Kelis Kaleopa’a gets the ceremony chair up the beach. Photo: Beatriz Ryder/WSL.
For Kelis Kaleopaʻa, surfing is a family affair. Hailing from three generations of surfers, Kaleopaʻa spent her childhood on the beaches of Waikiki and was on a surfboard before she even learned to walk. Now, at 17, the Hawaiian is hot on the pursuit of a world longboard title. We caught up with Kaleopaʻa between waves and chatted about her heritage, how growing up in Hawaii shaped her surfing, and what a world title would mean to her.
Is surfing a big part of your family?
We’re such water people. In Hawaii, you’re surrounded by the ocean; there’s nothing really else for you to do. My dad is a Beach Boy down at Waikiki beach, so that’s been his scene for his whole life and my grandmother and my mom used to work on the beach too. The beach, the ocean, it’s been a part of all our lives since the beginning.
When did you first start competing?
I remember competing in my first contest at around eight years old. I first started competing on tour when I was 14 or 15.
Why did you decide to focus on longboarding?
I grew up with the scene of longboarding; there weren’t many shortboarders that came from Waikiki. Back in the olden days, our kings and queens used to surf on longboards. There wasn’t really anything shorter than a nine-foot board for them to surf on, so longboarding is part of my roots and is important to my culture.
How has growing up on Oahu shaped you as a surfer?
Waikiki, especially where we surf every day, has so many waves to offer. We have about three breaks and they constantly change. Growing up surfing in all the different waves that my home break has to offer has definitely helped me, especially when the waves are small or wonky. I’m very lucky to have all these different types of waves right here in my backyard.
Kaleopa’a and crew at home in Waikiki. Photo: Tommy Pierucki
Do you feel compelled to use your platform as a pro surfer to teach others about your culture?
Yes! During the US Open, five out of the eight finalists were from Hawaii and were representing our people. That moment was crazy because I don’t think any of us have ever seen that. Surfing started in Hawaii and to take what we’ve learned from our grandparents, our kupuna as we say here in Hawaii, and to take it to other states, it’s crazy.
How does it feel taking back-to-back Duct Tape wins?
It’s a nice feeling. I wasn’t planning on winning Mexico. Every time you enter a competition you want to win, but it was just nice to be with everyone again, surf, and hang out. But winning was definitely a nice moment. And then the US Open was crazy. I didn’t think that it could be possible, so I just feel very blessed.
What was it like competing in the final against Honolua Blomfield?
It was special. I feel like a lot of people overlook surfers from Hawaii, but to be in a final with Hono and her being from the North Shore and from such a strong water family background, it was cool. I always love surfing against Hono because she always pushes me to surf my best. She’s a three-time world champ, so obviously you want to bring your A-game. I feel like that’s what you need to get a world title — you need somebody that’s going to push you and that’s going to bring out the best in you. She’s definitely one of those.
What would a world title mean to you?
A world title would mean a lot to my community, more than it would to me. One of my biggest motivations when I surf is my family and the town I come from — this is where surfing originated and to bring a world title back home would mean so much for me because it would be for my uncles and aunties who taught me how to surf when I was little. Because of them, I’m where I am in my surfing career and it would be a big thank you for them.
And longterm?
I surf because it’s fun. It’s something that I enjoy and love; it’s like therapy for me. It just so happened that I was able to turn it into a profession. If I could just get a couple world titles, I’d be totally okay with that and then just surf freely. That would be a good, happy goal.
