Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SCR232 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 232 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 STATE OF HAWAII SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing september 2nd as richard "buffalo" keaulana day.
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3	3	THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 232
4	4	THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
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7	7	THE SENATE
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9	9	S.C.R. NO.
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13	13	THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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29	29	SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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35	35	recognizing september 2nd as richard "buffalo" keaulana day.
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41	41	WHEREAS, Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana was an iconic surfer and lifesaver who was born in Honolulu on September 2, 1935, and learned to surf as a young boy in the gentle rollers off Waikiki; and WHEREAS, Keaulana eventually graduated to the level of "beach boy" before his family settled in his home community of Makaha, and Keaulana grew to be known as one of Hawaii's most naturally talented surfers; and WHEREAS, his smooth style, switch-stance skills, and "nose for the pocket" made him a favorite at the annual Makaha International contest, an event he won in 1960; and WHEREAS, Keaulana captured six of the top-four finishes in the contest between 1957 and 1965, and these achievements led many to consider him the world's best bodysurfer at the time; and WHEREAS, along with his renowned surfing talent, Keaulana was named Makaha's chief lifeguard in 1969, a position he held for over two decades, earning him the honorary title of "Mayor of Makaha" and the honor of statue of his likeness in front of the Makaha library; and WHEREAS, in 1976, Keaulana was on the first voyage of the Hokulea to Tahiti, acting as the voyaging canoe's steersman; and WHEREAS, his unique nickname, "Buffalo", is derived from his constant connection and companionship with the water, in addition to his "large head and copious amounts of hair", as his friends would describe him; and WHEREAS, Keaulana was also honored with an annual surf contest and beach party in his name, Buffalo's Big Board Classic, which continues to be a community mainstay today; and WHEREAS, in 2010, Keaulana was inducted into the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation Hall of Fame; and WHEREAS, perhaps his greatest honor and achievement was becoming the patriarch of his own West Oahu dynasty, known as "Makaha's first family", currently in its third generation, with two of his six children having noteworthy careers in surfing: Brian, a world class waterman and big-wave surfer; and Rusty, a three-time world longboard champion (1993-1995); and WHEREAS, Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana's enduring legacy of aloha has touched generations of ocean lovers and surfers worldwide; and WHEREAS, as a friend and fellow beach boy of Duke Kahanamoku, Keaulana's contributions to the sport of surfing and Hawaiian cultural restoration are everlasting; and WHEREAS, as Makaha's first lifeguard, Keaulana's legacy extends beyond surfing and his ambassadorship of aloha and he not only was essential in protecting swimmers in Makaha's rough waters but was a father figure to many of West Oahu's youth; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body recognizes September 2 of each year as Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana Day in the State of Hawaii; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana Day shall not be construed as a state holiday; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana Day
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43	43	WHEREAS, Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana was an iconic surfer and lifesaver who was born in Honolulu on September 2, 1935, and learned to surf as a young boy in the gentle rollers off Waikiki; and
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47	47	WHEREAS, Keaulana eventually graduated to the level of "beach boy" before his family settled in his home community of Makaha, and Keaulana grew to be known as one of Hawaii's most naturally talented surfers; and
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51	51	WHEREAS, his smooth style, switch-stance skills, and "nose for the pocket" made him a favorite at the annual Makaha International contest, an event he won in 1960; and
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55	55	WHEREAS, Keaulana captured six of the top-four finishes in the contest between 1957 and 1965, and these achievements led many to consider him the world's best bodysurfer at the time; and
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59	59	WHEREAS, along with his renowned surfing talent, Keaulana was named Makaha's chief lifeguard in 1969, a position he held for over two decades, earning him the honorary title of "Mayor of Makaha" and the honor of statue of his likeness in front of the Makaha library; and
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63	63	WHEREAS, in 1976, Keaulana was on the first voyage of the Hokulea to Tahiti, acting as the voyaging canoe's steersman; and
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67	67	WHEREAS, his unique nickname, "Buffalo", is derived from his constant connection and companionship with the water, in addition to his "large head and copious amounts of hair", as his friends would describe him; and
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71	71	WHEREAS, Keaulana was also honored with an annual surf contest and beach party in his name, Buffalo's Big Board Classic, which continues to be a community mainstay today; and
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75	75	WHEREAS, in 2010, Keaulana was inducted into the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation Hall of Fame; and
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79	79	WHEREAS, perhaps his greatest honor and achievement was becoming the patriarch of his own West Oahu dynasty, known as "Makaha's first family", currently in its third generation, with two of his six children having noteworthy careers in surfing: Brian, a world class waterman and big-wave surfer; and Rusty, a three-time world longboard champion (1993-1995); and
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83	83	WHEREAS, Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana's enduring legacy of aloha has touched generations of ocean lovers and surfers worldwide; and
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87	87	WHEREAS, as a friend and fellow beach boy of Duke Kahanamoku, Keaulana's contributions to the sport of surfing and Hawaiian cultural restoration are everlasting; and
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91	91	WHEREAS, as Makaha's first lifeguard, Keaulana's legacy extends beyond surfing and his ambassadorship of aloha and he not only was essential in protecting swimmers in Makaha's rough waters but was a father figure to many of West Oahu's youth; now, therefore,
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95	95	BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body recognizes September 2 of each year as Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana Day in the State of Hawaii; and
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99	99	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana Day shall not be construed as a state holiday; and
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103	103	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor.
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111	111	OFFERED BY: _____________________________
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127	127	Report Title:
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129	129	Richard "Buffalo" Keaulana Day