DOB: February 5, 1993

Home break: Kewalos

Hometown: Honolulu, HI

Stance: Goofy

School: Home school

Sponsors: Roxy, Up and Riding, HIC, Da Kine, Ratio Fins

 

Being the only girl in a family with four surf rat brothers, you’d expect 14-year-old Kelia Moniz to be somewhat of a tomboy. However, the O‘ahu local’s tan, delicate frame and graceful mastery of a longboard tell a much different story. While Kelia might not have picked up any typical male attributes like farting, burping and picking her nose, she did pick up her brothers’ (Micah, Isaiah, Josh, and Seth) traits of killing it in the lineup. The multi-talented Japanese, Hawaiian, Portuguese, Chinese, Irish beauty competes on a longboard, shortboard, and bodyboard and has just added stand-up paddle surfing to her repertoire.

Kelia recently joined friend and surf partner, Carissa Moore, on the coveted Roxy team and follows Carissa’s footsteps as a finals regular, proving herself capable of beating out the boys. At 13, Kelia was the only girl to make it to the semifinals in the noseriding event at the Corona Hawaiian Open, a timed event where both men and women competitors attempt to stay perched on the nose of their boards for as long as possible, beating out defending champion, Kai Sallas, in the process.

Kelia’s main influence in life has come from her strong family roots, her affinity for her brothers, the surf school her family operates (Faith Surf School in Waikiki) and of course, the fact that her father is a revered waterman, Waikiki beach boy and former professional big wave surfer. The family spends most of their time in or around the water and rarely spends a day out of the surf. Kelia and her brothers were never compelled to surf, the attraction was intrinsically there.

Growing up, longboarding has evolved into shortboarding, and though shortboarding is her new favorite, Kelia rides what the waves call for the day. “If it’s small and there’s not many waves, I’ll take my longboard out and it’s really graceful and easy, but my brothers like to shortboard so I like to be with them and shortboard,” she says.

Most of Kelia’s pastimes lie in water activities and these endeavors have given rise to her newest opportunity: modeling for Roxy. “I really like to model because I like working with cameras,” says Kelia. Though some surfer girls might phase out competitions as the glitz and glamour of being the new “Roxy Girl” capture their interest, Kelia has no intention of giving up contests. In the long term, the goofy-foot intends to become a professional surfer and one day embark on a surf adventure to Australia. But for the short term, her sights are set on entering as many pro events as possible and have a successful run at the Roxy ASP World Longboard Championships in France this fall.

What is most impressive about this young wahine is not her notable contest results or her bright future with Roxy, but her genuine personality. For Kelia, Carissa Moore embodies the qualities she aspires to possess. “[Carissa] is a really humble person and that’s what I think is a real gift,” explains Kelia. “She’s always really friendly and she gives so much. Carissa is one of my favorite role models.”

She may surf with the boys, but Kelia’s poised style on a longboard, competitive prowess, classic Hawaiian good looks surfer DNA and upbeat personality, make her one to watch in the future.