The City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting two virtual meetings to gather public input on improving the application process for the second year of specific permitting for South Shore surf events. These meetings aim to simplify the application process for event organizers and ensure greater accessibility for all participants.

The meetings will focus on proposed changes to make the application process clearer, more user-friendly, and easier to navigate for those organizing surf events on the South Shore, specifically in the waters off City beaches.

This marks the second year of the revised permitting guidelines for South Shore surf events, following the adoption of updated Shore Water Event Rules in late 2023. The new rules provide specific requirements for surf events held on Oahu's South Shore while introducing a more transparent process for ranking applications. The ranking criteria include factors such as the event's efforts to minimize community impact and encourage diversity among participants.

In a news release, DPR emphasized that the updated rules were designed with several goals in mind: ensuring equitable access to the ocean, promoting fair use of public resources, broadening the scope of permitted events, and improving the department's ability to manage these events effectively.

DPR crafted the rules after conducting public outreach events, including a survey, meetings with event organizers, and a public hearing on Oct. 20, 2023.

The virtual meetings will be held on Monday, April 14, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. To access the Zoom meetings, click here. 

A draft version of the application is available for review here. DPR will post the final application online later this month after the meetings.

The deadline for permitting South Shore Surf events for the 2026 season is May 30, 2025.