The 2025 Hawai‘i Adaptive Surfing Championships will take place May 16-19 at Queens surf break in Waikiki. Image By Tommy Pierucki .
The waves have returned to the south shore of O‘ahu, carrying with them the spirit of competition and community at the Hawai‘i Adaptive Surfing Championships (HASC). For the third consecutive year, Hawai‘i Pacific University (HPU) is a proud sponsor of the event, reaffirming its commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and immersive, hands-on learning.
Set to take place May 16–19 at Queen’s surf break in Waikiki, the 2025 HASC will bring together top adaptive surfers from around the world. A welcome ceremony will be held on May 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Duke Kahanamoku statue on Kalākaua Avenue.
(Left to right) Heather David, AccesSurf Executive Director Cara Short, and HPU DPT students Daria Jones, Erika Munoz, Ryan Jaramillo at the 2024 HASC event in Waikiki.
Hosted by AccesSurf, the Championships celebrate the skill, grit, and determination of adaptive surfers—athletes with physical and visual disabilities—while championing broader inclusion and equity in ocean sports.
Graduate students from HPU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) programs will volunteer at the event for the third year in a row. Their roles include assisting with athlete check-ins, supporting classification , and assisting with transfers on the beach. These responsibilities not only help ensure a fair and smoothly run competition but also reinforce clinical skills like history-taking, assessment, assisted mobility, and interdisciplinary care.
“All HPU students are encouraged to volunteer or attend this incredible event,” said HPU Assistant Professor Heather David, PT, MPT, Ed.D. “Whether you're in a health sciences program or not, this event is a powerful reminder of how sport, service, and community can intersect.”
David, who will lead HPU’s volunteer efforts and serve as a medical classifier at the Championships, played a key role in developing the international classification system for adaptive surfing and contributes to global research in the field.
Beyond the Championships, HPU students regularly volunteer at AccesSurf’s monthly events like Day at the Beach and Wounded Warrior at the Beach, helping ensure ocean access for people of all ages and abilities.
For more information on the 2025 HASC, or volunteer opportunities, click here.
