Hawaii

Tourist Catches a Slap In Hawaii: Is Violence In Surf Lineups Ever Warranted?

Published

1 year ago

December 1, 2023

Tourist Catches a Slap In Hawaii: Is Violence In Surf Lineups Ever Warranted?

A video posted by Hawaii News Report has the internet divided over conduct in surf lineups. It’s nothing new, of course — surfing has long been something that some people feel the need to regulate for one reason or another. The video shows a brief exchange between what is assumed to be a local and a tourist in Hawaii. Although there’s not much known about what preceded the slap you see in the video above, it’s assumed that the slapper is a local and the slapee is a tourist.

“Most people said this is not Pono but some said it was ok to do,” Hawaii News Report wrote. “Obviously this person who was slapped was not from here but is it ok to slap him if he did get in your way?”

Years and years ago now, when I was in my early 20s, I was surfing a little wave on Kauai. I could see it from the road, and there were only three people out. They were probably in their late teens and were riding bodyboards very well. I paddled out, thinking nothing of it, and nodded my hellos. The next hour or so consisted of the three of them blocking every wave I paddled for. They didn’t say a word to me, but they made it very clear that I was not welcome there. Eventually, after I had gotten the hint and was considering paddling in without catching a single wave, one of them nodded at me and let me go on the next wave. I fell, of course. And then I paddled in with my tail between my legs. I am not a confrontational person, but if I was, I can see how that situation could have turned physical. That display, however, did clue me into the rules, and in places like Kauai, following those rules is a little more important than somewhere like Malibu, where all the rules have gone out the window.

Violence in surf lineups was, for a long time, a bit of a rite of passage. The fear of physical repercussions for violations of the unwritten rules was thought of as a method of teaching newcomers. But, much like corporal punishment in schools, it’s not okay anymore. Not that it ever really was, but it was a little more accepted back in the day. At places like Pipeline, there was a pecking order that needed to be respected. When it happened, it happened under the guise of a method of keeping a dangerous lineup safer. Most of the rules surfers follow are, to be fair, in place to keep injuries at a minimum and to ensure that there’s some semblance of fairness. Humans, though, are flawed and power hungry, so all too often the punishment meted out wasn’t so much in the interests of actually teaching someone something. Instead, it was like a bird puffing itself up to intimidate.

In today’s day and age, where it seems nearly every moment is caught on camera and posted to social media, those displays are becoming more and more rare. Whether that’s because people are realizing that violence doesn’t actually teach anyone anything or because it’s because they’re scared of the world watching their actions (remember the “Angriest Man In Surfing”?), incidents of surf fighting are not an everyday occurrence anymore.

The comments beneath the video are a mixture of protectors of the old ways and people who believe that the days of catching cracks should be in the rearview mirror. Whatever happened in the minutes leading up to the slap in the back of the head, one thing is fairly certain: those waves aren’t worth it and adults hitting each other is just plain ridiculous.

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Hawaii

Hawaii surfer Landon McNamara wins the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Press Room

Hawaii surfer Landon McNamara wins the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational

WAIMEA BAY (HawaiiNewsNow) – It’s official: Landon McNamara has won the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational.

He received 135.8 points as well as the highest-scoring wave of the competition — a perfect score of 15 — which earned him the Best Wave Award.

“This is a childhood dream of mine, something I’ve been working at since being a little kid on the beach here, watching these events go down,” he said. “I don’t know what to feel right now. I’ve already cried 10 times.

“I’m grateful to Eddie,” McNamara said. “Both my heats, I had a turtle I was following. For real. … They say Eddie picks the winner, and I’m so grateful he picked me.”

The accomplishment is even more fitting considering his father, Liam McNamara, is the contest director.

The top nine finishers were:

Landon McNamara (HI, 2024 WINNER)
Mason Ho (HI)
Billy Kemper (HI)
Jamie O’Brien (HI)
Nic Lamb (CA)
Luke Shepardson (HI, 2023 WINNER)
Nathan Florence (HI)
Kai Lenny (HI)
Koa Rothman (HI)

Competitor Greg Long received the Aloha Spirit Award. “Participating in this event has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life,” he said.

THE EDDIE IS ON: View our complete coverage

Tens of thousands of people gathered on Oahu’s North Shore to witness the historic event Sunday.

Waves were 50 feet in face height, according to Liam McNamara.

“The conditions are amazing. There’s a strong offshore breeze right now,” McNamara told Hawaii News Now early Sunday morning. “We’re looking for an amazing day of competition. This is a historic day. We want to make sure we start it with a bang and we end with a bang.”

This is the 11th time “The Eddie” has run in the last 40 years, and participation is by invitation only.

Previous Coverage:

For more information:

Rip Curl The Eddie Big Wave Invitational
TheEddieAikau.com

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Hawaii

Hawaii surfing competition 'The Eddie' braces for 50-foot waves Sunday | Latest Weather Clips | FOX Weather

Published

10 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Hawaii surfing competition ‘The Eddie’ braces for 50-foot waves Sunday

The forecast for massive 50-foot waves in Hawaii prompted the organizers of The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, the premier surfing event in the world, to schedule the event for Sunday. “The Eddie” competition requires consistent 40-foot or higher surf. If Sunday’s event goes on as planned, it’ll be only the 11th time it has happened since 1984.

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Hawaii

This Popular Hawaii Resort Has A New 3-Story Penthouse And Renovated Pools With Local Amenities

Published

18 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

This Popular Hawaii Resort Has A New 3-Story Penthouse And Renovated Pools With Local Amenities

The family-friendly Resort Pool at the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach

Photo: Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach

When it comes to Waikiki’s luxury hotels, the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, is one of the most beloved properties for frequent visitors to this popular corner of Hawaii. With all its spacious rooms boasting balconies with ocean views and kitchens to ensure a comfortable stay no matter how long your trip may be, it’s a true home away from home, with the added magic that comes with the brand’s phenomenal customer service. To make things better, the resort recently unveiled a collection of new suites and reimagined pools, providing guests an even more elevated experience than before.

Dubbed the Sky Suites, these sumptuous, multi-bedroom accommodations have become the pinnacle of luxury living in Waikiki. Encased in floor-to-ceiling windows, delivering sweeping panoramas of the neighborhood’s namesake beach and the beautiful blue Pacific at every turn, the vistas alone are worth every penny. But once you add in the modern furnishings, full kitchens with Miele appliances, the formal dining spaces, and pristine white marble bathrooms, you’ll never want to look back. To top it all off, they also come with exclusive perks, including roundtrip airport transfers, a dedicated VIP concierge, and a pre-stocked refrigerator with preferred beverages and snacks.

The three-bedroom Sky Suite

Photo: Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach

Guests have the option between three- or four-bedroom Sky Suites. The former is a coveted corner unit that features what is arguably the resort’s best view of Diamond Head, along with a sleek, marble kitchen island that’s great for entertaining. The latter is the property’s largest, spanning nearly 3,000 square feet across two floors, and is the only four-bedroom suite in all of Waikiki. It also sports the resort’s biggest kitchen, making it particularly great for private chef dinners, and the double-height living room allows for plenty of natural light to filter in.

The Sky Penthouse rooftop deck

Photo: Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach

But the Ritz-Carlton’s crowning jewel, quite literally, is the Sky Penthouse. Occupying the top floors of the resort’s Diamond Head Tower, this three-story, two-bedroom suite soars 350 feet above Waikiki. The first level houses the living spaces, a kitchen with a wine fridge, one bedroom, and a small media room that also doubles as a great private reading nook. The second floor is entirely dedicated to the master bedroom, but it’s the rooftop that’s the real selling point. Touting one of the neighborhood’s highest infinity plunge pools, the furnished deck also features a hot tub and grill, and is particularly ideal for sundowners.

You won’t need to book the Sky Penthouse for an incredible pool experience, though. The property offers its guests two infinity pools, one of which is an adults-only oasis. Both offer private cabanas, with the options at the family-friendly pool being larger, that come with a mini refrigerator stocked with local beverages and snacks. All guests can also expect a variety of thoughtful pool amenities, including sunscreen service and hourly snacks that pay homage to local favorites, like fresh pineapple dipped in li hing mui. The resort’s popular daily afternoon ritual of complimentary ice cream and sorbet is still available, and now includes an adult version with the addition of sparkling wine float. Quite frankly, there’s enough to keep you at the pool that you may never want to leave.

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