Waves of Resistance: Surfing and History in 20th Century Hawaii

Waves of Resistance: Surfing and History in 20th Century Hawaii

Isaiah Walker  (Brigham Young University- Hawaii )
Wednesday, April 25 / 4:00 PM
McCune Conference Room, 6020 HSSB

Surfing has been a significant sport and cultural practice in Hawaii for more than 1,500 years. In the last century, facing increased marginalization on land, many Native Hawaiians have found refuge, autonomy, and identity in the waves. In Waves of Resistance Isaiah Walker explains that throughout the twentieth century Hawaiian surfers have successfully resisted colonial encroachment in the po‘ina nalu (surf zone).

While born and raised in Keaukaha, Hawaii, Isaiah Walker is currently an Associate Professor of History at Brigham Young University- Hawaii on O`ahu’s North Shore. He earned a PhD in History from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2006. He is the author of Waves of Resistance: Surfing and History in Twentieth Century Hawai`i. In addition to researching and writing Hawaiian and surfing history, he is an avid (and former competitive) surfer.

Sponsored by the Department of English’s Literature and the Environment Program, Hemispheric South/s, and the IHC.