Guy Chang in wetsuit surfing a wave
Halekulani
: Surfers
Text By
Rae Sojot
Images By
AJ Feducia & John Hook
Share:

Riding High

Halekulani surfers share their stoke and love for Hawai‘i’s waters.
When the hotel’s ocean-loving staff aren’t providing exceptional service, they’re setting an elegant scene in the waves.
Guy Chang in wetsuit surfing a wave
Takushi in black and white striped shores surfing in the ocean
Nicolette Kim laying on surfboard in the ocean with Diamondhead in the background

Nicholette Kim

Nicolette Kim
Position: Concierge
Years at Halekulani: 3
Board of choice: 9’ 1’’
Spot you’ll likely find her: Pops in Waikīkī
Diamond Head is a visible backdrop from almost every Waikīkī surf break, where Halekulani concierge Nicolette Kim surfs no matter the conditions.
Meditation on Water
Pennsylvania native Nicolette Kim headed west to find her true north. After a brief stint working on a community farm in Kaua‘i, Kim found herself on O‘ahu, unsure how life might unfold, yet certain that she had found a sense of place in Hawai‘i. Kim had often dreamt about learning to surf, and a chance soon arrived, thanks to a Waikīkī Beach Boy, who introduced her to the sport. Skimming across the surface of the water resonated with her on both spiritual and emotional levels. “I know it sounds cliché,” the 26-yearold says of surfing’s mind and body connection, “but surfing centers me.” Such balance is echoed in the way Kim surfs—an elegant dance of style and grace. An early riser, Kim will head to the lineup no matter the conditions—glassy and head high or windy and blown out—as it is the feeling of being out in the water, amongst familiar faces and the shared stoke, from which she draws her daily bliss.
“I know it sounds cliché, but surfing centers me,” says Nicolette Kim, whose surfing style is an elegant dance of style and grace.
Nicolette Kim on surfboard in the ocean
Ben Takushi on a surfboard riding a wave

Ben Takushi in Halekulani uniform

Ben Takushi
Position: Valet
Years at Halekulani: 15
Board of choice: 5’ 8’’
Spot you’ll likely find him: Mākaha on the west side
“There are days where I’ve surfed Mākaha in the morning and then squeeze in a town session in the afternoon before work,” says Halekulani valet Ben Takushi. “It’s the perfect job because I can surf every day.”
Town and Country
Ben Takushi has a standard morning routine: Wake up, brew some coffee, and check the surf. Only, instead of dialing the phone or logging in online, Takushi’s surf report comes courtesy of his own balcony. From his Mākaha Valley apartment, Takushi, 37, has unfettered views of the Wai‘anae coastline, including iconic Mākaha Beach, where he earned his surfing chops growing up. As a surfer who works in town but lives in the country, Takushi enjoys the best of both worlds. His work shift, dubbed the “swing shift,” runs from 3–11 p.m., which allows for ample water time. Moreover, Takushi’s SUV is a veritable surf shop on wheels, carrying equipment and gear, like board wax, leashes, sunblock, and even a water jug to rinse off at those surf breaks that don’t feature a shower. “There are days where I’ve surfed Mākaha in the morning and then squeezed in a town session in the afternoon before work,” Takushi says of the flexibility his work schedule provides. “It’s the perfect job because I can surf every day.”

Guy Chang in Halekulani uniform

Guy Chang
Position: Valet
Years at Halekulani: 21
Board of choice: 5’ 8’’ Swallow tail
Spot you’ll likely find him: Kewalos near Ala Moana
“I probably surf four to five times a week,” says Halekulani veteran valet Guy Chang. “And more if there’s a swell.” Chang, 52, has been in the water since his teens and has been with Halekulani for more than two decades.
Guy Chang on surfboard in the ocean
Homegrown Talent
A good gauge of O‘ahu’s surf action happens to be Guy Chang’s ankle. If the surf has been pumping, the goofy footer’s leash tan is all the more pronounced. “I probably surf four to five times a week,” says Chang. “And more if there’s a swell.” Chang, 52, has been in the water since his teens, first as a boogie boarder, before discovering a natural proclivity for surfing. His smooth style led him to become one of Hawai‘i’s most recognized amateur surfers. In 1988, and again in 1990, he represented Hawai‘i in the World Amateur Surfing Championships. Humble and low-key, Chang eschewed the professional circuit, preferring to keep surfing as a passion rather than a profession. His love for the sport takes him all over the globe, from Tahiti and El Salvador to Japan and Taiwan. And although Chang makes an annual trek to G-Land, a surfer’s paradise in Indonesia, it is Hawai‘i, surrounded by friends, family, and year round surf, that he is most proud to call home.
Halekulani
: Surfers
Text By
Rae Sojot
Images By
AJ Feducia & John Hook

Riding High

Halekulani surfers share their stoke and love for Hawai‘i’s waters.
Guy Chang in wetsuit surfing a wave
When the hotel’s ocean-loving staff aren’t providing exceptional service, they’re setting an elegant scene in the waves.
Takushi in black and white striped shores surfing in the ocean

Nicholette Kim

Nicolette Kim
Position: Concierge
Years at Halekulani: 3
Board of choice: 9’ 1’’
Spot you’ll likely find her: Pops in Waikīkī
Diamond Head is a visible backdrop from almost every Waikīkī surf break, where Halekulani concierge Nicolette Kim surfs no matter the conditions.
Nicolette Kim laying on surfboard in the ocean with Diamondhead in the background
Meditation on Water
Pennsylvania native Nicolette Kim headed west to find her true north. After a brief stint working on a community farm in Kaua‘i, Kim found herself on O‘ahu, unsure how life might unfold, yet certain that she had found a sense of place in Hawai‘i. Kim had often dreamt about learning to surf, and a chance soon arrived, thanks to a Waikīkī Beach Boy, who introduced her to the sport. Skimming across the surface of the water resonated with her on both spiritual and emotional levels. “I know it sounds cliché,” the 26-yearold says of surfing’s mind and body connection, “but surfing centers me.” Such balance is echoed in the way Kim surfs—an elegant dance of style and grace. An early riser, Kim will head to the lineup no matter the conditions—glassy and head high or windy and blown out—as it is the feeling of being out in the water, amongst familiar faces and the shared stoke, from which she draws her daily bliss.
“I know it sounds cliché, but surfing centers me,” says Nicolette Kim, whose surfing style is an elegant dance of style and grace.
Nicolette Kim on surfboard in the ocean

Ben Takushi in Halekulani uniform

Ben Takushi
Position: Valet
Years at Halekulani: 15
Board of choice: 5’ 8’’
Spot you’ll likely find him: Mākaha on the west side
“There are days where I’ve surfed Mākaha in the morning and then squeeze in a town session in the afternoon before work,” says Halekulani valet Ben Takushi. “It’s the perfect job because I can surf every day.”
Ben Takushi on a surfboard riding a wave
Town and Country
Ben Takushi has a standard morning routine: Wake up, brew some coffee, and check the surf. Only, instead of dialing the phone or logging in online, Takushi’s surf report comes courtesy of his own balcony. From his Mākaha Valley apartment, Takushi, 37, has unfettered views of the Wai‘anae coastline, including iconic Mākaha Beach, where he earned his surfing chops growing up. As a surfer who works in town but lives in the country, Takushi enjoys the best of both worlds. His work shift, dubbed the “swing shift,” runs from 3–11 p.m., which allows for ample water time. Moreover, Takushi’s SUV is a veritable surf shop on wheels, carrying equipment and gear, like board wax, leashes, sunblock, and even a water jug to rinse off at those surf breaks that don’t feature a shower. “There are days where I’ve surfed Mākaha in the morning and then squeezed in a town session in the afternoon before work,” Takushi says of the flexibility his work schedule provides. “It’s the perfect job because I can surf every day.”

Guy Chang in Halekulani uniform

Guy Chang
Position: Valet
Years at Halekulani: 21
Board of choice: 5’ 8’’ Swallow tail
Spot you’ll likely find him: Kewalos near Ala Moana
“I probably surf four to five times a week,” says Halekulani veteran valet Guy Chang. “And more if there’s a swell.” Chang, 52, has been in the water since his teens and has been with Halekulani for more than two decades.
Guy Chang on surfboard in the ocean
Homegrown Talent
A good gauge of O‘ahu’s surf action happens to be Guy Chang’s ankle. If the surf has been pumping, the goofy footer’s leash tan is all the more pronounced. “I probably surf four to five times a week,” says Chang. “And more if there’s a swell.” Chang, 52, has been in the water since his teens, first as a boogie boarder, before discovering a natural proclivity for surfing. His smooth style led him to become one of Hawai‘i’s most recognized amateur surfers. In 1988, and again in 1990, he represented Hawai‘i in the World Amateur Surfing Championships. Humble and low-key, Chang eschewed the professional circuit, preferring to keep surfing as a passion rather than a profession. His love for the sport takes him all over the globe, from Tahiti and El Salvador to Japan and Taiwan. And although Chang makes an annual trek to G-Land, a surfer’s paradise in Indonesia, it is Hawai‘i, surrounded by friends, family, and year round surf, that he is most proud to call home.
Share:
You May Also Like