MARCH 30-31

The Rell Sunn Menehune Surf Contest (Click da Poster)

The purpose of this program is to educate the public, especially children, about sportsmanship and the environment and to combat juvenile delinquency.

This contest is held every year on the beaches of Makaha, Oahu.

All children 12 years old and under are welcome to participate in the contest.

The public is invited to attend free of charge.

Hundreds of children statewide visit Makaha each year to attend and participate in the surf contest.

Events include body board, long board, and short board, and each event is broken into age and gender categories.

The entrance fee is $25 per event and each child is limited to two events.

Entries page is HERE

Each contestant receives a t-shirt with contest advertising on it, assorted surf necessities, magazines, literature for sunscreen info, literature about the dangers of the sun, environmental awareness literature, info on early cancer screening, etc.

In addition to the educational literature directly given to the child, each child is encouraged to exhibit sportsmanship by cheering for every competitor and helping retrieve lost surfboards.

Each year, the child who displays the best sportsmanship is publicly honored by the organization.

Additionally, this contest was developed to combat juvenile delinquency.

The west side of Oahu, where this tournament is held, can sometimes become rife with poverty, drugs, and crime.

This event was developed to provide a safe, healthy outlet for fostering competition and as an alternative to criminal behavior.

Family involvement is encouraged, and many of the contestant’s family members volunteer to help run the event.

This event is held once annually and started 45 years ago!

TEXT BY KYLIE YAMAUCHI | PHOTOS BY GREG AMBROSE AND COURTESY OF BESS PRESS | SOURCE: HALE SEASON 6

SADLY, THE WORLD LOST RELL TO CANCER JAN 2ND 1998

MORE ON THE STORY OF THE QUEEN OF MAKAHA, THE ICON RELL SUNN HERE

Rell began surfing at the age of four—and the rest was history.

She was the number one female surfer in Hawai‘i for five years and also ranked number one in the world for women’s longboard surfers.

She also became the first female lifeguard in Hawai‘i history.

While she had a stellar career by any measure, Rell had an immeasurable impact on the sport for women.

She helped found the Women’s Professional Surfing Association and establish the first professional women’s surfing tour.

On top of her career success, Rell was committed to giving back to her community, and she was especially invested in inspiring young surfers.

She founded and held the annual Menehune Surf Contest, a competition exclusively for children to showcase their skills—which is having its 45th anniversary next weekend.

Even after receiving a serious cancer diagnosis, Rell continued to surf and give back to Hawai‘i for another 15 years until her passing.

In her final years, she spearheaded a counseling program for breast cancer patients in the state.

Rell wasn’t just an elite surfer and a pioneer in the sport for women—she was a champion of her community who embodied the spirit of aloha in every aspect of her life.

Her legacy will continue to inspire us for generations.