The surf is up for children with special needs on Friday as the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation hosts the 15th “Surfers Healing” event.
Surfers Healing is specifically designed for children with special needs and offers them the opportunity to ride waves alongside skilled surfers and volunteers at Richardson Ocean Park in Keaukaha.
Surfers Healing camps originated in California and are now held around the world, serving more than 6,000 keiki annually.
“Working in recreation, there are various special events that we all champion, and this is one that I’m sure to champion every year,” said Recreation Specialist Kalani Kahalioumi. “I do it because I love surfing and watching that light bulb go off on every kid that experiences it for the first time.”
The event gives keiki with special needs a safe and supportive environment where they can connect with the ocean and enjoy the transformative power of riding waves.
“For Hawaii kids, they are surrounded by water, and for many of them, this is their first time trying anything like this,” Kahalioumi said. “If they are not familiar with the ocean, it can be scary or daunting. Once they see other kids going out and riding waves, they are interested to try something new.”
The event is run entirely by compassionate, inclusive volunteers who spend their day talking with the kids and taking them out on surfboards.
“So many of us feel so good doing this and love to see how it makes keiki feel,” Kahalioumi said. “As long as they are old enough to hold their head up, they are old enough to surf.”
The 15th annual Surfers Healing event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, rain or shine.
The event is free, and those interested can sign up at surfershealing.org. Participants are encouraged to register in advance to secure a spot.
For more information, visit the website or contact Kahalioumi at (808) 238-6566.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
