Kanaha Beach Park to Host International Surfing Day

By Laura Greene

If you’d like to do something healthy, fun and eco-conscious on Father’s Day, look no further than Kanaha Beach Park for this year’s International Surfing Day.

A fun and healthy way to spend your Father's Day. Image by The Surfrider Foundation.

Hosted by non-profit organization The Surfrider Foundation (Maui Chapter), the family friendly event on Maui’s North Shore welcomes all on June 19.

International Surfing Day is in its seventh year and 2011 sees the event happening in 200 separate events in over 25 countries.

“A fascination with riding waves continues to enthrall millions around the globe. The sport of surfing has taken up roots in virtually every country that touches an ocean – and even a few that don’t! Surfing figures prominently on the cultural landscape as well, often popping up in ads and movies.

“This is why International Surfing Day was founded; so that surfers and surf enthusiasts from all over the globe have an opportunity to come together in celebration of the great sport of surfing,” says the Foundation’s website.

The event begins at 8 a.m., with a free yoga session from the Kahului Community Yoga Center. Scheduled for 9 a.m.-11 a.m. is the beach clean-up, which includes prizes for the most cigarette butts, largest piece of trash, most unique piece, most colorful and more.

From noon to 3 p.m. free lunch, provided by Flatbread Pizza in Paia, will be served, as will live entertainment from Oren and Junior of Barefoot Minded. There will be games, relaxing at the beach and, of course, surfing!

Coffee will be provided by Anthony’s Coffee in Paia and water from The Waterboy. Single use cups will not be provided, so make sure you bring a reusable container.

Anyone who joins the Surfrider Foundation on International Surf Day will receive a limited edition ISD T-shirt, a bar of wax and a year’s subscription to Surfing Magazine.

Other non-profit organizations who are helping with the event include; Sierra Club, Maui Tomorrow, Maui Nui Marine Resources, NOAA, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Trilogy Excursions Blue’aina, Makai Watch, Coral Reef Alliance, Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Positive H20, Community Work Day.

You can visit http://www.intlsurfingday.com/ for more information about International Surfing Day, or http://ww2.surfrider.org/maui/ for further details about how to get involved with the Maui Chapter of The Surfrider Foundation.