The Hawaii World Team has been a major force in competitive surfing since 1964 when the International Surfing Association (ISA) first began the world surfing championships. It was at the first contest near Sydney, Australia that Hawaii set the precedent for world-class surfing. The title has been considered an indication of world-class competitive talent and a measure of success in the surf industry.

In 1980 the Juniors Division was created and the sport grew globally and the focus shifted to the youth, prompting the ISA to remove the JR division in 2003 and establish the World Junior Surfing Championships. With forty-five countries and over four hundred competitors the WJSC is the biggest event for the ISA.

From the beginnings of the ISA contest circuit, Hawai`i has been respected and revered as “the birthplace of surfing” and given recognition to compete as an Island Nation, separate from the US Surf Team. This has given Hawai‘i surfers a unique pride and sense of kuleana that is unmatched across the globe.

The tradition of surfing in Hawai`i and the converging thread of the aloha spirit has come to define the Hawaii Junior Team as 12 boys and girls under the age of 18 who travel abroad each year to spread aloha as ambassadors of Hawai`i and carry forward the legacy of Duke Kahanamoku.

From 1996 to 2018 the Hawaii Surf Team was under direction of Rainos Hayes. Through his guidance and coaching the team has made the podium every year they compete and brought home the gold in 2005, 2012, and 2014 along with multiple individual world champions. For these young athletes, this program has helped propel their career as professional surfers while providing a unique experience in competitive surfing—teaching the value of community, giving back to the place they call home and respecting their culture.

For 20 years Rainos managed the team with an unrelenting focus to grow and enhance the program to create opportunity and awareness for today’s youth. Through continued involvement with the community, ongoing health education, and elite surf clinics, they not only create better athletes, but better humans through perpetuating the Hawaiian sport of surfing and sharing the Aloha Spirit through competition and in their everyday lives. In 2019 Andrew Oliver was at the helm of Hawaii Surf Team, leading them to the podium with two individual world titles and placing second overall in Huntington Beach.

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As the Hawaii World Surf Team continues to build its surfing legacy for Hawaii, it remains a commitment and privilege to share the aloha spirit and the Hawaiian sport of surfing on the world stage and be the vehicle for bringing the Olympic surfing movement to Hawaii.

IMUA!