Cliff Kapono
Hilo, Hawaii
A uniquely considered voice in the surfing world, Dr Cliff Kapono is an accomplished scientist, a professional free surfer and a champion of his Native Hawaiian language and culture.
Born on the Big Island of Hawaii, he describes his home as a “living, dynamic piece of earth in the middle of the ocean.” With 11 of the World’s 13 ecosystems in his back yard, and the consistent drumbeat of waves in his hometown of Hilo, it is no surprise that nature and ocean are the foundations of who he is.
From working to develop technologies that empower ocean communities to challenge the effects of climate change, to partnering with the WSL to spread scientific awareness of the state of our oceans, he does it all while surfing with a style and poise that comfortably places him within the sport’s elite. Whether in the lab or out in the lineup, we’re looking forward to seeing what the future holds.
