[ SURFING ]
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Dayten Weber, 4, rides a wave into shore after competing in the Rabbit Kekai Gromboard Contest at Waikiki Beach yesterday.
Rabbit runs event
for the kids
Double-overhead surf rolled through yesterday, and 200 eager competitors charged the big Hawaiian waves.
No, it was not another day for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing on the North Shore. The event was the inaugural Surflife Rabbit Kekai Grom Contest, held at Queen's in Waikiki.
The waves offered clean 2- to 8-foot faces, average stuff to an adult surfer. But in this keiki-only contest, the South Shore waves dwarfed the 3- to 4-foot frames of most of the young surfers -- and they loved it.
Surfing "feels like flying," Dana Miyashiro, 8, said. "I never stood up until I was 5, but I've loved the water ever since I was 1. This is my first contest, and I didn't expect it to be this good."
Said 12-year-old Kaiao Goins of the waves yesterday: "It's pretty good -- it's getting a little bit better. I'm really stoked; this is fun. I love catching big waves."
The contest for kids ages 4 to 12 was staged by 83-year-old surf icon Rabbit Kekai -- one of the original Waikiki beachboys and a pupil of the legendary Duke Kahanamoku -- along with Surflife.
"I started a lot of kids out here, and now they're in the world rankings -- like (current pros) Sunny Garcia, Andy Irons, Bruce Irons," Kekai said. "Duke started me when I was a kid ... and the one thing he told me was, 'Now that you have the knowledge, when you get big pass it on to the little kids.' I've been doing that all through the years. With this (contest) here, I look at the little kids and they all come out here and they're so happy. It's the best thing I can have for them."
Sage-like for her age, Miyashiro described Kekai as "a living part of history. He's seen Waikiki change before his eyes."
All competitors were provided Surflife foam boards to tackle the waves and guaranteed a grab bag of prizes that included a trophy and T-shirt. Contest proceeds primarily benefited the Rabbit Kekai Foundation, which promotes surfing to Hawaii's underprivileged children.
The two-day event concluded yesterday, receiving lots of support from other individuals and companies in the surf industry. Besides the waves, highlights also included raffles for Surflife boards and an autograph session with former six-time world champion Kelly Slater of Florida.
"I met Rabbit and we became friends, and I told him, 'Let's do something for the children of Hawaii, and something in your honor,'" Surflife founder Matthew Murasko said. "As a manufacturer, I wanted to give something back to the people of Hawaii."
Four divisions were contested for both boys and girls -- ages 4-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12.
Winners were honored in each division, but the event was more about celebrating the sport and lifestyle of surfing and encouraging Hawaii's youth to taste the positive energy it provides.
Seven-year-old Kiane Starnes moved to Oahu from Oregon with her father, Donovan, about a year ago, and was immediately hooked on the sport. Admitted "mountain people," the Starneses now regularly surf at Waikiki. The Kekai Grom Contest was Kiane's second surf competition.
"I like the waves, but I'm afraid of falling off (the board)," she said.
Said Donovan Starnes: "She rode good, I thought. This is progress for her. ... (And) this is perfect for the kids. They can be little brats on shore, but you get in the water with them and they're fun and happening. It's a positive, positive gig."
