shirts sweats and tank tops for women. I own a couple pieces myself. 3rd Stone Surfboard Factory is opening up a new store at the back of their factory which will feature cool local labels including Us Girls and Sean Davey Photography Prints.
Flynn Novak sponsored by the Pipeline Posse
There is a big hype about a big, long lasting swell coming. Maybe I'm the sacrifice, since I'm leaving the day before it gets here, so sorry all but, I hope it's not big. Don't you hate when you wait and wait for that big one, then it comes the two weeks you're gone, then again sometimes those swells they hype for 3 weeks ahead of time never even get here.
Lane Davey surfing at Ala Mo Bowls recently
This south shore saga continues...................stay tuned.
