Surf Experience Day Set for May 18

Mauli Ola Foundation invites visitors to its annual Surf Experience Day in Waikiki on May 18 from 8:30 a.m. to noon near the Duke Kahanamoku Statue facing Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa.

Hawaiian surfing legend, 2000 World Champion of Surfing, and six times Triple Crown Champion, Sunny Garcia, will host the event. Garcia and other surf pros will devote the morning to surfing with local keiki with Cystic Fibrosis — the ocean water which is high in saline is a natural therapy aide for the lungs.

“It’s a huge honour to host this event for Mauli Ola — it’s a breath of life for all of us. Surfing is such an incredible sport and to share it with keiki who will benefit from both the experience and the water is truly a reward for the pros,” says Garcia.

“The Waikiki event is my favourite event of the year,” adds Hans Hagen executive director of Mauli Ola Foundation. “There is so much surfing history here and it brings true surfing royalty out to support. It’s a huge honour to treat our Cystic Fibrosis patients to the ultimate saline treatment in this setting.”

The Mauli Ola Foundation has been hosting Waikiki Surf Experience Days for seven years. This will be the first time the Surf Experience Day has not included Buttons Kaluhiokalani who passed away in November due to complications from lung cancer. May is National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, other Surf Experience Days in May are held in Santa Cruz and southern California. To find out more or to register for the event, visit mauliola.org.