Hawaii might be the birthplace of surfing, but some worry other locales are upstaging the state as a surfing mecca.

State Sen. Fred Hemmings, a former world champion surfer, hopes to change that with a bill he introduced in the Legislature designating Waikiki and a 7-mile stretch along Oahu's North Shore as “;surfing reserves.”;

The title would create worldwide recognition of the sites as having quality surf and promote their preservation for recreational and competitive surfing, the bill says.

Senate Bill 2646 does not create any rules, and the designation is mostly symbolic, but the word “;reserve”; is causing some concern in the surfing community.

Surfing legend George Downing said yesterday “;reserve”; means a place set aside for special use, meaning surf sites could eventually be reserved only for competitions.

Downing, president of Save Our Surf, wants the bill amended to say the sites are open to recreational surfing, fishing and limu picking.

He also criticized the bill because it does not protect surfing sites from man-made intrusions, such as breakwaters that could affect surf.

That is why Downing questioned whether the bill is needed at all.

“;Hawaii is a special place,”; he said. “;You don't have to call it a special place.”;

Hemmings said he intentionally made the bill nonrestrictive.

“;We didn't want to turn it into a turf battle,”; he said, adding that there would not be any funds to enforce restrictions if they were placed into the bill.

“;We just wanted to recognize the significance of Waikiki and the North Shore as the world's premier surfing sites,”; he said.

Supporters say there is a movement to designate sites as surfing reserves and recognize them for their cultural and economic importance. Australia has several surfing reserves, while California and New Zealand are looking into creating them.

Hemmings (R, Kailua-Hawaii Kai) said state designation of surfing sites would position Hawaii for recognition as a World Surfing Reserve.

Hemmings said Hawaii sometimes takes surfing for granted and does not do enough to celebrate the sport, which was developed by ancient Hawaiians.

He hopes that after the bill becomes law, other surfing sites around the state will be recognized as well, and community groups will put up signs identifying the sites.