"Buffalo Keaulana Wins Sr. Men's Surfing Championships at Makaha," by Carl Machado, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Dec 5, 1960

Richard (Buffalo) Keaulana has several reasons for being happy at winning the men’s senior event at the Makaha Surfing Championships yesterday in intermittent downpours.

It was the first victory in eight tries for the Makaha caretaker who lives at the newly constructed quarters at the famed beach with his new bride of one month.

He first learned to surf at Makaha 12 years ago.

To become champion surfer in the State. “Buff” had to dispose of five former winners of the event: George Downing, 1954; Rabbit Kekai, 1955; Conrad Canha, 1956; James (Jama) Keanu, 1957; and Wally Froiseth, 1959.

Peter Cole, 1958 titlist, failed to survive the eliminations.

In the only other event, the tandem team of Ernest (Mud) Werner and Robin Grigg won over seven other pairs. Hobie Alter-Linda Benson and Joe (Nappy) Napolean-Mona Jennings tied for second.

Keaulana, six-feet and 190 pounds, rode five of six waves to the beach, his last wave dying out 20 yards from shore.

His high score was based on the location where he caught the waves, distance of the ride standing, skill and maneuvering, and sportsmanship. "Buff” had all those qualities, according to Ben Kneubuhl, one of the officials.

Keaulana formerly was employed as a lifeguard at the Haleiwa Army beach where he was credited with saving several lives. He holds a senior life-saving certificate, one of his most prized possessions.

The Makaha veteran rode on waves ranging from six to eight feet yesterday, but recalls waves up to 25 and 30 feet at the famed beach in the past.

For the International Meet, however. Keaulana said the best waves came in 1958 when 12-15 footers greeted surfers.

1—Keaulana; 2—Downing: 3—Hobie Alter, Laguna Beach, California; 4—George Kaeo, Army; 5—Bobby Ah Choy. The remaining five finalists were Froiseth, Dick Kauo. Fred Xoa, Keanu and Roy Graham.

For winning, Keaulana received a waterproof self-winding watch donated by Security Diamond and a plaque from the sponsoring Waikiki Surf Club.

Yesterday's events concluded the championships, which took three weekends to complete instead of the scheduled two.

Eric Romanchak emerged as the junior men’s champion and Wendy Cameron the women's titlist on Saturday.

"Two Punahou Students Win Surf Meet Titles," Honolulu Advertiser, Dec 4, 1960

Two Punahou School juniors captured individual championships yesterday as the women's and junior men's finals of the International Surfing Meet were completed at Makaha Beach.

Eric Romanchak, a member of Punahou's swimming team, won the junior title and Wendy Cameron of Maui Surf club, a 16-year-old Punahou miss, annexed the women's championship

Linda Benson of Del Mar, Calif., the defending champion in the women's event, failed to place among the top five. Robin Grigg, formerly of Santa Monica, Calif., took second place.

Joey Hamasaki, the Waikiki junior champion, placed third. Ethel Kukea, the 1955-56 champion, gained fourth place, and Paddy McKinney was fifth.

In the junior mens event, Harry Sonoda was runner-up; David Willingham of Huntington Beach, Calif., placed third; Bunny Silva was fourth, and Tommy Richards was fifth.

All but one heat of the men's championship were run off yesterday, with 25 qualifying for the semifinals. One heat remains to be contested today and five will make the semifinal.

Peter Cole, the 1958 champion, failed to qualify but three other champions gained the semifinals. They were Wally Froiseth, the defending champion; Conrad Canha, 1956 winner; and James Keanu, 1957 champ.

Clarence (Mac) Maki, chairman of the sponsoring Waikiki Surf Club, said waves averaged about six feet yesterday but there were frequent lulls when the sea was flat.

1960 Makaha International Surfing Championships

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