While surfing made its grand debut at the Olympics this summer, a new surfboard art exhibit in Waikiki features legends old and new.
In the closing days of the Tokyo Olympics, Gov. David Ige declared a special day to honor Carissa Moore's contribution to surfing and Hawaiʻi as a whole. The Oʻahu native and professional surfer became the first woman to ever win a gold medal for surfing at the Olympics.
She shared her thoughts at a news conference officially marking Aug. 5 as Carissa Moore Day.
"I am truly overwhelmed with all the love that I’ve been shown, not only the past week but the weeks leading up to this. I wouldn’t be where I am today without everybody that has contributed time and effort and love," she said at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol. "I just want to express my gratitude and how honored I feel to be a part of the Olympics, to represent the United State of America, but especially my home — Hawaiʻi, my heart is Hawaiʻi."
Moore is part of a new art exhibit focusing on the past and present of surfing.
Artist Eduardo Bolioli’s “Golden Dreams” features Moore, Duke Kahanamoku and the three other Team USA surfers painted on vibrantly colored surfboards.
Moore is on red, John John Florence on yellow, Kolohe Andino on green, Caroline Marks on blue, and Kahanamoku on black. Each board color symbolizes one of the Olympic rings, with Kahanamoku in the middle.
The Conversation was there for the opening of the exhibit and spoke with Bolioli, and Duke Kahanamoku's relative Kahu Ralph Aona.
Bolioli’s surfboard exhibit is now open at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort until the end of the year.
Matt Fairfax was a summer intern on HPR's The Conversation.
