Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach tribe gathered above the sea at the River’s End in Seal Beach on May 28th to say good-bye to Tony Soriano, the chapter’s longtime chair and advisor.
When the conch shell sounded everyone came together to honor and celebrate Tony’s life (1947-2022) and to share stories about the dedicated and fearless leader who loved surfing, the environment, and the people around him.
Wearing Surfrider Ts, Hawaiian shirts, flower leis and leaf crowns, Tony’s ohana (friends and family) remembered his boundless energy and enthusiasm and countless acts of kindness.
Surfrider CEO Chad Nelsen said Tony helped chapters across the nation protect the oceans, waves and beaches. H/SB Chapter co-chair KC Fockler talked about how Tony’s generous heart and tireless work for the chapter inspired everyone.
Jeff Coffman remembered the way Tony got everyone involved and made them want to do more to protect the beach and environment. Joe (Samoa) McMullin said that Tony drew him into Surfrider when they met at the beach, remembering they both had been stung – many times! – by the stingrays at the River’s End.
Norma and Alex Sellers told SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti how much they would miss Tony’s smile and all the fun they had together at beach cleanups. We agreed that Tony had a smile as bright as the sun and a sense of endless possibilities.
A hula dancer performed in Tony’s honor. Guests looked at his photos and signed the memory book.
The trunk of Tony’s car was filled with mementos of his adventures and accomplishments. Many of Tony’s prized surfboards were lined up, as if waiting to go out again.
Alex Soriano, Tony’s son, thanked everyone for being there and talked about how his father made people feel connected. He said that whenever Tony saw trash on the beach, he picked it up. He knew that his father would want all of us to do the same. Then he and Rocky McKinnon led the tribe to the water’s edge.
The tribe gathered the flowers that had been donated by Surfrider sponsor Albertson’s and headed out into the ocean for the paddle out…
and one last aloha to Tony.
Thanks to those whose photos were included in this story. Mahalo! – Sunny and Patti
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
Written By SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfers around the world are heading to the beach to celebrate the spirit of Ohana – family – and to give thanks to Mother Earth for all of her gifts.
On Ohana Day, April 14th, which always falls near Earth Day, the Surfrider Foundation hosts beach cleanups, environmental education activities, surfing lessons, paddleboarding, kayaking, games, music and more.
“It’s about giving back to the community and the environment and recognizing the common bonds that we all share,” says Tony Soriano, Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter chair.
This is one of SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel’s favorite times of the year because it brings everyone together and reminds us of the importance of family and friendship.
The Hawaiian concept of family is one that embraces everyone, not just relatives.
Like Lilo and Stitch discover in the heartfelt Disney movie, your family isn’t just the one you’re born into. It’s the one you choose…even one with a little girl and an alien from another galaxy.
Celebrating Ohana Day
Come together, enjoy the sea, be with family.
Share a hug, give a smile, stop and chat awhile.
Plant a tree, lend a hand, picnic on the sand.
Protect the land and the surf, celebrate Mother Earth!
Just like Lilo and Stitch learned, from the galaxies beyond to the seas below, love of family and Mother Earth makes all things possible.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
There’s a new instant-classic place to chill in Huntington Beach these days – The Bungalow.
A lounge with a private clubhouse feel…and a killer view of the HB Pier, it’s perfect for relaxing with a cool sangria, meeting friends, playing a game of pool or listening to music groups.
Announcing its presence with a pre-opening bash July 7th, the event benefited the non-profit Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter.
Featuring Brandon Boyd, Mike Einziger and Ben Kenney from multi-platinum-selling rock band Incubus, The Bungalow was jammed with people waiting to get inside.
Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter Chairperson Tony Soriano was at the door eager to greet everyone and help get the party going.
Soriano told SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel that he’s excited about “the support The Bungalow is giving to Surfrider’s environmental cause and to the beach community.”
Located in the trendy, beach-themed Pacific City mall (21058 Pacific Coast Highway), The Bungalow is the vision of owner Brent Bolthouse, who has another The Bungalow lounge in Santa Monica.
Bolthouse says the goal of both lounges is to provide an “intimate setting” that’s like being in someone’s home. The 6,000-sq-ft.space is divided into separate rooms with sofas, comfortable chairs, pool tables, fireplaces, and a patio overlooking a million-dollar view of the beach.
Warm and welcoming, The Bungalow is just steps from the sand, making it an ideal watering hole for beating the heat and savoring the lounge’s craft beer and signature drink selections.
Add in an assortment of tacos, sliders and flat breads brought in from the lounge’s culinary partner The Bear Flag Fish Co. located downstairs and you’re all set.
Surfwriter Girls can easily see whiling away an afternoon or evening with Greg Kishel watching the beach action from The Bungalow’s patio or taking in one of HB’s picture-perfect sunsets.
With The Bungalow on the scene, now there’s another reason for everyone to say “We’re goin’ to Surf City, gonna have some fun.”
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
When the month of April is here SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel always look forward to Ohana Day – a festive, Hawaiian-style celebration that brings family and friends to the beach to relax and learn about the earth…especially the ocean.
To join in the fun, head out to Seal Beach on April 16. From 9 am – 1 pm the Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter is hosting an Ohana Family Beach Day at the Seal Beach Pier.
the event is expected to bring thousands of people to the beach…
to enjoy hands-on activities, marine biology instruction, lifeguard demos, surf /skate/body board lessons, music, raffle drawings, and more.
SurfWriter Girls learned that it was the spirit of Ohana – the belief that “we are all related to each other” – that emboldened the early Polynesian seafarers to make their long, migratory journeys in outrigger canoes to the Hawaiian Islands in 200 A.D.
Likening themselves to the shoots of the taro plant, which come from a common bulb (oha), the Polynesians felt that we are all connected – one family (Ohana) – and must work together, taking care of each other, and honoring the land that nurtures us all.
Surfrider volunteers will be on hand manning display booths, talking about ocean and coastal environmental programs and leading beach cleanups.
Businesses and organizations are sharing in the Ohana spirit, too, showcasing eco-friendly products and services and giving out samples.
In addition to bringing families and friends together for a fun day at the beach, Ohana Day is a chance to educate the next generation about the need to protect the earth’s resources. In the words of Tony Soriano, Surfrider H/SB Chapter Chairperson,
“Ohana is all about the kids…
and showing them how to respect others and the environment.”
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The family is one of nature’s masterpieces
– George Santayana, philosopher
The Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter and co-sponsor Kohl’s hosted the annual Ohana (Family) Day celebration Saturday, April 11, at the Seal Beach Pier.
Friends and neighbors turned out in force to join in the festivities.
SurfWriter Girls Patti Kishel and Sunny Magdaug love this fun-filled beach day that brings everyone together to relax and learn about our earth – especially the ocean.
The Algalita marine research organization was on hand with executive director Liesl Thomas explaining the damaging effect that plastic pollution has on the sea ecosystem.
This year’s Ohana Day celebration included environmental education programs and lots of hands-on activities and demonstrations.
There were surfing lessons from M&M Surfing School.
kayaking and paddle boarding.
And beach cleanups led by Surfrider volunteers… with bags and bags of trash sorted for recycling.
Even this poor little stuffed dog was found and rescued from the trash.
Butts Out campaign coordinators Norma and Alex Sellers used some of the discarded cigarette butts they gathered to make a satirical display showcasing how toxic the beach can be when it’s littered with cigarette butts.
There were raffle prizes, giveaways and information provided by sponsors.
Music by Tupua with Polynesian dancers.
By the end of the day everyone felt a real sense of community, which is what Ohana Day is all about.
The spirit of ohana, which originated in ancient Polynesia, is the belief that “we are all connected to each other and to the earth itself.”
Just as the shoots of the taro plant come from a common bulb (oha), the Polynesians felt that we are all one family (ohana) and must work together and honor the land and sea that nurture us all.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Huntington Beach local Rick Fignetti – known as Rockin Fig to his friends and fans – is a surfer’s surfer.
Along with multiple surfing championships and a surf board shop on Main Street…
Fig is in both the Surfers’ Hall of Fame and the Surfing Walk of Fame.
Anyone in earshot of Fig is likely to recognize his voice from his many years on the radio as KROQ’sSurfologist.
Or as the longtime announcer of the U.S. Open of Surfing (19 years in a row).
Fig’s life revolves around surfing whether it’s catching waves on the north side of the HB Pier, hanging out at Rockin Fig Surf Headquarters (316 Main Street), sponsoring the Fig Team Riders surfers, or mentoring the local groms.
Whenever SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel see Fig at beach events he’s always right in the middle of everything, lending a hand and helping to represent the community.
Fig has made the Rockin Fig surf shop more than a place to find boards and accessories.
It’s a meeting place where everyone from beginning surfers to surfing legends can stop by to share stories and talk about the sport they love. If you’re lucky enough to be in the shop on a day that Fig is there get ready for a warm welcome and a chance to learn a lot about surfing.
Just being around Rockin Fig will put a smile on your face. For someone who’s in the surfing stratosphere, it’s surprising how down to earth he is.
Tony Soriano, Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter Chairperson, says, “Fig is a real surf community hero, who supports Surfrider and a clean environment of our oceans, waves and beaches”
In an age when so many celebrities seem superficial and manufactured by the media it’s clear that Rockin Fig is the real deal.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Photos by Don MacLean
Don MacLean, the Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter’s former Hold On To Your Butt! Chairperson, is in Thailandnow – Livin’ the Dream.
More than that, Don’s Sharin’ the Dream, helping to keep Thailand the tropical paradise he wants it to be.
Just as Don made it his goal to get cigarette butts off the beaches and streets in Orange County, he’s committed to getting trash off the beaches in Thailand and to continuing to carry out Surfrider’s mission.
“This is a huge challenge,” says Don. “The people don’t realize the need to pick up the trash around them and there aren’t any trash cans on the beaches.”
He has been working to raise money for trash cans and is busy organizing the locals to participate in beach cleanups at Phuket’s Surin Beach.
Together, they have removed cigarette butts, assorted trash, plastic bags, Styrofoam, fishing lines and nets from the beach.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are always excited to see the photos Don sends us from Thailand showing the beautiful beaches – and the trash that has been collected.
Don is also educating people about the need to protect the coastal environment and the things they can do to safeguard it for the next generation. “It’s especially important to educate the kids,” Don told SurfWriter Girls.
Cigarette litter may seem like a minor problem to some, but not to Don. He points out that “cigarettes are the most littered item in the world.” Several trillion butts are tossed worldwide. What’s more, the toxic residue in the cigarettes damages the environment, getting into eco-systems and water supplies…threatening the quality of our water and aquatic life.
This year Don staged the very first Phuket International Surfing Day celebration and beach cleanup. “The turnout was beyond our expectations,” he said, adding that he recruits everyone he can find, including people he sees on the beach.
Don has even spoken to the Governor of Phuket, who was eager to learn about the work Don is doing.
Along with educating kids about the environment, as an added incentive to get them to Respect the Beach, Don gives surfing lessons after the beach cleanups.
Then, at the end of the day, he goes home to his ocean-view house on the hill, on the edge of the lush, Thai jungle…
and enjoys the vibrant sunset on the horizon.
Overcoming language and cultural barriers isn’t easy, but Don MacLean is up to the task. With over 20 years experience conducting environmental compliance audits for the U.S. Army, Navy and Coast Guard, he is just the one to restore Thailand’s beaches, returning them to their natural beauty…
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
With the sounds of Halloween here and little ones eager to take their trick-or-treat bags door-to-door, SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are thinking how nice it would be to keep those bags out all year.
Not just for Halloween candy, apples and treats, but for everyday items, dairy and meats.
When you bring your own reusable bag on shopping trips, instead of using plastic bags from the store, you can reduce the amount of plastic pollution in our environment.
Did you know that each reusable bag equals 400 single-use plastic bags?
Or that 600 plastic bags are thrown away every second in California?
Every year 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. Of those, 100 billion bags are used in the United States alone.
That’s a lot of plastic bags…most of which end up littering our streets and polluting our waterways and oceans, endangering sea life, who get tangled in the bags or ingest them , and ultimately entering the food chain.
That’s even scarier than the ghosts and goblins roaming around on All Hallows Eve.
Fortunately California got an early treat this Halloween – the passage and signing of Senate Bill 270 – authorizing the nation’s first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags at grocery and convenience stores.
The Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter has long supported legislation to ban plastic bags. Its Rise Above Plastics Chairperson Jessica Bechtold explained to SurfWriter Girls that building awareness is the key – informing the public of the environmental problems caused by plastic bags and getting people out of the habit of using them.
The bill phases out plastic bags at grocery stores and supermarkets in the summer of 2015. Convenience stores and pharmacies will follow in 2016.
When the plastic bags disappear, so will Bag Monsters – ghostlike, spooky spirits made from discarded plastic bags.
For now, though, they’re still out there. So, heed this Halloween warning:
Beware the Bag Monsters…and Don’t Litter!
Stash Your Trash on Halloween
When you’re dancing around the fire
watch out for goblins, ghosts and gyres.
It’s nice to have a yummy treat…
Good and Plenty’s, Reese’s Cups, and candy corn to eat.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The phrase on everyone’s lips at the Surfrider Foundation’s California & Hawaii Chapter Conference in Ventura, CA, this past weekend was “I will.”
Pulling in to the Crowne Plaza
in cars loaded with surfboards, wetsuits, and beach gear, Surfrider members were ready to catch some waves at Surfer’s Point…
share the stoke in meetings and workshops…
and listen to keynote speaker Shaun Tomson.
Champion surfer and environmentalist Tomson, who wrote the book, The Surfer’s Code – 12 Simple Lessons for Riding through Life*, was eager to share the life lessons he’s learned from surfing.
Underlying each lesson is the importance of commitment – saying “I will” when it comes to accomplishing a goal or overcoming a challenge.
Tomson, who has ridden some of the world’s biggest waves, told a story about surfing on Mauritius, an island off the coast of South Africa, early one morning with one of his “mates.” They were “riding in the tube when the sun was red and the water looked like it was boiling.”
It was one of those epic surfing days of pure joy with the two of them “exchanging wave after wave…and there was absolute silence inside the tube.”
Sharing the stoke, Tomson asked, “What is this place?” “It’s One Eye Wave Break,” his friend replied. “That’s because it looks like a human eye.”
Later, walking up the beach, a fisherman stopped Tomson and said, with alarm, “You weren’t surfing that, were you? Do you know what it’s called?” Then the fisherman told his version of how One Eye Wave Break got its name: “There’s a Zambesi shark out there. And, when he’s ready to strike, you only see one eye.”
The life lesson here, said Tomson, is: Everything is a matter of perspective. How we see things makes a difference in the commitments we make. Are we guided by joy or fear? Do we say “I will” or I won’t?”
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel could feel the energy in the hotel’s Top of the Harbor room as everyone talked about making an even stronger commitment to achieving the Surfrider Foundation’s mission of protecting the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches.
Started 30 years ago with just a handful of surfers in Malibu, the Surfrider Foundation is now a worldwide organization with over 250,000 supporters, volunteers, and activists.
Glenn Hening, one of Surfrider’s three founders, was on hand to share stories about the early days and how they made a commitment to save the beach. Little did anyone know the impact that commitment would have in the years to come.
To mark the occasion, Aipa Surf created a custom “30-year anniversary” surfboard that was presented at the conference.
The focus of the California/Hawaii Conference was on ways to build membership and strengthen advocacy programs.
Pete Stauffer, Ocean Program Manager, emphasized the need to “protect special places” from offshore drilling and other threats. “What’s your special place?” he asked, sharing his own – a secluded beach in Oregon.
Kawela Bay, on Oahu’s North Shore, is a special place that was saved, said Surfrider’s Hawaii Regional Manager and conference co-coordinator Stuart Coleman.
With the bay threatened by local development, Surfrider “worked on both political and economic fronts” to ensure that land was set aside and could never be developed.
To achieve Surfrider’s goals, Stephanie Sekich, California Policy Manager, said “long-term planning is the key,” noting that Surfer’s Point, just outside the conference hotel, is an example of how you can preserve and protect a coastline.
Lauren Campbell, Ximena Waissbluth, and Tony Soriano told everyone that the recently-formed Chapter Advisory Council will help to further strengthen Surfrider’s organization. Creating a vital link between chapter activists and management, it facilitates interaction and feedback.
Ed Mazzarella, Director of Chapters, agreed that it’s necessary to all work together – “activists, staff and board – to have a shared clarity and vision.”
New Members Director Nancy Eiring said new database technology will enable the organization to better “retain new members and keep them involved.” Having supporters who are passionate about the environment is critical.
Chad Nelsen, Environmental Manager, advised, “We need to be both reactive and proactive.” This includes everything from doing beach cleanups to educating the public and lobbying for state and federal legislation.
People need to know that 80% of California’s coastline is eroding. Since 1901 there’s been a 7-inch increase in the sea level.
During lunch and the afternoon breakout sessions everyone was discussing strategy.
Angela Howe, Legal Director, summarized the legislative accomplishments that have been made, including efforts to ban polystyrene and Manhattan Beach’s Smoke Free in Public Places law.
Paul Herzog, Ocean Friendly Gardens Director, reminded everyone that “urban runoff is the number one source of ocean pollution.”
Related to this, Senior Staff Scientist Rick Wilson described what Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force is doing to monitor water quality and keep the public informed about pollution issues.
Throughout the conference, co-coordinators Stuart Coleman, Nancy Hastings and Sarah Damron kept the proceedings going and everyone on track.
And Shaun Tomson had one more story and life lesson to share…about his personal special place near Santa Barbara – Hammonds Reef – located near the mythical Rainbow Bridge of Chumash Indian lore.
Said to have been created 13,000 years ago by the Earth Mother Hutash, the bridge was made from a rainbow to enable the people on the islands to move to the mainland. But, some of the people looked down when they were crossing it and fell into the sea. To keep them from drowning, Hutash turned them into dolphins.
One day Tomson took his nine-year-old son Matthew to the reef to feel the sacredness of the spot. They ended up talking all afternoon. Matthew drew a circle in the sand to mark the sacred spot and they passed a stick back and forth as they each told stories.
They left the stick planted in the sand, but Matthew took a stone with him that he said contained the spirits of all who had been there and the stories. Now that stone is in the front entry of Tomson’s home.
The life lesson here is: The importance of connectedness. We all need to connect – with each other, the earth and the past – and share the stories that define us and embody what we hope to achieve.
This is something that Surfrider Foundation supporters do, working together to shape its environmental message and communicate it to others. In essence, sharing stories.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti agreed that Ventura, which means “good fortune,” was the perfect spot for the 2014 conference.
With its beautiful beaches and friendly people, it was a special place for everyone to connect and recommit ourselves to Surfrider’s mission, saying, “I will.”
*Shaun Tomson’s Surfer’s Code
– I will never turn back on the ocean
– I will always paddle back out
– I will take the drop with commitment
– I will know that there will always be another wave
– I will realize that all surfers are joined by one ocean
– I will paddle around the impact zone
– I will never fight a rip tide
– I will watch out for other surfers after a big set
– I will pass on my stoke to a non-surfer
– I will ride, and not paddle in to shore
– I will catch a wave every day, even in my mind
– I will honor the sport of kings
Thanks to Gina Maslach, Norma and Alex Sellers, and Tony and Alex Soriano for their photo contributions.
Look for a future SurfWriter Girls story about Ventura and the fun things you can do on a day-trip or weekend getaway.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
