UH students surf, learn culture, earn academic credit

VIDEO NEWS RELEASE

(L-R) Ian ‘Akahi Masterson, Dorian Ashmore, Talita Stiles, Kelly Hussey, Shona Ortiz, Ben Zahniser

Ian ‘Akahi Masterson, UH Mānoa/Windward CC lecturer

Ian ‘Akahi Masterson, UH Mānoa/Windward CC lecturer

UH Mānoa student Talita Stiles

UH Mānoa student Dorian Ashmore

Link to video and sound (details below): https://bit.ly/35Qk6o4

WHO:  Students at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and Windward Community College have been learning to surf, learning about surfing and earning academic credit in classes taught by Ian ‘Akahi Masterson.

WHAT:  UH Mānoa: Polynesian Surf Culture (ANTH 175) with surfing lab (ANTH 175L), It is just one of multiple for-credit and noncredit classes developed and taught by Masterson.

HOW:  Masterson’s spring 2020 Polynesian Surf Culture course consisted of twice-weekly classroom sessions and Friday laboratory surfing classes around O‘ahu (before UH classes went online).

WHEN:  Masterson has developed curriculum and taught at Windward CC since 1999.  He started teaching at UH Mānoa in 2017.

WHY:  Masterson said, “Here we are in the cradle of surfing for our globalized world, and we should lead the way in educational endeavors.”

OTHER FACTS:

UH classes Masterson has developed include Pacific Surf Science and Technology, Polynesian Surf Culture, Pacific Islands Studies, Mythology of the Hawaiian Landscape, Environmental History of Hawaiʻi, Ocean Safety Education and Recreational Thrill Craft Operators Education.

In fall 2020, Masterson’s Windward CC course schedule includes Environmental History of Hawai‘i (online) and noncredit courses in Recreational Thrill Craft Operators Safety and Ocean Safety through the Hawai‘i Ocean Education Academy.

In the future, Masterson would like to work on a concentration in Hawaiian surf studies, as well as certificates in competencies and an entire undergraduate surfing degree program.

 VIDEO: (TRT: 2:34)

BROLL: (1:46)

3 shots Ian ‘Akahi Masterson with surf boards

4 shots at Rainbows in Ka‘a‘awa, Masterson talking to class on beach

6 shots of surfing at Rainbows

6 shots in classroom at UH Mānoa

SOUND:

Ian ‘Akahi Masterson, UH Mānoa/Windward CC lecturer (:08)

“So here we are in the cradle of surfing for our globalized world, and we should lead the way in educational endeavors.”

Masterson (on why visits to surfing sites are important) (:20)

“They’re important. And wrapped up in that is the oceanography and science side. There’s all of the cultural aspects. There were Hawaiian surfers, men and women, surfing all through the generations. So, what I really want them to get is a sense of place.”

Talita Stiles, UH Mānoa student (:10)

“I think that weʻre all just a really lovely cohesive group. Everyone is friends and everyone is really stoked to be in class, and our teacher is a really nice guy.”

Dorian Ashmore, UH Mānoa student (:04)

“I feel like you are really missing out if you go to the University of Hawai‘i and you are not taking a Polynesian Surf Culture class.”