Support The Hawaii World Surfing Team

"The Austrailians have the overall title now and we want to bring back the gold", smiled Coco.
In Portugal last year the team just fell short but won the team title. In 2005 they were able to bring the big one home, that event was in Huntington Beach, California. "It's difficult traveling", said Coach Rainos Hayes. "The kids have to get used to the wetsuits and the time changes. We have really good girls this year and I hope that we get some support for the event from the State." The cost of getting the team to France is extensive and
HASA, Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association will be organizing promotions that go along with the event. There is a big party at Hard Rock Cafe on the 19th of May to raise money and donations can be done through hasasurf.org. Check out isasurf.org also for information. Let's support of Hawaii team after all Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing and representing our sport around the world is super important!

RESOLUTION:

Here is a new resolution Thanks to Michael Magaoay, district 46 Representative, for working on this for the community! Check it out, thanks Mr. Magaoay! This resolution is short of law but will be considered with respect!  This is big news! Patsey Mink would be proud!

House Concurrent Resolution HCR#278
REQUESTING THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE DEPARTMENTS OF PARKS AND RECREATION OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A FAIR AND BALANCED PERMITTING PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT WOMEN SURFERS AND BODYBOARDERS ARE TREATED EQUITABLY IN THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS TO CONDUCT SHORE WATER EVENTS THAT INCLUDE SURFING AND BODYBOARDING CONTESTS FOR WOMEN ON OAHU.

WHEREAS, there are many talented and dedicated female surfers and bodyboarders in the State who deserve a chance to participate in a contest of their own at a venue with world class waves and conditions on Oahu; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii women surfers and bodyboarders want and deserve equality in the water; and

WHEREAS, however, women surfers and bodyboarders are often relegated to less desirable wave venues; women's events lose sponsorship to male events or hold their event by sharing a day under a permit issued to a men's event; women's events are moved to smaller waves at the end of the season or the off season and, all too frequently, are denied permits to even hold their event on Oahu; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu is responsible for issuing permits to conduct shore water events, which include surf and bodyboard contests; and

WHEREAS, although the City and County of Honolulu has adopted rules relating to conditions for holding surfing and bodyboarding contests on Oahu, it appears that women's events have often been excluded or under-represented in receiving permits to conduct shore water events; and

WHEREAS, for example, for the current year no permits were issued to allow women's surfing or bodyboarding contest on Oahu; and

WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu's permit process for surfing and bodyboarding contests should be conducted more equitably, allowing women in equal opportunity to conduct surfing and bodyboarding events, now, therefore,

BE IT RESOVLED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislative of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the Mayor, the City Council, and the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu are requested to consult and work together to establish and implement a fair and balanced permitting process to ensure that women surfers and bodyboarders are treated equitably in their applications for permits to hold women's shore water events on Oahu; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in working together to establish and implement a fair and balanced permitting process for shore water events, the Mayor, the City Council, and the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu are requested to ensure that the process adopted provide for an annual allocation of thirty per cent of all the permits issued on Oahu for shore water events for women's events; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOVLED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor, the Chairperson of the City Council, and the Director of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu