TEST PILOT SPOTLIGHT: KAʻIWA FOSTER
Kaʻiwa Foster moves with intention—on land, in the water, and through every part of his craft. Based on the North Shore of Oʻahu, he hand-shapes traditional Alaias, draws clean lines through the waves of Haleʻiwa on various wave-riding vehicles, and plays Hawaiian music with the same precision and soul he brings to surfing. A third-generation waterman and fluent speaker of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, Kaʻiwa’s connection to place runs deep—and his path forward is just getting started.
GIVE US A BRIEF RUNDOWN OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
Howzit, I’m Kaʻiwakīkahapono Foster, 18 years old from Haleʻiwa, Waialua, Oʻahu. Welina mai kākou,
ʻO Kaʻiwakīkahapono Foster koʻu inoa. He ʻumikumawalu oʻu makahiki.
He pua no ka ‘āina kū pālua i ka la‘i. He kama he‘ehe‘e mālie ho‘i no ka nalu pākākā ‘o Ali‘i. He kama ‘iwa ho‘i no Hale‘iwa.
I'm passionate about perpetuating and sharing Hawaiian culture through heʻe nalu, shaping traditional Hawaiian boards, and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
ʻO ka hoʻōla ʻike hawaiʻi, heʻe nalu, ke kālai papa, a me ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi kuʻu mau welo.
WHAT’S YOUR DISCIPLINE?
My main disciplines are high-performance longboarding, playing and writing Hawaiian music, and shaping traditional Hawaiian boards like the alaia and paepoʻo. I come from a long line of watermen. So, honoring their knowledge is everything to me. As a kanaka hawaiʻi, I am so lucky to be raised with my language, culture, and connection to the land. Haleʻiwa is my bloodline.
Kū au i kēia mau welo ma o ka heʻe papa loloa, ka haku mele, a me ke kālai ʻana i nā ʻano papa heʻe nalu kuʻuna like ʻole, e laʻa me ka alaia a me ka paepoʻo. ʻO kuʻu ʻohana he ʻohana pili kai. He pōmaikaʻi maoli nō kuʻu hānai ʻia ana ma ke ʻano Hawaiʻi me ka pilina i kuʻu ʻāina ʻohana. ʻO Haleʻiwa kuʻu one, kuʻu ēwe, kuʻu iwi, kuʻu koko.
Photo: Jonna Manatad-Watson
WHAT’S THE NEXT CHALLENGE FOR YOU IN THE OUTDOORS?
Haleʻiwa International Open
Hic Haleʻiwa Pro QS longboard
WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR DISCIPLINE?
- Promoting Hawaiian language and protocol at the 2024 Lexus Pipe Pro opening ceremony
- Hale‘iwa International open semi-finalist in open men's division, age16, age 17
- Kamakau High School Surf Team
- Oʻahu high school's stars team for surfing
WHAT PIECE OF FLORENCE GEAR DO YOU USE/LIKE THE MOST?
Windshield Long Sleeve Rashguard
Cordura® Airtex Pro Hawaii Boardshort
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