Archie Kalepa is one of Hawaii’s greatest ocean sports pioneers. Instrumental in the design and innovation of water rescue equipment, Kalepa retired in 2014 from his 30+ year Hawaiian lifeguard career as Director of Maui County Ocean Safety Division. Saving countless lives during his prolific career, Kalepa was one of the pioneers of personal-water-craft (PWC) and PWC sleds for use in tow-in surfing and ocean rescue. Currently the Konohiki (a caretaker, authority, advisor of the Hawaiian culture) for Hawaiian footwear brand OluKai, Kalepa works with the company on various levels from brand authenticity, cultural liaison, ambassador and keynote speaker. A trailblazer in establishing long distance SUP racing, a master of tandem surfing, canoe surfing, big-wave, and tow-in surfing, in August of 2012 Kalepa was inducted into Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation’s Hawaii Waterman Hall of Fame, the highest honor a waterman can achieve in Hawaii. With an extensive history with the voyages of the Hokule’a, Kalepa is also currently sharing his expertise aboard the world spanning, Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage.
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