Surfing Champions Honored by Senate

The Hawai‘i Senate Majority announced that Kalani Vierra and Krystl Apeles were honored Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, on the Senate floor for winning the 2017 International Tandem Surfing Association (ISTA) championship at Kūhiō Beach, Waikīkī, on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 24 and 25, 2017.

Photo courtesy of Hawai‘i Senate Majority

This tandem duo won the World Tandem Surfing Championships award in 2015 and they have a long history of successfully competing in the sport together.

A documentary is currently being completed about their tandem surfing journey. Besides tandem surfing, both surfers are highly regarded in their communities.

Vierra is a champion surfer and paddler, the operation chief of the Kaua‘i Fire Department Ocean Safety Bureau, and the recipient of the Quiksilver Waterman of the Year Award in 2004.

Apeles is the owner of Puka Surf Company and the manager and brand developer of Executive True Blue Inc. Besides surfing, Apeles is an accomplished free diver, spear fisher and hula dancer.