NAWILIWILI — Kalani Vierra and his 11-year-old daughter Ala were honored at a special reception hosted by Duke’s in recognition of the pair being named World Tandem Surfing Champions. “For your outstanding performance and sportsmanship, I would like to congratulate
NAWILIWILI — Kalani Vierra and his 11-year-old daughter Ala were honored at a special reception hosted by Duke’s in recognition of the pair being named World Tandem Surfing Champions.
“For your outstanding performance and sportsmanship, I would like to congratulate you both for your personal achievement, and especially for the recognition this has brought to our island home of Kaua‘i,” said Kaua‘i Mayor Bill “Kaipo” Asing in a proclamation that declared Oct. 24 as Kalani and Ala Vierra Day on Kaua‘i.
The proclamation outlined the pair’s rise to the world championship, noting that during the past year, Kalani and Ala trained and practiced using gymnastics as well as land and water exercises in their daily routines.
A full and productive schedule filled their road to the title and the pair took part in surf meets at Makaha on O‘ahu, Australia, Florida and California before ending at the Duke’s Festival in Waikiki.
“Record setting for Kalani seems to be so effortless,” Asing said in the proclamation. “However, in true Kalani Vierra style, he and his daughter Ala, are the first father-and-daughter team in a competition of this magnitude.”
Asing added that Ala is the youngest to ever hold the title of World Tandem Surfing Champion.
In addition to the mayoral accolades, the World Tandem Surfing Champions were congratulated by their many friends and supporters and presented several other awards, including one, a tiki from Duke’s, and a miniature replica of the surfboard they used to attain the championship.
