Report Title:

Buffalo Keaulana

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Legislature is always proud to recognize and honor the outstanding accomplishments of Hawaii`s people, whose efforts give pride and inspiration to the people of the State of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, surfing, or he`e nalu, is of such significant historical and cultural importance to Hawaii that surfing was adopted, established, and designated as the official individual sport of the State; and

WHEREAS, surfing ambassadors, such as Duke Paoa Kahanamoku and Rell Sunn, who embodied the proud legacy of their ancestors and who shared that legacy with people on distant beaches around the globe helped establish Hawaii as the mecca of the surfing world; and

WHEREAS, Richard "Buffalo" Kalolo`okalani Keaulana, born and raised in Hawaii and worthy of recognition as an ambasssdor of surfing and Hawaiian water sports, has a loving family consisting of his wife, Evangeline Leimomi Whaley; five children, Brian, Jodie, Lehua, Russ, and James; and two hanai sons, Kioni and Stanley, and is well known for his amazing ability in the sport of surfing; and

WHEREAS, for over twenty-five years Buffalo Keaulana has been a devoted lifeguard, protecting swimmers and saving lives off the shores of Makaha Beach, and was part of the original crew on the Hokule`a sailing canoe's first historic voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti; and

WHEREAS, Buffalo Keaulana has participated in a multitude of surfing competitions in which he triumphed, winning the Makaha International Body Surfing Championship in 1954, 1956, 1957, and 1958; in 1960, he won the Makaha International Surfing Championship; and

WHEREAS, in 1977, Buffalo Keaulana founded the Buffalo Big Board Surfing Classic which has perpetuated the arts of longboard surfing, body surfing, body boarding, and paipo boarding at the world-renowned Makaha Beach; and

WHEREAS, Buffalo Keaulana, a legendary waterman, is familiar to surfers around the world and is recognized as a kupuna of surfing in Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature commends and congratulates Richard "Buffalo" Kalolo`okalani Keaulana for his many years of commitment to his community and contributions to the people of Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature recognizes Richard "Buffalo" Kalolo`okalani Keaulana as a global ambassador of surfing and Hawaiian water sports, and on the occasion of his Silver Anniversary Big Board Surfing Classic, extends to him its warmest aloha and best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Richard "Buffalo" Kalolo`okalani Keaulana, Governor Benjamin Cayetano, the President of the State Senate, the Speaker of the State House of Representatives, the Executive Director of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Chair of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the Administrator of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, who in turn, is requested to transmit copies of this Concurrent Resolution to Hawaiian organizations that have a cultural appreciation of surfing and other Hawaiian water sports.