We had a great time, in fact, I would say it was the best family trip we’ve ever had. Weather and waves were just right and of course the food was incredible. Everyone stayed healthy and safe (aside from a few bruises and a little reef rash.) However, the highlights had to be meeting our fellow Swaylockians, Ambrose, Kokua and Oneula.
If you ever get the chance to meet these guys, I’d highly recommend it. The aloha is overflowing from each of them.
Ambrose has the most extensive collection of surf gear I’ve ever seen. Everything from old logs to modern shortboards to custom SUP’s and paddles. It seemed like someone was dropping by every few minutes with hearty handshakes and hugs. Thanks for the breadfruit!
A few days later we met Kokua and talked stories for an hour or so. He shared pics from the artwork/glass jobs he’s done and it’s very impressive. He also has the most beautiful balsa gun sitting in the corner. I couldn’t stop staring at it. Kokua has to be one of the friendliest, entertaining people I’ve ever met. He absolutely lives up to his name.
We spent the last two days of the trip on Oahu living the tourist dream. The Hilton Hawaiian Village was our base of operations and from there we walked down the beach to Duke Kahanamoku’s statue where we rented these beastly Surftechs and had a fantastic time surfing Pop’s, 3’s and Queens. Walked over to the International Marketplace for lunch and shopping for chachki’s. Later, on Saturday afternoon we drove out to Ewa Beach and met Oneula at Barber’s Point. What a gracious person. Bernie brought more than a half dozen boards for us to check out and ride. Unfortunately, my wife and uncle were too exhausted from the morning surf at Queens to paddle back out but I couldn’t resist. It’s not everyday that you get the chance to ride a Griffin 5-Fin fish. And YES, they are as fun to ride as they look. Also rode the Slippah which looks like an altered, tri fin version of the Nugget. Fun…fun…fun…fun…fun…Bernie also shared his Gemini and Shwuz’s board, as well as his own custom models. What a great guy!
Like I said earlier, these guys are full of Aloha and I really hope we get the chance to give back as much as they’ve shared with us. Thanks to each of you for making our trip so special.
If any Swaylockers find yourselves traveling through Ventura, please feel free to give me a call and we’ll gladly pass on a little Aloha of our own.
Howzit SrPato, It was great meeting you and your Family and glad you had a great trip. When I go to the mainland I visit my nephew and family that live in Oak Park which is not far from you.Will definitely get in touch on next trip over there .Aloha,Kokua
You have a great family and I’m glad you got to experience a little bit of the good part of Hawaii.
Sorry the waves here weren’t better and I was out of shape having been dryland distracted for a couple of months
but that’s barbers point and a working man’s life out here in paradise.
The in person stuff where we can sit down and share experiences is the best part of what sways has to offer where as the online stuff not so much nowadays.
I had been debating letting you take something back with you (as taught to us by Charlie) but I figured it would’ve been a hassle to do so at the last minute. But who knows maybe one day I’ll be around your way to drop off some unexpected omiyage.
Just curious about the GSI Slippah you rode. Which size was it and did it float you well and catch waves easily? I’m 85kgs and 180cms tall so interested in this type of board chiefly because of its tough construction so it can live in my car to be on hand should the swell arise.
It was great meeting you last week. We all had a good time and enjoyed hanging out at the beach with you. The boards were a huge plus and to be honest, the waves didn’t make a difference to me. Like you said, the best part is being able to meet and share experiences.
Mahalo from our ohana!
P.S. The gifts are beautiful and will be proudly displayed on our shelf in the livingroom.
Not sure if we’re talking about the same board. I believe Oneula’s Slippah is made by Keone Downing. It looks similar to a McCoy Nugget with thinner rails and “V” from nose to tail. The board is a 6’8" and floated me perfectly. I’m 6’1" and 190 lbs. It sure is a fun ride!
didn’t realize Keone went Thai popout with Southpoint GSI he must’ve kept it hush hush…
My brother was just talking to him and his dad last week at the shop admiring an agave gun george made hanging on the wall in the shop. He thought it was funny cause George had sworn off ever doing wood boards again when they last talked.
We kind of all went to school at Kamehameha in the 60’s-70’s and played waterpolo togethor which is how we got to know each other. Amazing how everyones life takes different paths but ends up back togethor again…
My 6’8" Slipah would be similar to the 6’7" epoxy model shown on the website but mine is a custom hand made PU version I got almost 5-6 years ago. It’s funny cause Keone didn’t like making them that big because they were suppose to be real short high performance versions of fish boards he was making back then to combat the fish craze. I kind of got lucky getting one that big which kind was an experiment for him. From the distance they look like clones of McCoy’s nugget design but the design is radically different. They kind of serve the same purpose as far as being a high performance and not a fun-board design. Although they may not look it the nugget, slipah, and zap are very much credible high performance vehicles.
The way Keone explained it to my brother and I, is that fish go laterally real good where as his design goes straight up and down the face much better like a thruster. That’s why he had a vee through the whole bottom even pronounced in the nose with a nose flip so you can take off real late and go straight down the face in control without pearling like you would on a traditional low rocker fish design. The board rides real well and my brother loves his little 6’0 version. Keone said he and his brother Kainoa rode them in good size northshore (8’-10’ hawaiian) at Lani’s.
I didn’t have much success with mine but it’s more a style issue than a board issue. I did have a blast riding line with FCS carbonlite CRV’s up front and a 3-D Redtip in the back on a good head high day. But usually it’s too windy where I surf and the big round nose hangs up in the wind…
I’m kind of shocked to see them now as a Southpoint option but I guess i shouldn’t be as it makes sense for alot of guys who want to service more customers and still have a family life out side of the business…
It’s a valid design if you’re open to stuff like that…
Keone like his dad is one of those guys who doesn’t bullsh*t about stuff
I was kind of surprised to see the Downing’s teaming up with South Point, I’ve always looked at them as being ultra traditional, but hey why not? It’s a good way to offer the mainstream surfing population a design that probably would’nt have been available to them ever. While I’ve never been a molded epoxy advocate or detractor, I can say the used 8’0" South Point Bonga/Schaper I recently picked up rides pretty good. I was even thinking about getting one of the shorter Bonga models.
Glad to hear SrPato had a good time. How can you not, cruising on Kauai and meeting Ambrose and Kokua. Bernie, well seems like you just meet him and feel like you’ve known him awhile. Always nice to see him or brother Harry in the water.
