Hawaii

Big wave surfing champion calls out Hawaiian Airlines for overweight bag policies

Published

1 year ago

October 18, 2023

Big wave surfing champion calls out Hawaiian Airlines for overweight bag policies

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Maui native and big wave champion Billy Kemper is calling out Hawaiian Airlines, asking for the carrier to re-visit its baggage policy after he could not check in his surfboards.

Kemper was on his way back to his home island earlier this week, set to surf the legendary Jaws wave at Peahi, but before he tackled one of the world’s most challenging wave, he was hit with another obstacle — he couldn’t get his boards on the plane.

Kemper posted a video to his Instagram on Tuesday after he was not allowed to fly with his board bag which was two pounds over Hawaiian Airline’s weight restrictions.

Kemper pleaded to pay the overweight fee, but was told it was against their policy to accept it.

“It wasn’t the fact that they didn’t allow me to bring a surfboard that was overweight and the fact that they wouldn’t let me pay for it, I’m ok with paying an overweight fee or oversized fee.” Kemper told Hawaii News Now.

That prompted Kemper to book a flight on Southwest Airlines which allowed his boards to travel and post the video which currently has over 10,000 likes.

“It was really part of the way I was treated by the people there at Hawaiian Airlines,” Kemper said. “There was no, there was no sincere, there was no Aloha spirit in my opinion.”

This is not the first time surfers have had to deal with airlines when traveling to compete, many stories like Kemper’s have come up and others where boards were damaged in transit.

“No, this has been ongoing for years and, you know, I’ve seen a couple airlines make a big difference and gain a lot of publicity and positive, feedback from making changes.” Kemper said.

Word spread fast with Hawaiian Airlines telling Hawaii News Now:

We spoke with Billy Kemper and listened to his concern about being unable to check-in a surfboard bag that exceeded our 50-pound weight limit. To better support traveling surfers, in a few days we will implement a new policy that will allow us to accept and safely transport surfboard bags over 50 pounds. We treat surfboards differently than other sporting equipment because they are uniquely bulky and fragile, and require special handling through the airport and onto the aircraft. We value guest feedback and always welcome suggestions to improve our services. In 2017 we began allowing multiple surfboards per bag and this latest change will provide surfers more flexibility when traveling with us.

“I’m glad that Hawaiian activated as fast as they did and to hear that within just a few days that the policies will change,” Kemper said. “I mean, we’re already off to a good start, I’m very happy that they heard me.”

Hawaiian did not say what the new rules will be or when they will start.

Kemper says he has more meetings planned with the airlines in the near future.

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Related Topics:airlines baggage billy denied dispute Featured hawaiian kemper oversized overweight policies surfboards

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Hawaii

Plane crash under investigation on Hawaii Island

Published

52 minutes ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Plane crash under investigation on Hawaii Island

WAIMEA (HawaiiNewsNow) – Federal investigators are looking into what caused a plane to crash on Hawaii Island Monday.

The National Transportation Safety Board confirms it is looking into what caused a Cessna to go down at Parker Ranch in Waimea shortly before noon.

Investigators said preliminary information indicated the plane experienced a loss of engine power.

A witness said two people walked away from the aircraft on their own. No one was hurt.

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Hawaii

Hawaii Bowl announcers Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker get rare moment in spotlight

Published

8 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

Hawaii Bowl announcers Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker get rare moment in spotlight

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring … and the only sports on TV was the Hawaii Bowl on ESPN.

The Christmas Eve game pitting South Florida (6-6) against San Jose State (7-5) didn’t bring the same energy as a major bowl, but when you’re the only live major sporting event on U.S. TV, fans will take notice.

On social media, the matchup generated surprising buzz for a minor bowl game.

People treating the Hawaii bowl tonight like it’s the Super Bowl
— Zlatni Topki (@ZlatniTopki) December 24, 2024

Out in Honolulu, ESPN had play-by-play announcer Tiffany Greene and color analyst Jay Walker on the game, and the pair, who have worked together for years, made the most of their moment in the spotlight.

Greene, who was the first African-American woman to serve as a play-by-play commentator for college football on a major network, had the opportunity to call some big plays, including this kickoff return touchdown by South Florida’s Ta’Ron Keith.

Tiffany Green was VERY amped up about this kick return touchdown and later replay of the big play from USF returner Ta’Ron Keith. pic.twitter.com/FkHDlaYBPK
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 25, 2024

And here’s Greene on a big interception early in the game.

USF forces an interception that would later result in points and a 14-0 lead over San Jose State.
Tiffany Greene and Jay Walker on the call of the Hawai’i Bowl on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/eMyo4aHsXn
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 25, 2024

Unfortunately, everything did not go smoothly for Greene and Walker. Of particular concern, Walker’s audio sounded consistently muddy, as if he were doing the broadcast remotely.

Are they actually there? Her co host literally sounds like he’s on a zoom call
— HuskerJim (@jimtheplumber63) December 25, 2024

Others on social media were even less charitable in their comments on the announcers.

This is a horrible announcing crew. This is not a high profile game, but as the only one on Cmas Eve, likely with a decent audience of folks looking for distractions, why this crew & not a better one? Why not put these guys on one of the midday workday games with less eyes/ears?
— Justin Firesheets (@JFiresheets) December 25, 2024

Yet some fans were left wanting to hear more of Greene and Walker in the future.

Tiffany is awesome! She has the spunk of Gus & a little of Beth Mowins when she announces CFB👍
— Herbie Garcia (@herbieg55) December 25, 2024

[ESPN]

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Hawaii

College football's Hawaii Bowl highlights slowest sports day of 2024

Published

19 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

College football's Hawaii Bowl highlights slowest sports day of 2024

Sports fans can breathe easy on Christmas Eve as there will only be one game played on Tuesday before a full buffet of games on Christmas Day.

College football aficionados will be happy to know there is one bowl game on the slate. The Hawaii Bowl between South Florida and San Jose State. The game will start at 8 p.m. ET.

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South Florida Bulls quarterback Israel Carter runs the ball against the Florida Atlantic Owls at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, Nov. 1, 2024. (Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images)

The Bulls finished 6-6 on the season and earned a second straight bowl game under head coach Alex Golesh. They had the same record last season before entering and winning the Boca Raton Bowl over Syracuse, 45-0.

The Spartans finished the season 7-5 overall in Ken Niumatalolo’s first season at the helm. The team is on a three-bowl-game losing streak. They lost the Hawaii Bowl last season and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2022. The Spartans also lost the Arizona Bowl in 2020.

San Jose State hasn’t won a bowl game since the 2015 Cure Bowl under Ron Caragher.

San Jose State Spartans head coach Ken Niumatalolo after their win over the Stanford Cardinal at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, California, Nov. 29, 2024. (Eakin Howard-Imagn Images)

TEXAS FOOTBALL MASCOT BEVO BARRED FROM SIDELINES OF UPCOMING CFP GAME, ORGANIZERS SAY

Sports fans looking for some action should take it all in and be able to get some sleep before opening presents and starting Christmas Day at noon ET with NBA games.

The NFL also has games on Christmas Day for the second straight year – a two-game menu featuring the Kansas City Chiefs against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET and the Houston Texans hosting the Baltimore Ravens at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Browns defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. and linebacker Devin Bush rush Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland on Dec. 15, 2024. (Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)

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College football will return on Dec. 26 and the NHL will be back on Dec. 27.

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