Bill > SCR232

This concurrent resolution recognizes September 2nd as Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana Day in Hawaii, honoring a legendary surfer, lifeguard, and cultural icon who was born in Honolulu in 1935. Keaulana was a highly accomplished surfer who won the Makaha International contest in 1960 and was considered one of the world's best bodysurfers, known for his smooth surfing style and switch-stance skills. Beyond his surfing achievements, he served as Makaha's chief lifeguard for over two decades, earning the nickname "Mayor of Makaha" and becoming a father figure to West Oahu's youth. Keaulana was also part of the first Hokulea voyage to Tahiti in 1976 and comes from a surfing dynasty, with two of his six children becoming notable surfers. While the resolution establishes a day in his honor, it explicitly states that September 2nd will not be a state holiday. The resolution celebrates Keaulana's enduring legacy of aloha and his significant contributions to surfing and Hawaiian cultural preservation, recognizing him as a friend and contemporary of Duke Kahanamoku and an important figure in Hawaiian maritime culture.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SCR&billnumber=232&year=2025