The 2016 Landshark Invitational Surf Contest was held on Saturday, September 10, giving law students and practicing attorneys a chance to meet new faces and hit the water.

Here in the islands, surfing has always been a favorite pastime, and for good reason: it brings people together and gets them outside. There really is no better reason to jump in the water (and it’s great exercise!). Unfortunately, with their busy schedules, both lawyers and law students sometimes need a little extra motivation in order to dust off their boards. A friendly surf contest makes for a perfect excuse to dig out your board shorts and relocate your “stoke.” To lawyers and law students alike, that means the Landshark Invitational. With sponsors like XCEL Wetsuits and several big-name law firms around town, the Landshark has become a tradition amongst Hawaii’s legal community.

Travis Yu (3L), Michael Biechler (2L), Kumau Pineda (’12), Doug Cole (’10), Ian Garrod (3L); Photo Credit: Michael Biechler

The surf contest at Kewalo Basin, a shouldery and often hollow town break near Ala Moana. Wave-riders of all sorts attended: shortboarders, nose-riders, SUPers, and bodyboarders, with skills ranging from novice to seasoned watermen. For many, this invitational is the only chance to surf in a contest format on a closed break—lucky for us, there were some waves this year! Several canopy-tents housing judges, a registration table, potluck style grinds, and even a DJ/MC lined the beach. Warm feelings and aloha permeated the salty air as colleagues relished the surf and each other’s company. What a great opportunity to take a break from the everyday grind and bring the legal community together around an awesome event. When else can you share one of Oahu’s most popular breaks with such a great group of people?