The Face Of What’s To Come

Kauai’s Leila Hurst may not be the most recognizable female of the current crop of women dominating the scene in Hawaii, but in the next year, if she continues on the warpath that she’s currently trotting along, there’s a damn fine chance that you will know her name and know it well. She’s got the talent, the charisma, and drive to be cutting through the World Tour with reckless abandon in no time. Recently, we spoke to Leila and asked her some random questions. Her answers were telling, kind of...

We’ve been lucky enough here at the mag to have had the privilage of working with one of Hawaii’s greatest surf talents. If you’re not already aware, I’m about to drop a Freesurf spoiler on you: Carissa Moore—you know the one…tanned, polite, surfs better than you—guest edited our last issue. Pretty cool, eh?

Eyes on the Prize
Nage Melamed gets to work with the tools for success
By Christen Vidanovic

Fifteen-year-old Kaua‘i native Nage Melamed was made for the water. She was born in her parent’s bathtub after they returned home from a trip to Tahiti. Her dad immediately called her Nage, which means “to swim” in French. The name is a perfect reflection of the Hanalei ripper, and Nage has been gracefully swimming through life ever since, balancing obligations (school) with her passions (the ocean).

Journey of a Waterwoman: the Valley Isle’s  Tiare Lawrence
By Chelsea Johns

Name: Tiare Lawrence
Birth Date: July 1, 1982
Sponsors: Hinano, C4 Waterman, Honey Girl Swimwear, DaKine and Xcel Wetsuits Hometown: Lahaina, Maui
Home Break: Lahaina Harbor

While we often hail individuals for their ability to excel in one arena, a waterwoman like Tiare Lawrence deserves credit for her skills in stand up paddle surfing, shortboarding, bodyboarding, longboarding, tow-in surfing, and in one-man and six-man canoes. A typical day for Tiare always includes a paddle or a surf, but most likely both. Born to Haunani Teruya and the late John Lawrence, and raised along the west-Maui mountains, Tiare has grown up near the ocean, but didn’t get into surfing until age eleven when she jumped in Lahaina Harbor. Her first craft was a bodyboard and she learned by watching her cousins and the other “harbor rats.” “Yup, I was a sponger, and I loved it!” she admits.

By Alee Thompson

Name: Leila Anuhea Hurst
Birth Date: August 17th, 1993
Sponsors: Billabong, Von Zipper, Vans, Local Motion and Sticky Bumps
Hometown: Kilauea, Kaua‘i
Home Break: Pinetrees & Kalihiwai


Five years ago one of the most talented surf teams in the world saw something in Leila Hurst. They saw a cute, blonde-haired, blue-eyed nine-year-old from Kaua‘i. Yeah, she could surf, but at the time, the choice to bring her on the Billabong team wasn’t based solely on that. The half decade since, however, Leila has grown into one of the most talented and stylish young female surfers in the lineup today.

By Alee Thompson with Chelsea Johns

Birthday: Feb. 13, 1971
Home Break: Sunset
Sponsors: O'Neill Wetsuits and Clothing, Channel Islands surfboards, Sticky Bumps wax, Nukumoi Surf Co. accessories, Honda wave runners, South Bay Toyota, H20 Audio and Kicker

Before Hollywood embraced surfer girls, before any company made women’s board shorts and before high fashion models were carrying surfboards down the runway, Rochelle Ballard was learning to surf at Koala Beach on Kaua‘i’s South Shore.