I first had the pleasure of meeting Tim Lara in 2007. He took pity on the scared, excited, beginner surfer that I was and told me that he could teach me to surf. When we met down at the Cove, I took one look at this athletic kid who was asking me to “pop up on the board” and decided he must be crazy. Within the hour he really did have me popping up on the board, but the experience was more than that. It was his genuine compassion that came through that made me feel like I could do anything. His smiles of encouragement and his patience with my mistakes made me feel like I could really accomplish my dream and surf. Within that first few minutes, he’d developed a level of trust and respect with me that hasn’t diminished in the last 6 years; it’s only grown stronger.
Let me tell you about Tim… He’s not only a great surf instructor, but also a champion outrigger canoe paddler that just took first place in the OC1 division of the Paddle IMUA Benefit Race last weekend. He’s a community activist that tries to bring attention to various charities each month. He served on the board for the Maui relay and Maui Canoe & Kayak Club and now serves on the board for the Maui Surfrider Foundation and coaches for Hawaiian Canoe Club. He lives aloha and connects visitors to that aloha every day through his company, Hawaiian Paddle Sports.
Hawaiian Paddle Sports was founded in 2011 to provide that aloha link between visitors and the environment. Hawaiian Paddle Sports uses many guides to take paddlers out into the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean, but I think Tim’s philosophy sums it up, “If we leave it [the planet] better than we found it, we all win!” The philosophy of Hawaiian Paddle Sports is to create “a more authentic ocean experience for Maui visitors.” Utilizing kayaks, canoes, paddleboards or surf boards, Hawaiian Paddle Sports connects visitors and environments in a truly synergistic fashion. Their guides are highly trained and skilled in not only water sports, but also the environment.
Hawaiian Paddle Sports chooses to make a stand for the environment by volunteering their time at beach clean-ups, charity events and fundraisers. They’ve incorporated stainless steel water containers rather than disposable bottles as well as a no touch policy on all their snorkel trips. They are one of fourteen companies to be certified by the Hawaii Eco Tourism Association.
Be sure to check out Tim and his amazing crew at Hawaiian Paddle Sports next time you’re considering an ocean adventure. They’ll treat you right. Aloha!
