Ch 5: A Whale, a Pack of Sharks and a Pod of Dolphins

Ch 6: A Gold Medal and Sponsorship

Ch 7: Island Politics

Ch 8: H.A.W.A.I.I. Makes Waves

Ch 9: Fast Racers, Slow Boat

Ch 10: More Racing, Less Boat

Ch 11: Maui No Ka Oi

Ch 12: Honors I'll Always Appreciate

Chapter 7: Island Politics

Kahului, Maui: August, 1989. Seventeen Oahu windsurfers went to Maui for the 1989 Hawaii State Slalom Championships. Considering the fact that few of us were used to the strong wind and choppy conditions at Kanaha, I think we did great. In the highly competitive Men's Open, Cam Rawlinson 9th; Men's 30, Tom Stone 7th; Men's 35, Tom Stone 5th; Men's 45, Dave Cadiz 5th and John Twelker 7th; Juniors, Blake McElheny 2nd and Chris Gutzeit 4th.

Kailua, Oahu: Storm Clouds. In 1989, H.A.W.A.I.I. filed for tax exempt status, membership increased to 140 while Oahu's U.S.B.A. (now U.S. Windsurfing) membership increased to 40, and Robby Naish conducted the first of two highly successful fund-raising workshops. Everything was going great. Then storm clouds gathered over the north end of Kailua Beach park and we got to experience Oahu's "Good-Old-Boy Politics" first-hand. The newspapers announced that our District council member had proposed new rules limiting instruction and windsurfing access at the north end of Kailua Beach Park. Prior to that time, windsurfing rigging and water access were permitted at the southern Boat Ramp end of the park and lessons and rigging were permitted at the northern end of the park ... but no direct water access at the northern end due to the swimming area that extended from the middle of Kailua Beach Park all the way to its north boundary. All windsurfers, beginners and experienced alike, had to carry their equipment off the park onto the beach in front of the private homes and launch there. Needless to say, that area was congested ... so congested that several residents lobbied our District council member to prohibit windsurfer launching in front of their homes.

... And Silver Linings! Someone said once, "There are no problems ... just facts or challenges". I thought a lot about the Kailua Beach Park situation and decided that H.A.W.A.I.I. should agree with the NEED (to resolve the congestion in front of the private homes, which of course would gain the resident's support) but to disagree with the SOLUTION which would have moved all windsurfers except those taking lessons to the Boat Ramp end of the park which was already overcrowded on heavy use days. After all the preliminary hearings were over, one council member told me that I had wasted my time ... that other council members needed our District's council member's vote for projects in their districts and he needed their votes for his ... so it was a "done deal" from the very start. I guess I shouldn't have been shocked at that revelation but I was. The phrase "Good Ol' Boy Politics" took on new meaning that day.

However, with all the park permits and water rights I had to get for our busy schedule of events, I'd developed a good relationship with both the Department of Parks & Recreation and the State of Hawaii. They liked my idea that the State of Hawaii move the northern boundary of the swimming area 100M south which would permit windsurfers to access the water directly from the park thus relieving congestion in front of the private residences and the Boat Ramp area. It was a simple solution that everyone could support (except our esteemed District council member, David Kahanu) ... but I don't think many thought could actually happen. The County Council, as expected, passed Mr. Kahanu's proposal but with the Dept. of Parks & Recreation and the State of Hawaii's support, H.A.W.A.I.I.'s proposal was also approved ... and it was a very happy day when the State crews came to Kailua Beach Park to move the swimming area buoys. Kailua windsurfers still enjoy rigging and launching from the northern 100M of Kailua Beach Park and now, you know "the rest of the story".

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