Caldwell Marchant Member of the Month for January 2023 When and why did you initially get into surfing? I first got into surfing when I was in high school. My friend gave me one of his old short boards which I could barely stand up on. At the time it was just a hobby, but now surfing feels more like a lifestyle. Did you have a time period you laid off from surfing? I left Hawaii in 2012 and lived on the mainland for over 6 years. I had a skateboard that I would ride around, but didn’t touch a surfboard for most of the time I lived there. Getting to the beach was too time consuming, and the freezing water didn’t help much either. What is your favorite thing about surfing? There's so many things I love about surfing. It’s fun, a good workout, a great way to make friends, etc. If I had to pick one thing, I love experimenting with different board shapes and fin set ups. Searching for that perfect combo is exciting and the feeling when you find the perfect set up is unmatched. Where is your favorite place to eat after surfing? On my...

Hawaiian South Shore Member of the Month Ross Yoshioka When and why did you initially get into surfing? I started surfing in 1997.  My 1st surfing session was with my dad in Waikiki.  I’ve always enjoyed the water and so I asked him to take me surfing.  I still remember the rush of catching my 1st wave!   Did you have a time period you laid off from surfing? Yes, I stopped surfing in 2012 when my daughter was born.    What is your favorite thing about surfing? I enjoy the challenge of how every single wave is different and it’s fun to try to conquer that.  Key word is “try.”   Where is your favorite place to eat after surfing? Best Drive Inn   What is your favorite item on the menu? Fried Chicken   What other hobbies do you have besides surfing? I enjoy eating (if that’s a hobby).  I enjoy working out so that I can eat more.  I love to travel and spend time with my wife and daughter.   What type of work do you do? Electrical Engineer   Tell us about the board you recently purchased from us. What model and size is it, and...

Hawaiian South Shore Member of the Month - Erica Ta   When and why did you initially get into surfing? I had only surfed a handful of times before February 2020, so after a surf trip from Hilo to Oahu with my girlfriends that month I had a big crush on surfing and took it seriously. It was good timing to improve my surfing when the pandemic hit – I made use of all that down time to practice surf and get in the water at least every morning.   Did you have a time period you laid off from surfing? Early last year I had to lay off the water completely for a month or so. I went waterfall chasing with friends and my entire big toe nail popped off after my foot slid down a wet mossy rock and clipped another rock at the bottom. I was in so much shock when it happened I couldn’t stop laughing.   What is your favorite thing about surfing? There are too many unmatched, good things to say about surfing, but I wouldn’t love surfing as much as I do without all the fun sessions with friends. Not much beats when everyone’s...

AUDREY HARRER Hawaiian South Shore Member of the Month When and why did you initially get into surfing? I have always loved the water.  As a child, pools and beaches were my playground. I was involved in all kinds of water sports and it wasn’t until my freshman year of college when I started really getting into surfing.  I played water polo in college at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and it was actually one of my best friends and teammate (Darcy Scott-Hosaka) and her mom that would take me surfing all the time.  Playing water polo made my transition to surfing pretty smooth.  Once I graduated college and finished playing water polo, I was able to surf much more frequently.  I love surfing because it allows me to fulfill my inner competition within myself.  Surfing is something that I will continue to do and love for a lifetime. Did you have a time period you laid off from surfing? I did take some time off from surfing when my son Ezra was born.  I actually surfed up until I was about 6 months pregnant.  When my son was born I took a couple months off to recover and...

Hawaiian South Shore Member of the Month - Kaleo Amadeo   When and why did you initially get into surfing? I was born and raised in Pa’ia on the island of Maui which is a beach town on the north shore side of Maui. My older brother surfed and my dad fished a lot . We lived about 5 minutes away from the beach so we played in the shore break and rode morey boogie body boards and then my older brother gave me his hand me downs from single fins to twin fins then thrusters. Did you have a time period you laid off from surfing? If so, when and why did you start back up? I've been surfing for over 40 years. I was a lifeguard for 25 years for Maui county and retired in 2017. Was lucky enough to work at all the beaches here on Maui and was able to work the last 15years of at hookipa beach park where we grew up surfing.   What is your favorite thing about surfing? I love being able to escape the hustle and bustle of being on a rock and all the stress that is on this rock...

Hawaiian South Shore Member of the Month   When and why did you initially get into surfing? I started surfing during my early teens with friends that I still surf with today. I got into surfing because it’s a part of Hawaii and the ocean is our playground. It’s a great way to stay healthy and have fun.   Did you have a time period you laid off from surfing? If so, when and why did you start back up? There was a period when my surf fever was going down and I started doing a lot of spear diving but surfing was always on the back burner. Every time I would go to the beach I would mind surf these empty waves so I got back on a board but this time it was a Standup….yes the Darkside. But it didn’t satisfy my surf craving so I jump back on a shortboard and it was surf fever again.   What is your favorite thing about surfing? Being at the beach with Ohana and friends and just catching waves. The feeling of riding and carving across a wave and yes the barrel is like one of the greatest moment.   Where...

Hawaiian South Shore Member of the Month   When and why did you initially get into surfing? I have always been drawn to the water. After I caught my first wave, I was hooked for life. Surfing is the best feeling in the world to me and I hope to keep surfing until I can’t anymore.   Did you have a time period you laid off from surfing? If so, when and why did you start back up? I only lay off surfing when I am injured. In 2012, I had a bad surf accident in Maui. Had to fly back to Oahu for emergency surgery. Almost lost the use of my left arm. After shoulder, pectoral, and bicep surgery, I had to sleep sitting up in a chair for four months and endured six months of physical therapy after being in an immobilizer for a half the year. Mahalos to Orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Vasconcellos, Physical Therapist Kacy Nekoba and the entire team at KP. As soon as I got permission, I was back out in the ocean surfing. That was my longest lay off.   What is your favorite thing about surfing? It is hard to choose just one...

Hawaiian South Shore Member of the Month - Jeffrey Garvey     When and why did you initially get into surfing? I initially got into surfing when I was about 9 years old. All my friends were doing it and it was just an excuse to stay in the water.   Did you have a time period you laid off from surfing? If so, when and why did you start back up? There was a time when I didn't surf that much and focused on kiteboarding. But I started to get only excited about kiting when there were waves, so I got back into surfing more after about 5 years of kiting heavily.   What is your favorite thing about surfing? There Is so much I like but mostly being in the water.   Where is your favorite place to eat after surfing? What is your favorite item on the menu? I like to eat anything after surfing. As long as it's tasty I am into grinding it.   What other hobbies do you have besides surfing? I love to dive and travel places that are exotic.   What type of work do you do? I work as a high school teacher...

Hawaiian South Shore Member of the Month - Brian Martinez   When and why did you initially get into surfing? The first time I ever attempted surfing I was 12 years old. Since I was a grom I had always been involved in dirt bikes and skateboarding. Being out of Las Vegas, Nevada you didn’t really have the chances to surf unless you made the 4 and half hour drive to California. My parents and I had been spending a few days in San Diego at the time on holiday and my father rented out some old beat up soft tops to try and learn to surf. These things sucked! Had almost no grip and what was supposed to be wax was just aged layers of sand from all the previous renters. Even though neither one of us caught a single proper was it was an absolute blast just eating S%&# and laughing as hard as we could. Since that day in SD  I fell in love with surfing and had made it a hobby that I would get involved in more and more as I got older.    Did you have a time period you laid off from surfing?  If so,...

Hawaiian South Shore Member of the Month - Michael McChrystal   When and why did you initially get into surfing? I didn’t start until college in Santa Barbara Did you have a time period you laid off from surfing? It wasn’t a full layoff but I lived in Tokyo for 4 years and only surf a handful of times. It was super difficult to get to the beach since I didn’t own a car while I was there.  What is your favorite thing about surfing?  Just being out in the water. Whether it’s 1 ft or 5, it’s always gonna be a good time.  Where is your favorite place to eat after surfing? Home What is your favorite item on the menu? I make a smoothie with a big scoop of Protein.    What other hobbies do you have besides surfing? Not really a hobby but any free time I have I spend with my two daughters.  What type of work do you do? I teach surfing lessons at Kewalos  Tell us about the board you recently purchased from us.  What model and size is it, and how do you like its performance? Most recent was the 5’9” Hydra by...

When and why did you initially get into surfing? I grew up in Vancouver, Canada playing soccer, skateboarding and snowboarding. I loved snowboarding in powdery snow because it felt like surfing. I had my first surf lesson in Tofino, BC and was hooked from my first wave. Fast forward, I’m now a 3x ISA World Para Surf Champion. I’m excited that adaptive Surfing is moving toward the Paralympics. Did you have a time you laid off from surfing? Why did you start back up? When I was 18, I landed a snowboard jump badly and sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury. I had to take 1-2 years off surfing or any fun, risky sports. I knew I could still swim post injury, and returned to warm water surfing in Hawaii. I learned I couldn’t stand, but I could pop up to my knees and the rush of the ocean felt the same. I learned I couldn’t surf at home in Canada because it was too difficult to get into wetsuits with my leg paralysis, but years later, I discovered I could get in the Rip Curl Flashbomb suits and returned to my home break. In 2016, I starting competing for...

Hawaiian South Shore Member of the Month - Erek Riccobuano When and why did you initially get into surfing? I first surfed when I was 16 years old in 1989. I borrowed a board before going on a bike trip with the Boy Scouts, where we rode our bikes from Santa Cruz to Pismo Beach. We had someone’s dad carry our boards and tents and tried to surf a bunch of beaches along the way during our week long trek. It was super cold and I didn’t even know what side to apply the wax but I was hooked and by the end of the trip, I was standing up. I continued to surf at Stinson Beach with an occasional trip to Newport Beach. After high school I took a break from surfing until I came to Hawaii in 1995.  Did you have a time period you laid off from surfing? After graduating high school in 1991, I took a break from surfing when I moved to Japan. I didn’t pick it back up until I came to Hawaii in 1995. Going to BYU-Hawaii, I surfed at Goat Island, Sunset Beach, Rocky Point, and Turtle Bay. Then I moved back...