Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama Press Release
September 2006
(Photo: Don King & Laird Hamilton)
NEW CHALLENGE FOR LAIRD HAMILTON & DAVE KALAMA
The Paddle n’Pedal for Peace
ACROSS THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
The extreme surfer’s Laird Hamilton and dave Kalama have always created new challenges. Their latest mission is a crossing from the southern Point of the island of Hawaii to the Northern point of the island of Kauai. The crossing will be Approximately 500 miles of paddling and pedaling.
In May 2006, Laird did a 426 kilometer crossing between London and Paris in two days with his own manpower: pedaling a bike from London to Dover and paddling across the English Channel on a stand-up paddle surfboard and then pedaling 235 kilometers from Le Touquet to Paris in 8.5 hours. (www.beautifulson.com)
For both crossings, Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama have chosen to help the realization of a non-profit film about healing autism.« Beautiful Son » which will be realized by their friend
Don King, a world class cinematographer, who, after having filmed Laird and Dave on some of the biggest and best waves in the world faces another challenge: helping heal autism, and his autistic son, Beau.
Laird states, ‘for years i had wanted to cross from London to Paris. And now, Dave and I want to cross the Hawaiian Island Chain which will be even more challenging. it is a physical challenge; a worthy mission, and since there is no big surf, it’s perfect. also, it is a great opportunity to try and bring awareness, and hopefully raise funding for Don’s film, about healing autism. i am honored to have the opportunity to help.’ Dave Kalama feels that “this will be the hardest thing I have ever done. I feel inspired to help Don and do what I can to support the cause of healing autism.”
Technical information/Dates:
-Oct. 4th: Pedal Island of Hawaii
-Oct. 5th: paddle Alenuihaha channel to Maui
-Oct. 6th: Pedal Maui and Paddle Pailolo Channel to Molokai and Pedal Molokai.
-Oct. 7th: Laird would paddle Kaiwi channel from Molokai to Oahu and Pedal Oahu.
-Oct 8th: Dave would paddle kaiwi channel with his 6man Canoe
Team and Pedal Oahu. Laird would paddle Kaieiewaho
channel to Kauai,
-Oct. 9th: Dave would paddle Kaieiewaho channel to Kauai
Laird would pedal Kauai.
-Oct. 10th: Dave would pedal Kauai.
Non-profit operation : Tax –deductible donations can be made via website: www.beautifulson.com. Or checks can be mailed to Swell cinema Inc. 182 Grand View Ave., San Francisco, CA 94114 (tax ID#94-3296652) For every Mile, Laird and dave paddle or pedal asking for a pledge to raise donations.