Buffalo Classic focuses on fun
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
It's not that Buffalo Keaulana doesn't like competitive surfing. He just prefers surfing for fun.
Bernie Baker • Special to The Advertiser
That's why Buffalo's Big Board Surfing Classic has endured at Makaha Beach since 1977.
The "NSC" crew advanced through the first round of the canoe-surfing division yesterday at Makaha Beach.
"It's like an eye-opener for me every year," said Keaulana, 70. "As I'm growing older, more and more I want to keep the younger generations in the water."
This year's version of the event — the 29th annual — started yesterday in 3- to 6-foot waves. Preliminary rounds will continue today, with final heats scheduled for next weekend. More than 200 surfers, young and old, are participating.
Keaulana is one of Makaha's most famous residents — a former surfing champion and longtime lifeguard. He is also the father of big-wave surfer Brian Keaulana and former longboard world champion Rusty Keaulana.
Buffalo started the contest after serving on the crew of the voyaging canoe Hokule'a during a trip to Tahiti.
"My incentive was to keep our heritage going," he said. "I wanted to make all different kinds of divisions so that the boys could choose what ever they wanted. I just wanted to keep them interested in water sports."
This year, there are more than a dozen divisions, including canoe-surfing, longboard surfing, bodyboarding and bullyboarding (for competitors who weigh more than 250 pounds).
Buffalo himself continues to compete in the "legends" division.
No prize money is awarded, but the competitors can win new surfboards and other prizes.
"When you see the little kids walk away with the big boards and their smile is ear-to-ear, that's what makes it worth it," said Momi Keaulana, Buffalo's wife. "If I could put all those smiles in the bank, we would be a wealthy family."
Instead, the Keaulanas do not profit from the event. But thanks to sponsorships from various surf-related companies, they do not lose money.
"I don't want this to be a pro contest," Buffalo said. "The pro contests is not fun. This is fun."
It must be, because several professional surfers come out anyway.
Among the notable surfers in the field this year are Bonga Perkins, Duane DeSoto, Brian Pacheco, Mark Healey and Noah Johnson.
Johnson is a former Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational champion, and he shows up nearly every year for Buffalo's contest. This year, he's entered in the canoe-surfing division with several other big-wave surfers.
"It's a matter of having fun and coming out to see friends I haven't seen in a long time," Johnson said.
Keone Watson, 33, was born and raised in Makaha. He has been entering the contest since he was 11.
"I'd wait all year for this event," he said. "I looked forward to surfing in some fun heats and then spending the rest of the day playing on the beach. Nothing's changed. That's why I keep coming back."
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
