Also, a surprise appearance by Kelly Slater!
A very fine, informative think piece on Hawaii, its place in surfing and its place in reality, appears in The New York Times today and well worth a read. Oh, we surfers, we cranks and ne’rdowells, are well versed in the nut, here. Hawaiians surf for Hawaii, Kolohe Andino surfs for America and never the twain shall meet.
Until, that is, they all drape themselves in American, not Hawaiian, red, white and blue for this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
“There’s a little bit of tension with that, going into the Olympics under a U.S.A. flag,” John John Florence told the journalist whilst sitting on his Pipeline-fronting porch. “I don’t want to divide at all. I’m not anti-anything. I’m pro-Hawaii.”
“I’d be honored to represent U.S.A., obviously, but I would prefer to represent Hawaii if I went there,” Seth Moniz said between Triple Crown heats. “I do wish we could have a voice or representation. Me and other Hawaiian surfers, maybe we have to make a push for that, to have the Hawaiian flag at the Olympics.”
“I’m really proud that I do have a little bit of Hawaiian blood, so I feel a connection to the people here, and the waters,” Carissa Moore said, sipping coffee in Honolulu, recounting competing in an International Surfing Association event in 2019 and the quiet discomfort it caused. “I was totally wrapped in the Hawaiian flag, but we had U.S.A. shirts on,” Moore said. “It felt like I was betraying Hawaii. It was weird.”
The ISA’s chief, Fernando Aguerre, understands the unique place Hawaii holds in our cranky ne’rdowell hearts but, even though his son’s middle name is Kahanamoku, claims his hands are tied. “Hawaii is different within the surfing world. But in the geopolitical world, Hawaii is part of the United States.”
Hmmmm.
It doesn’t sound like he tried very hard to carve out a place for Hawaii as The New York Times piece details the fact that creating a separate team was never seriously considered by the International Olympic Committee.
No, doesn’t sound like it at all much to Kelly Slater’s chagrin who surprisingly boiled the whole debate down to his own personal interests.
“If that happened (Hawaii given its own place),” the world’s greatest surfer said, “I’m in the Olympics.”
Very cool.
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Sounds like a “locals only” mentality to me. If they don’t want to rep USA as a whole, don’t compete in the olympics. Stick with the local contests. Someone teach these brats that Hawaii is a state
No man is equal
I think it is “ No man is an island “ ?
Other wise , according to local myth , it would be called Man Island and not Shark Island ? Can you Dee Why ?
Same quips as Ashley, the elder
The problem with project ibelli is that Caio has been critical of the judging in the past. They hold a grudge when it comes to that shit, Malia is still paying for her butt wiggle comment from years ago. You can get past it if you have undeniable performances (Flores/Pip) but Caio doesn’t dominate on that level when he needs to. This was a great idea, but the wrong surfer has the sticker. He won’t make top 5, I’ll put all my GritCoin on it.
I bet that Hawaiians love that US passport. And they all cashed their Uncle Sam checks that came their way during COVID.
Make them all wear a US flag on their shoulder for the WSL as well. Or they can get their own “Identity Flag” like some of the other CT crew did.
This story needs to end.
https://bigislandpulse.com/….
Can u buy property there? or is it,
listen roundeye only your wife can actually own it
Aussies can buy property there, a guy I know bought a house near one of the mountain resorts.
No worries, not like the Olympics are actually going to happen.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/17/tokyo-olympics-more-than-80-of-japanese-oppose-hosting-games-poll
I’m just thinking, sitting too far away, that the United States of America needs to rethink its own borders and try another one never thought solution … a solution for its past future!
A split between north and south!
Two worlds, two peoples, two separate flags!
Follow what I imagined for the flags, north and south!
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
From Sao paulo and south should also be its own country
Call it
New Alemanha.
Cant KS be his own cuntry
He is isn’t he ?
Whoops
It looks like you’ve accidentally put an r and a y on the end…
Oi Chas
I’m pretty sure I can speak for more than a few of the comments crew when I ask this.
Why no Caio sticker article today ? (Especially after yesterdays surprise of many that there was no mention of BG in Caio’s interview)
Just why didn’t the sticker have anything to do with BG on it ?
What’s this ‘Surf Splendor Podcast Network’ that sells Splendor Valpocalypse t-shirts and is high up the list of choices when googling the (so-called) The People’s ‘Project Ibelli’ ?
Any BG reference looks like it’s only been ‘reported’ on BG and not actually connected to this news(?) site and it’s readership/commentariat at all…
Is this the ‘big surprise’ you were alluding to last week ?
Not the whole Western world, just the most strident vocal ones. In reality, they’re the minority.
That’s just Bexy, not the western world.
Millions are enlightened by my insight here
As Eddie Rothman proved long ago Hawaii is really just west Jersey
Or Far Far West Israel.
John should get everything he wants as should everyone, and when they get what they want they should think of the next thing they want, ask for it, then receive it post haste, to not get what you want is a hate crime
This is the most insightful thing I have read on the Internet to date.
I like to think
Thats the most you’ve ever posted at once! It smart too.
Johns Mom is from Nj and Father is from Pennsylvania, so the tri state area is claiming Olympic recognition!!!
Why not a team of each state? The USA is, afterall, a union of individual States! This is so unjust, I can’t believe the IOC does not recognize these oppressive and unfair conditions the United States of America must compete under! Forget Taiwan, forget Hong Kong, forget Tibet and various Sudans, we must unshackle Hawaii so a handful of European descendants whose parents happened to fuck off the NA continent can fly a meaningless flag designed by other various Europeans from the European proper continent!
Hong kong and “chinese taipei” (taiwan) do compete separately (maybe that was your point), as does puerto rico.
It’s a non story though. Open that can of worms and you’re gonna get texans wanting to compete for texas.
Interestingly in the commonwealth games and soccer, the various provinces (they call them “countries”) of the uk compete separately but in the olympics it is “team gb”.
Texans have more identity with Texas than JJF does with Hawaii though.
One man band Florida and his CJ have had more success , than Hawaii and California combined …..even though their candle is slowly burning out ?
The epicenter of Surfing consistently outshone by the epicenter of Covid
You’ve proved that yes words can hurt. You have no ethics, and when your found lying in a curb near Diamond Head lookout, we have no empathy
Haha, let’s unpack this a bit!
That flag would be far more powerful than one they have
Your flag
Who designed that?
Mr potato head?
I would say you are letting yourself down with a comment like that, but let’s face it, you are not!
A grand design!!
It’s just ‘Potato Head’ now Bexy. Do not assume their gender.
Gender is fluid and has been recognized as such now.
Although admittedly, when a potato goes fluid, it is rather inedible and smells awful.
Oops.
A re-creation with a bit of a Jawaiian color scheme twist.
“At the flag’s center is a green shield bearing a coat of arms, which include a kahili, the original Hawaiian royal standard, and two paddles, meant to represent the voyaging tradition of the Native Hawaiians.“
Yikes – Paddles! A SUP-centric emblem!!
I think the Hawaiians can compete as Independent Olympians at the Olympic Games, if they feel strongly about it. Been done before.
How is that not the State flag?
British and American colonialism…
Since Kelly is obviously itching to be in the Olympics, he ought to take a 23 and me test to find out which country he can claim?
Any guesses on what the results my show?
Any of the Camel jockey dustbowls
He’s part Syrian but the horse has bolted. He needed to do that 2 years ago.
I forgot that the Hawaiian flag had the Union Jack in it! Makes this all the more ridiculous!
It the power flag
The Butcher’s apron as it’s affectionately called in these parts
Whatever quells the jealousy
Strange type of jealousy actively seeking to abolish the Act of Union 1801 (RIP 1921)
Blah blah blah
Every shit hole we took over, cunts be glad we did, cause we turned it into a land fit for billionaires
Yeah that is why the British Empire is still a thing
It totally is!!
When you refer to “we” as in “ Every shit hole we took over”, who are you referring to, you are an Australian are you not?
Whatever is most annoying
I’m of British blood and that’s what’s important
a colonial rapist!
I like the way you don’t think
He’s a POME living in Sydney. Not sure you can get under that part of the barrel.
Ha, that explains a few things. Especially the incessant whinging!
Isn’t that calling the kettle.. Colored.
WSL this WSL that.
A pom that doesn’t spell colour with a u? So much for the British blood.
Culla