We spent the second day surfing near bowls. Some of the surfer girls were rippers, some intermediate and some first timers. Thanks to Pro Surfer Nancy Emerson’s School of Surfing for donating use of the boards, all the girls were safe and did outstanding.
I got a picture of Donna!!
Beautiful pictures done by Donna Welch Photography and in da water photos by Ryo, outstanding work, mahalo again for all your hard work Donna.
The third day was learning stand up paddling and a cool introduction to canoe paddling, plus we played a lot in the ocean.
Colleen, our fearless leader!
Billie one of our terrific volunteers playing with the girls!
The girls LOVED the SUP demo and Jeannie came for a second sess!
Jeannie Chesser teaching SUP! Thanks Surf Tech!!
Hey, a mermaid!
Alanna and Roclynn sharing Hawaiian style canoe paddling.
What can we say, our volunteers are awesome!!!!
Leenie and Billie did this cool sustainable time line and also a circle of life demonstration, we had a terrific discussion on our sustainable responsibilities to the island, ocean and each other. Even Faryn got to join us, congrats again our fabulous official Ocean Girl Project surfing masseuse!!
Our fourth day, more reg-u-lar type surfing at the famous bowls, it got big and we let the rippers go wild, well not too wild, Auntie Colleen wouldn’t let them out to the way over head sets. We had one girl scared to death in the ocean and she rode her first wave thanks to encouragement and help from volunteer Keli Rae, it was inspiring to all of us!! Every one of the newbies rode waves, they were stoked!!!
In-between was more fun and more playing..
We had a wonderful time surfing, beach cleaning, loving, learning. singing and by the end of the week we were ohana.
more soon…Day 5
The Fifth International Marine Debris Conference is being held at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort this week. Sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United Nations Environment Program, this meeting gathers international scientists, industry representatives, government managers, policymakers, private organizations and artists to come up with ways of dealing with the plastic junk plaguing our oceans. The conference is sold out, but several marine debris- related events are open to the public, and in this case, trash will be fun. Organizers have gathered ocean junk art from international artists, and Oahu children, for programs and displays.
The subject of marine debris is a gloomy one, but gathering those who can make a difference, raising public awareness and sharing ideas through art are all positive steps forward.
You can support these efforts by going to the free events sponsored by a variety of local and national groups.
Free and open to the public this week:
» Today, 7-9 p.m.: “Bag It” film at cafe/lounge/art gallery Bambu, 1144 Bethel St. (Surfrider Foundation).
» Today through Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily: “The Sixth Gyre: Art, Oceans and Plastic Pollution,” on display in the Oahu Room at the Waikiki Beach Marriott.
» Through Thursday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily: “Art and the Ocean, the Architecture of Plastic,” Marine debris art exhibition, UH-Manoa campus, School of Architecture gallery (U.N. Safe Planet Campaign).
» Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.: Reception at the above UH exhibit featuring film, speakers and entertainment.
» Friday, 4-7 p.m.: Talk by professional surfer Mary Osborne, Patagonia store, Honolulu
» Friday, 6-9 p.m.: “Catch the Drift” art, entertainment and educational displays, Ocean Tower lobby, Outrigger Reef on the Beach ($5 valet parking).
» The RAP party itself is not FREE>
Saturday, 6-9:30 p.m.: “Rise Above Plastics (RAP) party,” Waikiki Aquarium and Surfrider Foundation (marine debris art exhibit in lobby open all day and is free to all aquarium visitors).
Our first morning at surf camp was incredible, we began in a circle with a Hawaiian blessing, and ten super excited surfers.
We got all mixed up at first, which was really funny and knot easy!
After a heart pumping beach stroll, we got a terrific ocean/water safety lesson by Lifeguard Helene Phillips, assisted by our personal water patrol surf dude Dustin. I love seeing our surfboards in the back!
The girls swam, did rescues and some had their first paddling lessons. Leia came on the atv and talked to the girls about the importance of what they were learning and how we can use this to better our confidence while surfing.
Ocean girls, volunteers and parents, this is great group and they have lots of fun, thought we’d share!
Are you a parent on Oahu that wants to surf but has a little one that can’t be left alone? This group is meant to unite like-minded surfing moms AND dads to support each others’ love for the ocean while also caring for our children. Let’s help each other reconnect with the ocean, get some exercise, meet other parents, have our kids play together and enjoy island life!
This is a pretty helpful list of alternative products for school by Melissa Breyer, Senior Editor, Care2 Healthy and Green Living
Rainbow pony princess pencils or plain wooden ones? A shiny plastic big-eyed kitten notebook or a brown recycled one? For kids, green school supplies aren’t always such an easy sell. My challenge this year is to outfit my child’s school supply list with eco-friendly choices, and to do so with items that have some serious second-grader pleasing power. Here’s what I’m thinking:
PENCILS:Pencils may not be the most tremendous eco-offenders in the school supplies aisle, but they have their share of demons. They are often made from wood gathered from non-regulated forests, and they often use unnecessary lacquer or paint.
TreeSmart pencils are rolled out of recycled newspaper with colorful newsprint visible and have layers of paper that peek through the tip when the pencil is sharpened.
Forest Choice pencils are made of unfinished FSC-certified incense cedar wood. They are sanded extremely smoothly, with no varnish or lacquer at all. Kid bonus: well they might not be strawberry scented, but their intense cedar smell is wonderful.
Recycled blue jean pencils include, you guessed it, recycled blue jeans. These have a high “wow-cool!” value.
BACKPACKS: Many kids’ backpacks are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride, aka vinyl, aka the poison plastic), boo hiss. Instead of packing toxic plastic on your kid’s back, aim for backpacks made of natural fiber instead. If for some reason your child requires a backpack made of synthetic material, opt for polyester or nylon over PVC. My second-grader and I are liking some of these hemp backpacks.
STAPLER: Why buy, use, and toss staples if you don’t have to? This staple-free stapler is so stinking clever that, forget about my daughter, I need it! And I’ll be grateful to not be pulling staples out of papers before recycling anymore.
PAPER CLIPS: Paper clips are great as is because they are so inherently recyclable, but we’re going one step beyond and starting with paper clips made from recycled steel.
RULER: So the basic choices for rulers include wood or plastic. One comes from trees, one from petroleum–both sad in their own way. However, option number three, the recycled money ruler comes from spent money, so to speak. My second-grader loooooves this.
NOTEBOOK PAPER AND INDEX CARDS: This is kind of a no-brainer, yet when we are stocking up on supplies, I can never seem to find paper with a good recycled content–it’s important, see why with these facts about writing paper.
The EPA recommends buying paper with a minimum of 30 percent postconsumer fiber. This notebook paper and these index cards boast a nice content of 100 percent recycled with 40 percent postconsumer fiber.
NOTEBOOKS: I have one word about notebooks: Argh. All of those cute kittens and puppies (or superheroes if you have boys) looking out through a haze of toxic PVC. I truly thought this battle would be the hardest of the challenge, until I found these awesome cardboard notebooks. They are really just so smart. They are made from special, extra strong, corrugated cardboard. They don’t rip at the spine, they last longer than PVC, and the covers are attached to the rings by screws not rivets so that you can simply replace the cover without having to throw away the rings. And the kids can decorate them to their heart’s content–we’re thinking cute kitten collage.
LUNCHBOXES: The dreaded PVC strikes again, this time in toxic lunchboxes. Sigh. We’re liking some metal options, like this excellent Shiva lunchbox or a resourceful recycled options like these Basura Bags made from recycled juice packs by a women’s co-op in the Philippines.
Have you found any great green school supplies you’d like to share? Leave a comment in the comment field–we’d love to hear about them!
With Oahu’s North Shore as the picturesque backdrop, HIGHWATER focuses on the last 3 events of surfing’s pro tour, the Vans Triple Crown, and examines the heart-stopping action, triumph, and tragedy of the worlds most heralded waves. Pretty amazing!
Surfrider presents ‘Highwater’ Film Premiere at Ward Theaters
Honolulu, HI (August 20, 2010)The Surfrider Foundation and Outsider Pictures invite you to the premiere of Dana Brown’s new film “Highwater” on Thurs., Aug. 26, 8:00 pm, at Consolidated Theaters’ Ward Stadium. Seats are limited, and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Ward Box Office or online at http://www.ConsolidatedTheatres.com. All the proceeds from the opening night show will benefit the Surfrider Foundation and their programs to protect our coastlines.
Any beautiful ocean girls interested?
Highwater chronicles the Triple Crown at a notable milestone, the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters’ 35th anniversary. From the start, Pipeline Masters contests drew attention from national media, including the likes of the New York Times and CBS. ABC’s Wide World of Sports covered the event for nearly a decade, and a network popularity poll ranked the event only behind Olympic figure skating and ski jumping. More and more surfers journeyed forth to the North Shore, attendance grew, tourists and enthusiasts followed.
Women’s Surfing has also grown considerably over the past decade and the Triple Crown offers a women’s title, showcasing the world’s top pro female surfers concurrently with the men’s Series. The Roxy Pro at Haleiwa and the Billabong Pro offer prizes of over $120,000. These two events determine the women’s ASP World Champion and the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing champion, as well as the WCT lineups for the next season’s circuit.
The Triple Crown has also grown into a major corporate party, attracting the top surf industry corporations: Van’s , Rip Curl, Billabong, Quicksilver, Roxy, Red Bull, Foster’s and virtually every action sports apparel manufacturer on earth; exemplifying the growing clout and mess of the surfing industry and it’s lure.
About Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 90 chapters worldwide. There are four Surfrider Chapters in Hawaii focusing on water quality, beach access, plastic marine debris and responsible coastal stewardship. For more information about Surfrider Oahu, please contact colleen@oceangirlproject.com, we are putting together a ocean girl group membership!
