Wahine from 1800s

There are modern surfing legends such as Sarah Gerhardt, Mary Ann Hawkins, and Lisa Andersen, and there are ancient legends of female surfers from Hawaii. Kelea, who is believed to have lived during the 14th Century on Maui, was an accomplished surfer. As the legend goes, an inland chief, Lolale, kidnapped her and she lived with him for several years at the foot of Mount Ka`ala on Oahu, where she bore him three children. But Kelea was far from the waves.

Her continual pleas to return to the coast wore the chief down, and she travelled to Ewa near modern-day Honolulu. Kelea revived her skill on the waves. Soon she had beaten all the local chiefs at surfing and caught the attention of the great ruler Kalamakua. He welcomed Kelea to his home in Halawa, where she stayed with him and gave him a daughter, Laielohelohe, who became a good rider of the waves.

This weekend, Friday through Sunday from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., the world’s best women surfers will be carving the waves just off Oceanside Pier. Expect the competition to be stiff, as the competition will play a role for surfers looking to maintain their position on the 2016 Women’s World Championship Tour. Along with the surfing, there will be live bands, a beer garden, food trucks, comedy, surf films, speed art, autographs from the pros, skateboarding competitions, and more than 50 vendor booths. The event is free for spectators.