Symbolic Model of leadership

“The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.” ~ Duke Kahanamoku The term culture refers to "the meanings that people learn from and share with each other" (MacPherson, Curtis & Loy 1989 p249). Surfing culture originated in Hawaii and was a spiritual way of life for thousands including Hawaiian Royalty. Surfing was a way of life for these seafaring people and formed an integral part of their society (MacPherson, Curtis & Loy 1989 p249). The surf culture includes the people, language, fashion, and lifestyle surrounding the sport of surfing. The history of surfing began with the ancient Polynesians. That initial culture directly influenced modern surfing, which began to evolve in the early 20th century, with popularity increasing greatly during the 1950s and ‘60s, specifically in Hawaii, Australia, and California (www.surfline.com). Surfers represent a diverse cultural group this includes those who embrace the practice for recreation and those who make it into a career and lifestyle choice. In Hawaii, the surf culture is huge, but is often viewed as negative due to gossip and stories surrounding the “Locals” of the islands. Localism in some instances has developed to produce groups of locals who occupy a certain break or beach, often referred to as “surf punks” or “surf Nazis”. The most notable areas where this sort of surf culture has been observed are on the North Shores of Oahu and Kauai. With outsiders and the burgeoning professional contest circuit shunting them from their favorite surf spots, some Hawaiian surfers banded together in 1976 to form the Hui O He’e Nalu (Da Hui for short), or Club of Wave Sliders (www.surfline.com). The Da Hui are known to even threaten physical violence to protect their spot. Good surf spots are rare and are often recognized by local surfers whose surf spot is seen as their territory and becomes highly guarded. This territorial behavior is often seen around beach towns where tourism can infringe