HMSO - Hawaii Military Surfing Organization

HMSO/NA KAMA KAI SURFBOARD DONATION PROGRAM

HMSO has partnered with Hawaiian professional surfer Duane DeSoto and his outstanding organization, Na Kama Kai, to bring our mutual love of surfing and the ocean to Hawaii’s underprivileged Keiki. As surfers, most of us follow the old adage that “you can never have too many surfboards,” and soon our garages and carports look a lot more like surf shops than residences, with boards on every wall, in the rafters, and standing in every corner. While we undoubtedly had excellent reasons for purchasing every single one (Slater won the World Championship on that model, this one is for crowded Chuns, I bought that one for my daughter, etc.) invariably we end up riding just a few of our favorites, while the rest gather dust for that “special day.” And as military surfers, we all dread that day when the PCS orders arrive, and we find out our next duty station will be somewhere like Fort Riley, Kansas, where none of our boards will be of much use.

The benefits of donating an unused board to a child who can’t afford one are boundless. First, we have a responsibility to nurture the next generation, and by encouraging a child to establish an early relationship with the ocean, we are doing our part to grow healthy, active kids who grow up with respect for the environment and each other. Second, we continue to strengthen the bonds between our Hawaiian neighbors and the military community. Third, all that good karma has to translate into a least one great day at (pick your spot) with nobody out, and last but certainly not least, it will make room for that quad fin fish biscuit or stand up paddle board you’ve had your eye on for awhile.

Na Kama Kai is accepting almost any type of surf related materials, in any condition. In addition to surfboards in usable condition, Duane will also take broken boards, broken or stretched out leashes, fins, rash guards, etc., and will give all new life in the hands of a deserving Keiki. HMSO encourages you to support this very worthy cause, and we will post more information on when and where we will conduct donation drops in the near future. For more information on Na Kama Kai, check out their website at http://www.nakamakai.com/ or contact Dan Wilson, Program Coordinator, at 626-7758 or by e-mail at Daniel.wilson2@us.army.mil.

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