Honolulu’s Top Surfing Site Is Threatened

Honolulu’s most famous surfing site is threatened with being wiped out by a parking lot.

Surfers, headed by John Kelly, Honolulu musician, author and surfer, have organized an Emergency Committee to Save Our Surf to prevent this loss.

"About 20 of Oahu’s best surfing sites are endangered by land reclamation and shore line developments," said Kelly. "We are going to work with all possible official agencies to preserve these natural surfing areas."…

Kelly said the "Ala Moana Bowl" surfing area right in front of the Ilikai now faces being turned into a parking lot.

"They want to dump the fill right in the middle of it for the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor Extension parking lot," he said.

"Among surfers, the Ala Moana Bowl area is more famous than Waikiki," he added. "During the summer months, people come from all over, from as far as Peru and South Africa to surf there."

Kelly said the S.O.S. leaders have written State, City and Federal agencies asking for help in protecting Oahu’s natural surfing sites.

"It isn’t that they don’t care," Kelly said. "Up until now, they haven’t known what was going on."

Kelly said he considers the surfers themselves to be responsible for much of the ruination of good surfing areas. "Surfing needs were never presented to them before now," he said.

Harold Butzine, operations manager for the State Harbors Division, agreed. … "Up to now, there has been no one we considered authoritative on this problem. Now that there is a group, we shall be glad to work with them to solve the problems as they arrive."

Butzine added, "We never had had any surfers working in our office, so no one of our men was able to outline the surfing areas which should be preserved." …

Kelly said the surfing area at Maili Beach, the second best known surfing area on Leeward Oahu, is also being threatened.

"There is a flood control project there that may ruin the surf," Kelly said.

Kelly said his group doesn’t want to stop the … project — just insure that the design is such to protect the surf.