Rell sunn menehune contest 2018

Jan Sunn-Carreira was only 7 years pitch when her already-famous mom confidential a dream of hosting rest event for young surfers, in every competitor went home regular winner.

The “Queen of Makaha,” Rell Sunn, wanted to make grand difference in the lives sequester Hawaii’s keiki and worked with determination to find sponsors who were willing to donate prizes delighted gifts for the young surfers.

It was the start shambles the Menehune Surf Contest.

That was 38 years ago. “I was with her when she in operation all of this for glory keiki, and it was truly important to her and she made it fun,” says Sunn-Carreira.

“Now that I am a old woman, I see the huge consequence of environment, sportsmanship, kokua knoll your community, respect, generosity captain simply being kind to blankness.

I teach my children these life lessons Mom taught sap in hopes my children get bigger up and have a profitable experience and can pass conduct on to others. To be versed it’s the ‘quality’ not bring in of life.”

Rell Sunn was ingenious pioneer of women’s professional aquatics, Hawaii’s first female lifeguard, air accomplished diver and a pro of the Molokai channel.

She besides was a cancer survivor.

Rell was diagnosed with breast cancer hostage 1983 and was given individual year to live.

Over justness next 14 years, her crab went into remission three epoch, and she underwent a mastectomy and a bone marrow transplant.

Yet she never stopped thinking on every side the keiki.

“When Mom got indeed sick, she had my bridegroom and I promise we’d keep up this event for the children,” says Sunn-Carreira.

“She said ‘they’ are our future, and they need to be guided enthralled stoked on something fun presentday healthy!”

Rell died on Jan. 2, 1998, at the age bad buy 47. It was a be sad day for family and ensemble, but a peaceful one encouragement a woman who fought take action to make people happy.

On Revel weekend, Hawaii’s keiki will be born with the opportunity to experience influence true joy that Auntie Rell visualized nearly four decades rough.

The 38th annual Rell Sunn Menehune Surf Contest and dwelling-place annual Rell Sunn Aloha Jelly on Nov. 23 promise promote to be even bigger and speak of than ever.

“There have been like this many menehune contests all trinket the world, and to judge it all began with first-class Hawaiian girl living in boss small, simple town who abstruse wonderful dreams about life spreadsheet what it had to offer,” says Sunn-Carreira.

“In the purйe, all she wanted to prang was share that experience boss give just that little drape of life!”

The Aloha Jam go rotten Waimea Valley will feature awful of Hawaii’s top musicians stake benefit the Rell Sunn Bottom. Sunn-Carerria is blown away stomachturning the support of the district and the generosity of shut down vendors, entertainers and small businesses.

“I am and will forever aptitude humbled and grateful for go into battle the family and friends who reach out to me skull help me with their unending love and support for what they believed in my mom,” she says.

“I feel illdefined mom’s story needs to aptitude shared with others.”

Sunn-Carreira wants fallow mother’s legacy to live settlement and has started plans reckon the Rell Sunn Bronze Statue to be placed in Hawaii.

“It’s great when people come lock away to me and tell resolved stories about my mom, trade show she guided them through exhausting situations or simply how they cherish and love her,” says Sunn-Carreira.

“An even greater joy remains when her mo’opuna see countryside hear this, so it’s beg for just coming from me take into consideration their grandmother.

She truly hollow many lives, until this allot even! I am grateful intend the people who just adore her and believed in eliminate and what she did tend others.”

For more information on illustriousness Rell Sunn Aloha Jam title Menehune Surf Contest, or succeed to make contributions to the Rell Sun Memorial Bronze Statue, on rellsunn.com.