Surf Spot Drowns In Lava, Fresh Coast Appears. Raw Hawaii With Dylan Graves and Friends

[@iblong9505]

No sadness. No regret. Only thankfulness for what it was and hope for what it will become for future generations.

[@hawaiianminute2813]

Home. It was my favorite place in all of hawai'i. A lifetime of pohoiki would never be enough ❤

[@ManambeLavaka]

I’m grateful to have surfed Pohoiki many times while visiting my friends and family who lived in Puna and Leilani Estates. So sad to see their homes destroyed. I’ll never forget the hot water coming out of the ground at the boat ramp. What an amazing place.

[@コンナモンヤ]

Brad young and Neekowee are my hero when I was in big island 2005-2010. They are still great surfer 😊

[@joshmendes83]

Wow. Thanks for sharing this story Dylan

[@shmedleyvonshredelson1788]

Such good attitudes despite the massive losses. Mahalo for this.

[@HiRealProperties]

Love you guys. Love you Pohoiki. Mahalo Ke Akua for giving a taste, a glimpse, of the life. I’ll never forget those warm crystal clear waters, dolphins in the line ups, uncles ripping massive waves at elevators. Red Road drives late at night spotting the Pueo. Playing mermaids in the warm pond. Blessed 🥹

[@surfjunkie2496]

Haole

[@johnoka9657]

My bruddah Dax took us townies out by the boat ramp in ‘96. The water was cold from the fresh streams, you could duck dive real deep and the water was just crystal crystal clear. I remember seeing the smooth black boulders on the bottom... looked about 8ft deep. Pretty empty, 2-3 and glassy. Everybody laughing. That’s how I remember Pohoiki. Epic. 🤙🏼

[@c0nnery]

Amazing episode, Dylan always finding the coolest stories and telling them so well

[@Surfline]

He really does!

[@mauifilms4632]

Fantastic story telling… lots of respect for the Big Island crew.

[@markkindermannart4028]

I lived in the Kapoho jungle a few miles from Po'ho'iki from 1989-1997 and surfed there almost everyday. It always had some kind of wave you could snag. The rare times there was nothing, you could find a sneaky parking place under the trees and just watch with your friends. The vibe was friendly, but also intense. I was there so much that I guess I fit in so nobody ever bothered me. There were defintiely a couple of enforcers out there keeping the order. You could set up a hibachi, drink beers, and chill all day. There were so many great waves that we lost. Bowls and Shacks were my faves, but second bay could be lit. I never ventured over to third bay. I have only been back once since it was taken, and I doubt I will ever go back. It was really emotional to see that playground gone forever.

[@DonaldLibbey]

Yeah, when cliff says he doesn't recognize the land and where things used to be, because it's covered by 30 ft. Of lava on top of the old land, I can totally relate!!! Being a commercial fisherman for several decades on the big island, I used to go on my "around the island fishing trips" several times a year. I had the 9th hull out of the mold for my dream boat, a Force 30, custom built for my specs in Hilo in the early 80's. I lived in kona, but I did all my commercial fishing trips, fishing the really rough trade winds exposed waters off south point and all the way up to Puna side. Usually I fished 4-5 days and nights long trips before coming back to Honokohau in kona. When I did my around the island trips, I would go from kona to Lapakahi and anchor the first night. Then, I would fish, the next morning around Upolu pt and all the way to Hilo, and come in to Suisan to tie up for the night. I'd leave the next morning around 3am and fish all the way to below volcano, and fish or anchor there that night, then the next day fish to south point andbthen finally fish back home to kona the next day! Most of these trips I fished alone, which I did a lot over the years and just loved it!!! But, I had a unique perspective over the years from 82-83', when maunaloa and kilauea erupted, starting 20+ years of pretty much constant eruption!!!! So, I watched the changes from the ocean looking in towards land of the lava flows taking Royal Gardens first and then take kalapana and first go into the ocean, over years!!! I remember after just 3 weeks since my last time fishing along Puna, and it had changed so much, I was completely blown away by the changes!! I couldn't recognize kalapana and all of black Sands subdivision above , just everything was gone!!!! It was black lava, smoking, and 15-30 ft. high, and not just a few more houses were gone, they all were gone!!! It was just insane!!! I'm a professional photographer and cinematographer, so I photo documented all of it over decades!!! I'm a pilot also, so I took tons of aerial photos of the changes too!!! Anyone who grew up on thar side, or lost their homes and land, my prayers are with you and have been for so long!!! It is life, living in Puna though as we know. Of course it's sad, but new life begins quickly as the first ferns pop.up in the lava fields, and I have seen new black sand beaches form in days, only to eventually be retaken by another lava flow later! It's been incredible to witness it all!!! Anyone who lived there, or had generations of family living in these areas, feel free to reach out to me and I can arrange to get photos to you. I actually just happened to be at kaimu black sand beach and video it's last hours being taken by lava flows!!! What a special little beach that was! Blessings and prayers to all from that side, and to all my surfing bruddah's!!! South kohala, and Waimea wind in the late afternoons winter time!!!! I'm born and raised on Oahu growing up in our beach house right at Ehukai Beach/Pipeline, so I've been surfing since I was 5 years old and grew up surfing back in the days before the crowds and have loved surfing and the ocean all my life, and it ties us together in a very special way!!! Nothing like getting tubed and spit out!!!!! Aloha, D.L

[@DonaldLibbey]

Birdshacks!!! Caught it on a rare Hurricane swell, back in the mid 80's that was 10-15' Hawaiian just roping from way down the line!!! Never saw it like that or that big before! It was really gnarly though, as anyone who knows what the lava rocks were like out there. Some big a'a sticking out of the water that you surf right by!!! One of the heaviest days I surfed that side. Too dangerous though! Should hopefully have some new waves on future Hurricane swells for the boy's along that whole side!!!! It's just short interval and usually only a swell window of around 4-6 hours and then it's pau!! Yeah, watched the whole 20 year eruption phase from 1983 when maunaloa and kilauea went off and then the Pu'u'o'o fountains for years and the loss of kalapana and the lava making it to the ocean! Lived on the Big isle for over 30 years. The energy and mana on that side of the island and the volcano going off regularly was just aweome over all those years. I lived in kona but I was over in puna all the time. Really miss kalapana especially though. It was such a special place and the people and community was so beautiful. Sad to watch it all go, but like Royal Gardens, its a risk to live there, with Pele so close. I'm so blessed to have lived on the big island back then. The island is alive and growing!!!! Blessings to all the boys surfing and living on that side now. Aloha D.L.

[@Stevos_HookedonRods4844]

Amazing how " Mother Earth " giveth & taketh away, yet can leave us with another blessing. The emotion in Shayden's voice & face was raw love for a place how friends shared the possible last time in the water at a break Cheers from Oz

[@Surfline]

We love Shaydo. Had us tearing up at that point too.

[@Nalu_TV]

Such a heavy situation, but to see this is great and encouraging. Well done.

[@raquiti]

Amazing. Thank you for showing this to the world. All my love to these people and what they went through ❤

[@shanemacintyre3200]

I surfed Pohoiki 83,84,85, boat launch second bay , shacks .I had the place to myself some days citing between the coconut trees .Good memories I’m 68 now

[@Godckr1]

Seeing old footage was sick. Small world big island🤙🏽God bless!

[@samgriffiths1000]

Incredible story Dyl! Thanks for sharing! What an incredible planet we call home❤

[@nonsequitor]

Crazy mix of love and territoriality 🤯.... Thanks for sharing. Insightful to say the least

[@Geomontage]

So uplifting! For those of you that enjoyed this IÍ would recommend Waterman. Such a beautiful insight into Hawaiian culture

[@raymondperez2972]

Big Isle no ka oi Braddahs!!!!! ALOHA!!!!!!

[@RandallRamsey-ht2rn]

5:59 the way he talks about his home break it’s more than just surf…it’s where life changes and memoirs are made hope I never lose my home break

[@bcare001]

Well done Dylan!!! My favorite memory of PoHoiKi BeaCH♒ before it disappeared was: Surfing with a buddy one day before his wedding.. We were surfing a dangerous wave called Shacks.. He ended up splitting his eyebrow open on the reef. After going to the hospital - he had a bunch of wedding pictures the next day - his whole face had turned purple from the swelling… It made for the most memorable and odd wedding pics for him and his wife..

[@alpinism1]

I member John (bunny) talking about surfing Kalapana just before it went - never imagined Poho'iki would go the same way... was the most powerful wave I'd yet surfed when I was there in '98. I still remember open ocean waves like mountains drifting by shacks, and wondering which ones would choose to wrap their way in. great vid.

[@markmorenousa]

great episode!!

[@GuyRips]

Keep digging Dylan,,just what I needed over coffee this morning,,

[@Surfline]

Pairs well with a morning cuppa for sure 👍

[@davel4708]

I visited Hilo (From New Zealand) last year. It was a humbling experience. The locals were super friendly and were happy to let me share their waves. I'll never forget it. I only hope one day some of them will visit my town and I'll be able to return the favour.

[@Surfline]

Stoke shared around the world 🙌

[@lucaspalacios2941]

this videos are the best ! thanks so much!

[@justinbento5380]

Papaikou , Hakalau,Kolekole mills is where I grew up surfing and was born n raised in the Hamakua coast. Im so grateful for living in Hawaii. ALOHA & MAHALO #LuckyWe LiveInHawaii#IMUA

[@Surfline]

It's the good life!

[@macc1370]

I remember coming over from Kona visiting family over on the Puna side and surfing Pohoiki. Heavy vibes sometimes but also so much aloha spirit. Very special place 🤙🤙

[@davidhutchison3952]

Good one Dylan. Home and ohana matters. Always gratitude. Mahalos y'all.

[@rickeykoga2312]

Im born and raised on Maui. The children of this place are bonded to these islands deeper than our bones. Our culture is here and its the people that make this place special. These islands provided me with the most beautiful life and i truly believe that the Hawaii that we once knew is gone... The people are changing, the local culture that my family helped develop since the 1800s is fading, and the islands are constantly being exploited by mainlanders. Its all an illusion and memory of Hawaii that people still hold onto. But like the Poho'iki lava flow and Lahaina burning... Hawaii is taking it all back because we disrespected mother earth. I still cry about Lahaina and I cry for my braddahs and sistas at Poho'iki 😢 All my Hawaii family who grew up in the 80s and 90s, we gotta appreciate what we had and spread the aloha spirit as much as can. The world needs it, so pilau

[@DonaldLibbey]

Yeah brah. I was born in my family's beach house right at Ehukai/Pipeline, in 1960. Born and raised in Hawaii, and then living on Kauai for 6 years in the 70's, then moving to the big island in 1980. The ocean has been what my life has revolved around, with surfing, and fishing and scuba and freedive spearfishing. It's been my passion throughout my life in Hawaii. Of course the people and the Aina are so special to us and we are all tied together in a very special way. Embodying the spirit of Aloha, has been what those of us whose families and friends have in common which is so special and having lived back respect and

[@ramstacp]

Hawaii isn’t taking anything back. Hawaii will continue to grow through lava flows as it has for millions of years. Nothing about what happened was unprecedented or unusual.

[@breathspinecore]

Man, this was so hard to watch... I lived on Papaya Farms Road back in the late '90's (on Andy's Organics) and I use to ride my bike down to Poho'iki Bay and surf every day, before and after work. There were always waves, and the vibe was so cool-- even for this haole. What's even sadder is that they also lost Green Lake, one of the most surreal beautiful spots I've ever seen (and Pele's home). So so much was lost, hot springs, the steam baths, and the coastal pools at Leilani Estates...

[@markkindermannart4028]

I miss Andy. That place was never the same after he left. I lived in the jungle just past the bottom of Papaya Farms Rd. for 8 years. Sweet memories of Po'ho'iki and barefoot walks under the mango trees.

[@ramstacp]

Those same things you miss will without doubt form again. It just might take a few decades.

[@markkindermannart4028]

@@ramstacp few hundred years more likely

[@Ridesomewaves888]

Rest in Love pohoiki secrets❤

[@MrEuerfreund]

I love these! thank you Dylan 🙏

[@hansmaxx2215]

absolute gold!!

[@pineapplesurf]

i love to watch the parts of hawaii people never show because is not "beautifull" but is such a special place for hawaii in the hars of the locals

[@ramstacp]

I don’t think anyone has ever said this area is not “beautiful”. It’s just as beautiful as any other area of Hawaii. However, it is a bit isolated. Its not located on or near Oahu or Maui, and sits on a very active rift zone (hence no resorts/major businesses, etc). That is why it is relatively less well known, not because it’s not “beautiful.”

[@BertoBoyd]

Epic episode as always Dylan!

[@tomloomis7895]

We all share waves on the island here. Pretty much everyone is cool. Sometimes vibes most of the time it’s pretty chill especially if you are chill. Pohoiki boys come to our side and vice versa. Throw Shaka, smile, and get along.

[@Surfline]

Tom gets it!

[@OD99C]

Been there a few times, what an amazing place, so sad that it's gone. Stayed in Puna and drove down to Issac park daily to watch people surf that crazy wave.

[@GustavduPlessis-g2q]

Great video, thanks Dylan

[@KawikaMiller]

This episode gave me chicken skin and sadness at the same time. Used to love surfing Secrets and Bowls then when it was small Dead Trees. So sad to see all these amazing waves gone forever just like Drain Pipes at the once beautiful black sand beach at Kalapana.

[@smoothshredder]

The video didn't mention the boat ramp that was used by local fishermen to provide for their families. Many lost their homes, many lost their jobs. I grew up in Hilo and Puna. My grandpa was one of those fishermen. He passed many years ago but our ohana still fished from that ramp until the end.

[@ziggybender9125]

The good news is, as the bay reshapes itself eventually it might become worth reinstalling a boat ramp in the area. For creating good waves you kind of gotta let nature do it's thing.

[@breathspinecore]

When I lived there in the late '90's I would always buy fish right of the boats there as they came in, after surfing, and take it back to the farm I lived on and cook it with 'ulu... What magic that place was...

[@allrockfarmllc9909]

Weird! I don't know anyone you showed in this...I raised two boys and I myself grew up surfing pohoiki. One of the best surfers that came from there is Ulu boy Napiahi...such chart breaker to loose it!

[@juanmunozphoto]

so interesting! thanks

[@Surfline]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TPJN777]

Making history

[@lancejackson3618]

Great videos always Dylan! Love your content and also love weird waves haha. People don't realise that you gotta treasure and respect your surf breaks and natural environment while it's there. It will change. Be it natural disasters/processes, or manmade change with developments and construction altering coastlines. And with surf spots. Well they come and go all the time with natural evolution anyway. Enjoy and respect. Live in the moment. Tomorrow is not certain.

[@MichaelPetrakis]

Mahalo, Soul Family. We are the ones who are alive in this time. {{{

[@sweetiepienumber1]

Luckily, I lived in, worked, and surfed on the four main islands beginning in the 70s and Hilo for 10 years, where I got to surf Poho’iki and sit in the hot ponds. I didn't believe it was gone when I heard, just like I couldn't wrap my mind around Lahina or Kalapana years ago. And before I was there, the tsunami, etc. The Big Isle is in a constant state of flux which allows for new growth and a reminder that life is too.

[@josephsanchez3914]

Made me homesick. Aloha e.

[@DanielRodriguez-ps9fq]

Hola Dylan el carterito tu fan numero uno!!!! as a young man My first duty station in the Coast Guard was Hawaii and while I was there my mama vino de Puerto Rico a verme y ella queria ver el "volcan" y la lava y Yo la lleve a Big Island a que se hiciera su sueno realidad y yo nunca voy lejos sin my boogie y tuve el privilegio de surfear esa costa antes de que la lava se la tragara en el 1987 esas olas estaban fuera de liga y mi mama vio la lava con sus propios ojos en el volcano national park pero, el lado opuesto de Big Island tambien tiene olas bien peposas Banyans en Kailua Kona area is a killer wave and many others around...aloha desde PR.

[@Carrilleptbreak]

Best W.W. yet.... heavy?, yes very heavy but best.

[@Surfline]

Heavy indeed. Stoked you enjoyed it 🙌

[@ttfactoryoutdoors9605]

Dylan, you should bring your uncle Dan on a trip with you!

[@ziggybender9125]

As the winter waves shape the coast further every year it will off new formations for the sand to settle into creating a changing wave. During the process more sand will build up, especially as the underwater ecosystem bounces back and can provide more shells and coral to commit to the sand column. It will be one of those breaks that is at its best during the times of year when it has it's most sand and if nothing less it can become one of the more mellow spots the less experienced surfers flock to.

[@stannyland]

ohhhh see you in da wata braddah

[@claytonheals]

I was there living with a friend in Hawaiian paradise park. it was wild

[@FreshwaterFloof]

Was this filmed in 2021? Feels like 2018 wasn’t 3 years ago.

[@christophergapas4683]

Bro, even the tide pools and hot ponds. We might get new breaks. Like my uncle's sister's grandfatha's tutu said, shootooots

[@chrisarruda808FBI]

Still gotta worry about Da Kalapana Boys Brah!!😎💪👣🏴‍☠

[@manfried666army9]

Secrets was the Bess

[@DavidSchneiderIP]

I was living in Mona and had a friend who lived in a Hawaiian Paradise Park. We used to surf Pohoiki in the1980s..

[@DavidSchneiderIP]

Kona, not Mona.

[@foresttemple1380]

I had a GF in CA who has a huge Beautiful German Shepherd she adopted..her name WAS Kona but she changed it to Mona. 😅​@@DavidSchneiderIP

[@foresttemple1380]

What I'd really like to know, as a long time Big I resident myself ..does anyone know if the wai opae tidal pools were created in the 1960 Kapoho eruption? I lived right on the front rd down there in the 90s....it was my favorite place on this planet for sure. 🙂🌅

[@beast8087]

Pohoiki4life

[@jryan7932]

Today we make tomorrow's history.

[@thomassawicki2065]

Actually, Pohoiki was a junk surf area. Kalapana was taken by Lava in 1990. Before 1990, we never went to Pohoiki because Kalapana was so good. Left Point, Middles , Kaimu Bay and Drain Pipe were the main breaks. Pohoiki was a joke compared to Kalapana.

[@forgetaboutit5516]

The duality of man: “there was so much love and camaraderie in the water” and “if you weren’t well known or respected you say on the shoulder and don’t get any waves”. I guess alpha only exists if you get into the elitist club.

[@barracuda833]

Makes me wonder, do volcanoes ever create new waves? Everytime i hear about them destroying them. Guess it will be a couple million years before something comes up

[@MrColinManning]

Mama Nature is in charge. Hare Krishna!

[@matthuber9936]

Off topic here, but I think some of the crop circles are blue prints for making epic man-made waves. Think about it! Also, the area near Mavericks has some large land movements (the airport is where the fault is and separates two major plates) but I think that area could have some really good waves in the future with just the right earthquake!

[@surfjunkie2496]

Now everyone on big island going know who outting spots to malihinis.

[@Davidgomez-xm8eu]

nice chapT"

[@bradenjennnings9537]

Cool video but not really a “weird wave”, definitely a stretch.

[@drewtabke3294]

Stink eye epicenter

[@MateeshaNadees-z7z]

Come the Sri Lanka c

[@NadiKyle]

Why you got to show the secret zone

[@kenjiskelley6845]

Cause the zone is gone now it doesn’t matter anymore😪😪

[@NadiKyle]

@@kenjiskelley6845 I actually wasn't talking about the zone down south I was talking about the one up north it was only a 3 second clip but if you know you know

[@lancejackson3618]

@@NadiKyle Well now you're actually making people look in the video for the 3 second clip you're talking about! And giving information as to where it is? Probably better to just say nothing at all don't you think? And definitely don't talk about it on the internet!? Keeping your mouth shut altogether usually does the trick. 😎

[@Ben-b9h1f]

Cozy blanket story

[@haapitimoorea]

!!!