North Shore NewsBy Noah Grodzin & Rain Magyar
Partners Rain Magyar and surfboard manufacturer Steve Matthews from 3rd Stone opened the Hale‘iwa Surf Shop a few years ago. The shop is located across from Hale‘iwa Ali‘i beach park in the original Dr. Miyasaki doctors office which was hand built in 1937, by the doctor himself. The surf shop offers both new and used surfboards, beach rentals, one of a kind tees, and locally made gifts. In the front yard sits a foosball and ping pong table. Kind of like the old Hale‘iwa surf center, anyone is welcome to stop by to play a game.
Rain first visited the North Shore as a child, he recalls meeting Marvin Foster, and felt an inspiration to become a surfer like Mr. Foster. Rain said he’ll never forget the bit of advice Marvin told him, to never turn your back to the ocean. In 1990 fresh out of high School, Rain moved to the North Shore from San Diego. While living on the North Shore he supported himself by working at the old Hale‘iwa Pizza Hut, working with the local aunties he learned the ways of North Shore country living. He said “the 90’s on the North Shore was like the Wild West. You had to have respect for the Hawaiian ways.” After a few years in town Rain eventually returned to Hale‘iwa to settle down and raise a family .
The surf shop participates in beach cleanups and is also an educational stop for anyone just passing through. Rain and Steve want the shop to be a hub for the local keiki to get excited about surfing or a place to ask for advice or talk story. Surfboards are available for the local keiki to sign out and go for a surf. Also, donated used surfboards are given to any young local inspired surfer who may need a board to ride.
The Hale‘iwa Surf Shop is more than just a surf shop, with all the historic magazines and the Hale‘iwa Surfing Championship plaque gives it a feel of a North Shore Surf Hall of Fame. One thing Rain would want people to know about the surf shop is their pursuit to celebrate the past, present, and future of Hawaii surfing!