Noosa Festival Of Surfing - Hawaiian Watermen To Lead Festival Opening    Ceremony

The Hawaiians are coming! The largest contingent of Hawaiian surfers seen in Noosa for years is on its way to next month’s Noosa Festival of Surfing.

Led by waterman and lifeguard Brian Keaulana, whose father Buffalo led the last big Hawaiian team to Noosa in 1999, the colorful Hawaiian surfers will lead the traditional mixing of the waters ceremony at Main Beach from 4pm on Monday, March 5.

Brian Keaulana, 45, from Makaha on the Westside of Oahu, is regarded as one of the most complete watermen in the world, excelling at big wave riding, tow in surfing, tandem surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, canoe racing and stand-up paddle surfing. A lifeguard since 1976, Keaulana was awarded the United States Lifeguarding medal of honour in 1993 for rescuing a drowning tourist trapped in an underwater cave.

Dave Kalama, 42, from Maui, is also recognized as a complete waterman, having won world championship windsurfing events and pioneering big wave tow-in surfing with partner Laird Hamilton. Kalama and Hamilton figured in the opening sequence of Pierce Brosnan’s last James Bond movie, towing in through mountainous waves to reach a landing cave.

Former world longboard champion Bonga Perkins from Oahu will be making a welcome return to Noosa, where he won three Noosa Classics back to back in the ‘90s. Since those days, Bonga has also become a full-blooded waterman, adding stand-up paddle to his impressive list of skills.

Bonga showing his form in WA 2005

Said Noosa Malibu Club president Norm Innis: “The fact that we’ve introduced a stand-up paddle event this year, and brought back the tandem, has made Noosa a very attractive package for the Hawaiians and we're stoked to be hosting them. This year’s festival will be a true waterman event, embracing all kinds of surfing.”