There’s a unique bay on the Island of Kauai. It’s called Hanalei, and in the very middle of the bay there’s Pine Trees Beach, the place where it all started for surfing icons Bruce and Andy Irons. Pine Trees is a family beach, enjoyed by all walks of life: the waves can be small and perfect or big and unruly — with many challenges and shifty peaks, it’s the perfect training grounds for an aspiring surfer. Naturally, 13 years ago, Bruce and Andy decided to host their very own kids event at Pine Trees, giving back to a place that had already given them so much. This past Saturday the tradition continued, and the kids of Kauai, 12-years-old and under, were treated to an event like no other. Every contestant at the Irons Brothers Pine Trees Classic is a winner. The Aloha spirit continues!
This year we were again blessed with perfect condition, and peeling mini waves off of the Pine Trees sand bars. The division with the most entries is the five-to-eight year olds keiki push-in, a group effort of parents and community pushing and catching 150 kids in the shore break. The best part of the keiki push-in is they all receive a first place trophy — no losers; just a good feeling had by all!
The event is free for anyone who wants to enter. The only requirement to get a contest jersey was a can of food, donated to a local food drive on Kauai. There’s literally nothing sold on this day at Pine Trees. We had Tamba who started the day with hot coco for everyone followed by malasadas, hot dogs, burgers, cotton candy, and shaved ice. I could only dream up an event like this when I was a kid.
After a day at the beach, seeing these kids’ smiles reminds you what it’s all about, and I’m honored to be a part of it. I want to thank the Irons family for making this happen. A big thank you to all the sponsors: FOX, Billabong, Nixon, Tamba Oakley, Stance, DaKine, and event director Miguel Graham. And thank you to the community, parents, and kids who had a helping hand. We couldn’t do this without everyone donating their love and time to the next generation!
– Jess Merle-Jones
