Picking ‘opihi and surfing sounds like a good life. For Colin Kawika Murphy, it’s a reality. The young surfer moved from Kaua‘i to Ireland three years ago to help his dad, Patrick, with the family’s exporting/importing ‘opihi business. While in
Picking ‘opihi and surfing sounds like a good life.
For Colin Kawika Murphy, it’s a reality.
The young surfer moved from Kaua‘i to Ireland three years ago to help his dad, Patrick, with the family’s exporting/importing ‘opihi business.
While in Ireland, Murphy has won numerous Irish Surfing Association events, qualifying him for the ISA Rip Curl Grom Search, which he won.
“We are all very excited about Colin’s accomplishments,” said Sophronia Josselin, a big fan of Murphy’s. “Colin is a much-loved, respectable and humble young man.”
In addition, the grom has earned an all-expense-paid trip to France to compete among the top young surfers from France, Portugal, Spain, England and Wales in Rip Curl’s European final in Hossegor, France, this weekend.
“I feel he truly makes a fine representative not only for Ireland, but also as an amabassador of Hawai‘i’s surfing culture and art in Europe,” Josselin said.
Murphy comes from a family of surfers and is the youngest son of Patrick Murphy Jr. of Spanish Point, Ireland, and Marie Ann Rin-Murphy of Waimea.
Murphy’s grandparents, Fred and Momi Basio, are from Pakala, which is where he learned to surf.
The tour is designed to seek out the top young surfers from France, Portugal, Spain, England, Wales and Ireland to bring them together for a European Final.
• Duane Shimogawa Jr., sports editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kauaisports@kauaipubco.com.
