Local Expert
Brenda Yun
I'm a surfer girl and freelance writer who can't seem to get enough out of life abroad. Despite my frequent travels, my life in Hawaii (namely, my six-year old pug Iris) keeps me grounded. Here…
I'm a surfer girl and freelance writer who can't seem to get enough out of life abroad. Despite my frequent travels, my life in Hawaii (namely, my six-year old pug Iris) keeps me grounded. Here in Honolulu, buildings pop up like tourists wearing tacky aloha shirts, shops come and go like the trade winds (but ABC stores never close), traffic is part of keeping Hawaiian time--there's no wonder the speed limit is 50, but the feeling of stepping off the plane and walking in the open air to the baggage claim is unmistakable.
I heart Hawaii. I heart spam musubi and plate lunch. I heart crowded line ups at Diamond Head and Straight Outs. I heart Bruddah Iz. I heart the feeling of shedding skin as I drive through pineapple fields in to Haleiwa. The pot of gold is found in the Rainbow State. Hop on over to the "Rock" and see.
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Winter is upon us here on the islands and you know what that means: the Triple Crown -- the be all, end all of surfing events -- is ON! For those of you who don't know what this "event" (actually, there are three) is, the Triple Crown is basically the final event of the surfing world cup and tour. For the months of November and December, there will be three competitions that take place in three of the world's most elite and beautiful surf breaks: Ali'i Beach in Haleiwa, and Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline just down the road past Waimea Bay.
The first event -- the Reef Hawaiian Pro -- is already over for the women and Carissa Moore, the 16-year old from Honolulu was crowned the queen of Haleiwa yesterday. The final day of the men's event will likely be held on Saturday, so get out there and cheer on your favorite surfers.
If you miss this event, you don't have to worry. There's another month left of surfing competitions on the North Shore and on Maui, so check the Vans Triple Crown website for the latest updates and news to find out when contests will be "on"!
Earlier this week, several shark sightings have been reported both on the northern and southern coasts of Oahu. A Kaneohe surfer was attacked by a shark at Crouching Lion near Laie earlier this week. Though shark attacks are quite rare in Hawaii, surfers and ocean swimmers should be wary before diving into murky water this time of year. There are two major factors contributing to the rise in shark encounters as of late:
- Experts say it's shark mating season. Tiger sharks, the bigger and more threatening ones in Hawaii's waters, come into shallower waters this time of year.
- The sharks feed on sea turtles, which have seen a rise in population this year.
As a surfer with a fear of sharks, it's always wise to go surfing or swimming with a buddy. Keep an ear out for shark sightings or other warnings like box jellyfish. If you spot a shark in the water, calmly paddle back to shore and inform others of what you saw.