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Spot on Spot - A Revisionist Glance at Historic Surfing Locales: Ala Moana

The Dirt:

Ala Moana has starred in over 30 surf videos including “Endless Summer” and “Tales of the Seven Seas” which includes a scene that perfectly characterizes the spot – massive tubes, boards flying, ruthless drop-ins, and the climactic conclusion of a catamaran being capsized by a cleanup set.

Want an uncrowded, super mellow place to take your kids and learn to surf? Don’t come to Bowls. The crowds are thicker than your aunt’s cheesecake and probably a lot worse for your health.

Recently 48 million gallons of sewage poured into the lineup at Bowls. The place is slowly recovering, but thick, murky water and reports of nagging sickness have kept the place pretty quiet. Surfrider and other environmentalist organizations have stepped in to combat the lethal pollutants, but 48 million gallons of crap is just that – 48 million gallons of crap, and shit has a tendency to linger.

The surfing community has been in arms lately about the potential privatization of the Ala Wai Marina parking lot. If the lot becomes privately owned, then parking meters will more than likely accompany each and every parking spot. What was once free is no longer. Needless to say, the surfing, fishing, and beach-going community vehemently opposes this possibility, and heated debates loom in the near future.

“So when’s the next contest?” With so many surf contests held at Bowls, locals can’t always get their fair share of waves. Local surfers would really appreciate a few more sessions without neon jerseys and air horns ablazing, but with an ideal parking situation and great waves – Bowls undeniably fits the mold for a perfect contest setup. Maybe a contest should settle this one.

If the marina’s outer jetty were extended much further the resultant backwash would absolutely destroy the break. While no plans have been set in motion to do so, this threat rests uncomfortably in the back of every Ala Moana local’s mind.

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