A surfer landed in jail Thursday afternoon when he allegedly stole another surfer’s surfboard after an argument in the water over a wave.

Some veteran Ala Moana Beach Park beachgoers said Friday that the incident is emblematic of growing tension and violence at a beach that’s getting more crowded. Others believe the clash was more likely an isolated incident.

Police said the surfers argued after colliding while riding the same wave at the Ala Moana Bowls surf break, on the Diamond Head side of Magic Island.

One of the surfers, a 24-year-old Kailua man, threatened a 31-year-old Keeaumoku-area man and demanded that they swap boards because his had been damaged by the collision, police said.

When the older man offered to pay to repair the other man’s board but refused to swap boards, the suspect took the board forcibly, police said.

The victim went ashore and called police. The suspect allegedly tried to evade police by paddling to another part of the beach, but officers caught him when he came ashore, police said.

The man was arrested on suspicion of second-degree robbery and was released pending investigation.

Also arrested at the scene was a woman, 20, of the same Kailua address as the suspect, on suspicion of obstructing a government operation. The woman allegedly tried to dissuade police from arresting the man and became confrontational, police said. She was charged and released on $500 bail.

Kuliouou resident Jim Hayes, 61, applauded the victim for reporting the incident to police. Hayes, who owns a Kakaako surf shop, said there is growing tension at Ala Moana and other popular surf beaches.

When he was younger, if a board got away from a surfer, another surfer would swim out and return it, Hayes said. Now "they’ll be happy it’s gone because you’re now out of the line" for the next wave, he said.

"I don’t know what’s happened to the etiquette of surfing," he said. "Nowadays it’s just dog eat dog."

Hawaii Kai resident Hinano Sholars, 33, said she rarely goes to Ala Moana anymore because she’s turned off by the bullying tactics of some younger surfers. "I’ve gotten yelled at by guys," she said. "And if you’re too nice, you never get a wave here."

Sholars and Hayes both said they’re now more likely to surf in less popular spots where there are fewer people and less bullying.

"The waves are not as good, but it’s way more inviting because the people you do find out there are there for the right reason," Hayes said.

Others surfing at Ala Moana Friday said there is occasional friction in the water but that conflicts rarely result in anything violent or criminal.

Kaimuki resident Eric Ichiyama, 40, said certain Ala Moana breaks like Bowls and Kaiser’s have regulars who are more territorial and less forgiving of new surfers unfamiliar with the nuances of those areas.

"Over there (at Bowls) it’s a real steep, hollow wave, so if a guy doesn’t know how to control his longboard, he’s going to hit everybody below, so it’s real dangerous," Ichiyama said. "So if guys see that he doesn’t know what he’s doing, they shoo him and tell him to go somewhere where he can handle it."

University area resident Albert Mahoe, 48, said he does not believe there’s been an increase in tension in the water. Most people his age "try to give the young people a chance" and are patient with them. Friction does occur among surfers, but usually among younger ones, he said.

Ewa Beach resident Chad Kauhane, 40, both surfs and stand-up paddles.

Kauhane also doesn’t believe there’s been an increase in incidents, but he noted that there is sometimes friction between surfers and inexperienced stand-up paddle-boarders who try to surf the breaks.

"It’s a totally different animal when they’re dealing with the waves," Kauhane said.