Ohana Nalu Provides Surf Education for Families with Pre‑Schoolers
The mission of The Surf Bus Foundation is to empower people to have a healing connection to the sea. We do this by engaging in ocean sports like surfing, swimming and beach games while exploring the wonder and beauty of the sea. Our teaching and mentoring is provided to the community regardless of economic challenge. We help create understanding that encourages a lifelong commitment to share and protect our oceans for all to enjoy.
Ohana Nalu means "Family Wave" in Hawaiian. We think it is the perfect way to describe our tribal ideal for Surf Bus Foundation: A group of surfers who are connected like family by The Sea. Ocean waves are many and varied, much like the challenges and milestones we endure with, and within, family. Ohana is as unconditional as Nalu are consistent, and together exemplify a tenet of the Surfer Code: I remember that all surfers are connected by one ocean.
Ohana Nalu is the seaside expression of The Surf Bus Foundation. We exist to fill an educational gap in our local community, starting with our youngest members, the Keiki (children ages 4-8 years old), and growing up with them into our groups of Wahine (young ladies ages 9-17) and Kanaka (young men ages 9-17). We serve as ambassadors of Santa Monica's seascape educating our children about local environmental concerns, ocean safety, the surf industry, and what it means to be a steward of the sea.
Ohana Nalu is how we blend our own advancement in surfing with outreach to neighboring communities in need of The Surf Bus. We share our knowledge with others, bringing to life one more tenet of the Surfer Code: I pass on my stoke to non-surfers. In this case, we pass our stoke on to those who are not self-described surfers yet.
Wanna be involved? Join the club! We have age-appropriate club activities based in education and practice in and around the ocean, right here in Santa Monica! Club dues support Surf Bus Foundation and our continuing commitment to bring Los Angeles and her surrounding communities to The Sea!
"The ocean is the great universal healing force of nature. Surfing and yoga teach how to transform fear and experience the flow of the power within us and in nature and have FUN in the process. LA Surf Bus offers a transforming life-changing experience for kids to awaken the power within them. All kids deserve to experience the healing power of the ocean in the summer."
- Shiva Rea (world renowned yogini and inspired surf enthusiast)
