Hawaii
Finding family on Hawaii’s North Shore
Mark Healey, left, and Mehana and Kohl Christensen attend the 2019 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational opening ceremony in Waimea Bay on the North Shore of O’ahu, Hawaii.
To photographer Brown Cannon, O’ahu’s North Shore represents both a journey and a destination, and as much a sanctuary for the surfers who board there as it as a home — or homecoming.
Stretching along some seven miles of enchanting topography, the shore offers up a transcendent experience that seamlessly weaves the ocean’s ethereality into a communal, timeless sense of belonging.
“Once you have that feeling for the kind of power, of riding waves on the North Shore, it translates directly to the core of who you are,” Cannon told CNN. “You know that you can’t go to many other places and have those same feelings. You keep coming back for it.”
Surfer and surfing coach Edrick Baldwin poses with his board. Baldwin has been surfing for 38 years.
Emily Erickson, a second generation surfer, in the water at O’ahu’s Sunset Beach.
The North Shore attracts more than 3 million visitors each year. Surfers are drawn to test their abilities in taming “perfectly glassy waves,” as Cannon described them. Pacific waters roaring against the shores of Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay can reach staggering heights north of 30 feet.
Though he’s now primarily based in Bend, Oregon, Cannon’s familial roots in Hawaii are about a century deep. On assignment for global brands and renowned publications, his photography career has taken him to more than 50 countries, yet whether it’s horse riding across the Mongolian Steppe or sailing through Arctic glaciers, nothing quite compares to his annual trips back to the North Shore, Cannon said.
Cannon said he cherishes the mutual embrace he’s shared with the North Shore community — the island of O’ahu is dubbed “the Gathering Place” — ever since he was a child. It’s with this in mind that he created his portrait of the North Shore, a 275-page photo book that exalts the people and the place.
“One of my biggest challenges when I’m in Hawai‘i is choosing between surfing and shooting,” Cannon wrote in “North.” “Like so many of the people pictured here, I love my water time as much as I love anything, and that love has caused me to miss many great photographs.”
Still, the scenes captured in Cannon’s photos embody that love while conveying power, pride and passion: The way his subjects hold their surfboards — and their families close; the way they gaze into the mighty waters, reflecting their own colorful spirits.
“It’s captivating,” said Cannon. “The light and the color of the water, and the way the land, the rocky lava shoreline in places, meets that color of blue.”
“Surfing drove me to start the project,” Cannon continued. “But underneath it all, it was a way for me to get to know this place better through these people that I’ve admired.”
The North Shore’s surfing communities comprise natives whose surfing ancestries date back to at least the 12th-century, foreigners who came to O’ahu and couldn’t fathom abandoning the waves and beaches, as well the adrenaline junkies and tourists visiting from all over the world.
The coastline emerged as a tourist destination in the late 19th century after the industrialist Benjamin Dillingham inaugurated a railway between Honolulu and Hale’iwa, his newly erected hotel on the North Shore. Over the years, Dillingham’s resort became a beachside attraction to residents and tourists alike, leading to the establishment of a new settlement of the same name.
Father and son Pete and Brogan Shea swim together under a cresting wave. Pete Shea, who was known for encouraging and mentoring young surfers (or “groms,” as they’re known in surf and other sporting communities), died in a surf accident on Shorts Sand Beach, Oregon, in May 2023.
A kaleidoscope of boards await the right wave at Waimea Bay. “There are many coasts around the world that get hammered by raging seas,” writes surfer Mark Healey in a foreword for the book, “but no other place has the same combination of factors that make the waves here so massive and magical.”
Today, tourism is a lucrative industry in O’ahu. According to Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, the total visitor spending in O’ahu in 2022 exceeded $8.5 billion.
Surfing plays a vital role in attracting visitors from all over the world. The North Shore hosts several prestigious surfing competitions annually, including the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, which generates tens of millions of dollars for the local economy.
A notable figure commemorated in “North” as an embodiment of the shore’s community, as Cannon described it, is Peter Cole. Cole, who passed away last year at the age of 91, was a Southern California native lured to the North Shore waves in the 1950s by surf films and magazines.
According to Cannon, Cole’s profoundly intimate relationship with the North Shore waves — one that had him surfing well into old age — was an inspiration.
“When the annals of big-wave surfing at Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach are written, his name will be prominent,” Cannon writes of Cole in the book.
“I haven’t missed a North Shore winter since I came here in 1958,” Peter Cole said in a 1991 interview featured in “North,” adding, “I’ve become very narrow-minded. I surf Sunset and that’s it.”
Surfer Landon McNamara’s love for O’ahu and the North Shore is well-documented in his body art, including the hand tattoo pictured above and the letters “N” and “S” in a large-scale Gothic script on his stomach.
To Cannon, surfing itself is both a solitary activity and inherently communal. Surfers may be individuals on their boards, but they are often members of a greater “lineup” in the water, collectively targeting the same wave. This sense of common purpose is what binds the community together.
“Relationships are built in the waves,” said Cannon. “I really believe experiences in the waves can make you a better person and can translate directly to how you are on land.”
A bird’s eye view of the 2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational captures a moment of elegant stillness on a bustling shoreline.
From left: Aka, Malia, Mike and Nalu Pietsch. Mike Pietsch is today renowned as “the greatest bodyboarder of all time,” Cannon writes in “North.”
“‘Ohana” — a Hawaiian term which roughly translates to “family” — is what anchors the book to the essence of the North Shore. Surfing is “multigenerational,” according to Cannon. Knowledge of the waters is passed down from the elders to the young.
Cannon recalls being called “uncle” by kids who are not his nieces or nephews, and describes how a child surfing their first wave is a triumph for the entire North Shore family, a family where water is thicker than blood.
“All the images and stories assembled here in one place, between these pages, this is my family.”
“North,” published by Damiani, is now available.
I live in New York City. My 30-year-old son, Alec, lives across the country in Southern California. When I visit, I respect that he has his own busy, adult life. While I’d like nothing more than to spend every minute with him, I’m proud of his independence and try not to monopolize his time.
Alec has a roommate and no space for an overnight guest. When I’m on his home turf, I stay in a hotel or with a friend.
When he comes to NYC for the holidays, his schedule is packed. Plus, with the entire family under one roof, it can be tough to carve out one-on-one time.
I don’t feel shut out of Alec’s life, but I do miss spending quality time with him, so I floated the idea of a mother-son vacation.
He set a few ground rules before we started planning
Alec was vocal that for our getaway to work, we’d need to approach it as equals. This may sound deceptively simple, but it took lots of self-control on my part.
Little kids and I pair like milk and cookies. I did my graduate studies in early childhood education and taught preschool for years. Parenting young kids is never easy, but it felt instinctive. It grew harder as my children grew older.
Alec is my firstborn, and my parental grip was tightest around him. When he was a teenager, he told me I didn’t understand that teens needed autonomy. At the time, he was correct, but over the years, I’ve worked hard to pacify my bossy instincts.
This time, I would welcome his voice in planning our vacation.
Alec brought up another rule: that part of being equal should include sharing expenses. I gifted Alec his airline ticket using miles, and we split additional expenses.
Choosing a destination
Alec had four days off work over Memorial Day Weekend. I advocated for a location that wasn’t too hot, as I had suffered a bout of heatstroke in Greece last summer. A yoga class nearby would be a bonus.
Alec made a case for Hawaii. He’d never been, but its laidback reputation appealed to him. He said he wanted to destress at a resort and eat poke every day.
Hawaii is special to me. I first visited when I was a kid, spending a summer at my aunt and uncle’s home in Waianae on Oahu. The idea of sharing Hawaii with Alec was exciting.
From a practical point of view, Hawaii made sense. There are numerous nonstop flights from LAX, Alec’s home airport. I was going to be in Denver for work, so I was already heading in a westerly direction.
Courtesy of Allison Tibaldi
Each of the Hawaiian Islands has its own flavor. We had lots of options and weren’t quite sure how to narrow them down.
Alec is a fan of the television cooking show “Top Chef.” During his online research, he learned that former contestant Sheldon Simeon was scheduled to be the visiting chef at the Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay on the island’s North Shore on the Saturday night of our trip.
The Hawaiian-born chef would be preparing a multi-course dinner using island-grown ingredients. I’m all about exploring local culture through food, so it seemed like a jackpot for both of us.
After we booked the dinner, we figured it made sense to stay at the Ritz-Carlton.
Balancing time together and separately was key
Another boundary we set for our vacation was balancing time together with time apart.
Each morning, Alec surfed, and I swam laps in the pool. I signed up for a lei-making workshop while he attended a tennis clinic.
In a perfect world, we would have reserved individual rooms; however, we shared a room for economic reasons.
We were still able to maintain boundaries and give each other privacy as our room had a comfortable ocean-view patio, perfect for reading and relaxing.
Meaningful conversations are what stand out
Time together sparked the meaningful conversations and connection I had longed for.
On May 24, I mentioned that it was my beloved dad’s heavenly birthday. Alec shared tender memories of his grandpa and told me that my dad had been a father figure for him, too, teaching him lessons that continue to impact his life. It made me teary.
We also had an intelligent discussion on income inequality. Alec overheard a group of vacationing doctors and a group of vacationing teachers chatting in the Jacuzzi. He said the doctors worked very long hours without complaint, while the teachers complained nonstop about their overwhelming workload. This led to a conversation between Alec and me about teachers being underpaid and undervalued.
As a former teacher, I found that my son’s thinking about socio-economic issues that hit so close to home really resonated with me.
Our mother-son vacation brought us closer
Our mother-son vacation was a success. Alec ate plenty of poke. I got to practice yoga. Together, we swam in the Pacific, walked trails surrounded by gardenias, and enjoyed a delectable Hawaiian dinner.
As much as I loved our activities, it’s the memories of our personal and poignant conversations that are etched in my heart.
I can’t wait to travel with Alec again.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A state senator is challenging the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) decision to extend the deadline for the Puuhonua O Waianae (POW) encampment at Waianae Boat Harbor.
It comes as state and community leaders continue efforts to relocate residents to a permanent site.
The deadline was originally set for the end of June and has been pushed to Oct. 16.
State Sen. Samantha DeCorte said the extension marks the third delay in the relocation process since the original notice to vacate was issued last year. The initial deadline was Nov. 27, 2025, followed by extensions to April 30 and June 25 before the most recent extension.
DeCorte criticized the repeated delays during a press conference on Saturday.
“We are calling on DLNR Acting Chair Ryan Kanakaole, members of Puuhonua O Waianae, and the governor’s office to do what they said they would do. Complete the transition, honor the commitment, and bring this process to a close. After 20 years, another extension is not the solution,” DeCorte said.
She added concerns remain around public safety near the harbor, including reports of vandalism involving fishing equipment and conditions she says affect families and students traveling through the area.
“Fishermen have dealt with vandalism (and) theft of their equipment. Public safety concerns have persisted, and kids have to walk past unsafe conditions just to get to school.”
DLNR said the extension is intended to provide additional time for the relocation of the POW community to a nearly 20-acre site in Waianae Valley, while construction continues at the mauka housing development.
Kanakaole said in an email sent to DeCorte Friday that POW requested a deadline extension to vacate by the end of November, and the department, along with the governor’s office, reached an agreement on the October move-out deadline.
“DLNR, POW, and the Governor’s Office worked through what remains to be completed and established a reasonable timeline tied to actual relocation, cleanup, and closure activities and to provide for the most orderly and voluntary transition, which will ultimately lead to a solution that will last,” Kanakaole’s email said in part.
He added that more than 100 people remain at the site and POW leaders said that number should substantially reduce over the next several weeks, “potentially by nearly half within the next month.”
Read Kanakaole’s full email to DeCorte here.
The agency said it is coordinating with community leaders to ensure residents can relocate safely and to support cleanup and transition efforts at the harbor.
The relocation site has been part of a long-term plan tied to the late community leader Twinkle Borge, who envisioned moving families from the harbor into permanent housing.
Community leaders with Puuhonua O Waianae said the process remains complex and cannot be completed immediately.
Kala Paishon, a community leader with the encampment, said some residents are still unable to move because housing units at the new site are not yet complete. He also said limited transportation and volunteer support make moving difficult for some families.
“We do have some people that volunteer their time to help our people move. We’re limited on our vehicles, but we do what we got to do to move the people up there,” Paishon said.
He added that many residents have deep ties to the harbor after years of living there.
“Some people have been here 10-plus years,” Paishon said. “This is the memory they have, and this is where they felt like home.”
Paishon also said crews are working to gradually transition residents while maintaining cleanup efforts at the site.
“We’re making sure everybody moves up there safely… at the same time, we’re still cleaning up our opala down here.”
DLNR said it continues to work with community leaders and the governor’s office to move the relocation process forward in the coming months.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Responds to Senate Bill Involving Pōhakuloa – Big Island Video News
(BIVN) – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) says it is in alignment with provisions in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act dealing with military-leased lands in Hawaiʻi, including the Pōhakuloa Training Area.
In a news release, OHA said it is encouraged by the bill’s “clear movement away from condemnation and toward negotiated solutions” for the approximately 19,700 acres of state lands at Pōhakuloa, and 450 acres at Kahuku. “The process outlined is consistent with OHA’s long-standing position opposing condemnation – whether forcible or ‘friendly’ – and insisting that lands held in public trust remain in the public trust and continue benefiting Native Hawaiians and future generations of Hawaiʻi’s people.”
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee recently passed the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA. The bill is expected to advance to the full United States Senate for consideration by the end of July 2026, OHA says.
In a June 12th news release, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D, Hawaiʻi) said she voted against the NDAA. Hirono is a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Ranking Member of the Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee.
“I’m proud to have secured numerous provisions in the Senate’s FY27 NDAA that invest in military readiness, Hawaii, the Indo-Pacific Region, and our servicemembers and their families, while also holding the Army accountable on the military training land lease negotiations,” Hirono stated at the time. “However, I could not in good conscience vote to advance a bill that paves the way for an up to 40% increase in year-over-year Department of Defense spending, especially as this administration wages an illegal war in Iran with no plan or end in sight.”
Hirono said the bill “directs the Secretary of the Army to seek from the State of Hawaii, on terms acceptable to both the Army and the State, a renewal of expiring training land leases. As part of this, requires the Army to expeditiously resubmit their Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for the leased lands and address deficiencies identified by the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources.”
OHA noted Section 2864 of the NDAA also requires a report to Congress on the steps and proposals taken to advance lease renewals, within 60 days from the NDAA’s enactment.
“The Senate Armed Services Committee’s action reflects meaningful progress in acknowledging Hawaiʻi’s unique legal and cultural context,” stated OHA chair Kaialiʻi Kahele. “The removal of condemnation as an option and the requirement for renewed environmental review are consistent with what OHA has long advocated – that these lands must not be permanently alienated and that Hawaiʻi’s concerns must be fully addressed in good faith. Congress appears willing to respect Hawaiʻi’s laws and institutions. The opportunity before us now is to fully embrace the responsibilities and authorities those laws entrust to us. OHA will continue to ensure Native Hawaiian rights and public trust responsibilities remain central to any future decisions.”
OHA has been holding high-level meetings in Washington, D.C. concerning the military lease renewals.
OHA says it is also actively moving forward with a comprehensive Ka Paʻakai Analysis for Pōhakuloa Training Area. “The Board of Trustees has already approved a Permitted Interaction Group allocation of $60,000 to support this work, and OHA is finalizing a memorandum of understanding with DLNR to complete the work,” the Office stated. The analysis “will help create a more complete record of the cultural, historical, and community connections to these lands, providing decision makers with information necessary to evaluate potential impacts, identify appropriate protections, and fulfill their responsibilities under Hawaiʻi law.”
From the OHA news release:
OHA also notes that the NDAA contemplates the pursuit of future lease arrangements pursuant to Section 2667 of Title 10, United States Code. As discussions continue regarding potential lease terms, community benefit commitments, land-back and lease-back models, and other components of any future agreement, OHA believes those arrangements must remain consistent with Hawaiʻi’s environmental laws and public trust obligations. Any benefits derived from renewed use of these lands should reinforce the purposes of the public trust, protect traditional and customary Native Hawaiian practices, honor the history and significance of these lands, and preserve the value they were intended to provide for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries and future generations of Hawaiʻi’s people.
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