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

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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.

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“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.

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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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Hawaii Adopts Fines For Excise, Rental Tax Reporting Failures – Law360 Tax Authority

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Hawaii Adopts Fines For Excise, Rental Tax Reporting Failures – Law360 Tax Authority


By Zak Kostro · June 25, 2024, 6:57 PM EDT

Hawaii will impose fines for failures to comply with the reporting requirements of the state’s general excise tax and transient accommodations tax laws as part of a bill signed by the…

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California mother is arrested for confronting drag queens at Hawaii hotel over ‘inappropriate’ Pride show

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California mother is arrested for confronting drag queens at Hawaii hotel over ‘inappropriate’ Pride show


A University of California Davis employee was briefly detained after she was seen aggressively confronting drag performers at a resort in Hawaii.

Beth Bourne, a program director at UC Davis’ Institute of Transportation Studies, was filmed raging at drag queens after she spotted them at the Alohilani Resort in Waikīkī, where they were to perform for a pride event.

Bourne, who is a leader for the conservative group Moms for Liberty, became enraged after she spotted the drag queens in the lobby, and accused the hotel of failing to provide a safe environment for her son.

Beth Bourne, a program director at UC Davis’ Institute of Transportation Studies, was filmed raging at drag queens after she spotted them at the Alohilani Resort in Waikīkī

‘I’m sorry but I paid to be a customer at a hotel where I thought you believe that women were for real,’ the activist yelled as she held her phone up to record the drag queens.

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‘Because you put on make-up, you’re wearing high heels, you have a Barbie outfit on – you don’t think this is degrading.

She added: ‘This is misogyny… if you give me back my money right now, I will leave the hotel, but I’m not going to have my children come down from the 30th floor and see what’s happening here.’

Bourne then asked the performers their names, saying she wants to know who they are as a hotel employee attempts to escort her away.

‘Are you a man?’ she asked one of them. ‘What do you think about my son who might think that he can put on make-up and fancy clothing and high heels and have his penis cut off and take estrogen so he can grow fake boobs?’ 

One of the performers, who goes by Marina Del Rey, shared video of the incident on social media, saying Bourne attacked his group.

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One of the performers, who goes by Marina Del Rey, shared video of the incident on social media, saying Bourne attacked his group

One of the performers, who goes by Marina Del Rey, shared video of the incident on social media, saying Bourne attacked his group

He said on Instagram: ‘There was prior dialog from her ahead of what I filmed and ultimately she was taken off the property by the police.

‘I would like to say a huge THANK U to the resort for your care and concerns during and after, to all of us…. those within witness – guest or staff – many extended compassion of which I’m very very grateful…

‘We are all okay. A little shook & saddened but grateful to the people we were in the company of and everyone who reached out. and still keeping faith in humanity.’

Marina Del Rey explained the group was in the lobby to film a video that saw them playing roles as hotel staff.

‘This woman saw us filming and came to a slow burn and then she popped off. Her rant went on and on – possibly with the attempt to get a riled angered response,’ the performer added.

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Bourne became an anti-trans activist following the rupture of her relationship with her nonbinary eldest of two child

Bourne became an anti-trans activist following the rupture of her relationship with her nonbinary eldest of two child

DailyMail.com has reached out to UC Davis and the Alohilani Resort for comment on this story.

Many social media users have demanded that Bourne be fired from UC Davis following her recorded actions.

Elaine Vinton said on Facebook: ‘To all of my CA friends, I am urging you to contact UC Davis Human Resources, and lodge a complaint for their employment of Beth Bourne, the chairwoman of Moms For Liberty, Davis CA. 

‘She is harassing students and staff, quoting UC Davis’s practice of cutting of the penises of male children, among other practices. She is an unhinged bigot threatening the LGBTQ+ Community. Please make a call!’

Bourne is a controversial figure and claims without evidence on her social media accounts that ‘1/22 kids is trans’ at UC Davis.

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Responding to the video on X, Bourne wrote: ‘I am not okay with children being exposed to drag queens. 

The performers were at the hotel to participate in a brunch for Pride month

The performers were at the hotel to participate in a brunch for Pride month

‘Several other Alohilani hotel guests told me they also found it offensive so I spoke up to the manager yesterday. I was briefly detained by police, refunded my hotel charges, and have no regrets for speaking up. 

‘If we can be heard, this will end.’

Bourne became an anti-trans activist following the rupture of her relationship with her nonbinary eldest of two child.

Lily, 18, came out as nonbinary five years ago, moving out of Bourne’s home in their junior year of high school after clashes over their gender identity, as reported by The Sacramento Bee. 

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'Pirates Of The Caribbean' actor killed in Hawaii shark attack

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'Pirates Of The Caribbean' actor killed in Hawaii shark attack


A Hawaiian surfer who also acted on TV and in movies including Johnny Depp’s Pirates Of The Caribbean has died in a shark attack, authorities said.

Tamayo Perry, 49, died on Sunday at Malaekahana Beach on Oahu, moments after the encounter.

Perry played a buccaneer in the fourth installment of the popular swashbuckling franchise, Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

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He also appeared in the re-boot of Hawaii Five-O and in cult TV series Lost, which was largely filmed on the US archipelago, as well as in the 2002 surf movie Blue Crush.

In addition to his big and small screen appearances, Perry was a lifeguard and professional surfer who was well known in the local community.

In this undated image released by Christa Funk, shows well-known Hawaii lifeguard Tamayo Perry pipeline surfing. Photo: AP

Honolulu acting Ocean Safety chief Kurt Lager said as a lifeguard, Perry was “loved by all” on Oahu’s north shore.

“Tamayo’s personality was infectious, and as much as people loved him, he loved everyone else more,” he said.

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Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi told a press conference on Sunday that Perry’s death was “tragic.”

“Tamayo was a legendary waterman and highly respected. (He) grew up right over here, and just a great member of our ocean safety team.” – AFP



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