From the shores of Maui to the world stage, Kai Lenny is not only a legendary surfer but a force for positive change.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date watch, tagheuer.com; Hurley wetsuit, hurley.com. photographed and styled by IJFKE RIDGLEY at MONTAGE KAPALUA BAY
“I am always looking for ways to give back to Lāhainā. Our foundation is trying to focus on what the community needs now.” –KAI LENNY
With the same passion he brings to conquering mammoth waves, Kai Lenny (@kai_lenny) tackles some of Hawai‘i’s most pressing challenges through his Positively Kai Foundation (positivelykaifoundation.org). His journey from local grom to global icon serves as an inspiration, proving that with passion and purpose, one can truly make waves of positive change.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT watch and LINE Sunglasses, tagheuer.com; Billy Aloha pants and blazer, billyaloha.com. photographed and styled by IJFKE RIDGLEY at MONTAGE KAPALUA BAY
Recently you represented the Maui surfing community at the ESPYs, accepting the 2024 Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for the heroic response to the tragic fires in Lāhainā last year. Surfers, like yourself, started dropping off food, water and other supplies to Lāhainā via jet ski when roads were blocked. Tell us how the surf community rallied to help. It was definitely a group effort. It was really incredible to see everyone come together and be such a tight-knit community when it really mattered. I think it’s the pride that Maui has for the island and taking care of one another. For me, I just tried my best. There were so many unsung heroes who did incredible feats, like literally saving people from the fire and creating hubs scattered across the coastline to help people who had lost everything. The thousands of people who did give back to the community couldn’t be on that stage with me at that time, but it was all for them.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT watch, tagheuer.com. photographed and styled by IJFKE RIDGLEY at MONTAGE KAPALUA BAY
How has the Positively Kai Foundation evolved? Over the years, the foundation has heavily focused on supporting kids and giving back to underprivileged kids in different communities all across the country, namely Hawai‘i. After the Lāhainā fires, it came to a point where many of the biggest foundations, which I think are still doing great work, had high administrative fees. For us, being from Maui, we don’t want anything in return, so donors can be assured that the maximum amount of the funds will go to the people to different initiatives that are ever-changing because the community needs different things on a week-to-week, month-to-month, and even year-to-year basis.
Right now, we’re really focused on mental health and helping people get back on their feet the best way possible. What I learned from hitting my head out of a pipeline back in January and going through recovery from my brain injury is that people who go through traumatic events can get borderline PTSD and depression, and that’s all curable with the technology I experienced firsthand. So trying to get that technology and make it accessible is one of the goals right now.
Rocket Ahuna aloha shirt, rocketahuna.com; TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT watch and LINE Sunglasses, tagheuer.com. photographed and styled by IJFKE RIDGLEY at MONTAGE KAPALUA BAY
From kiteboarding and windsurfing to foiling and big wave surfing, and as the youngest person ever inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame (2019), what more can fans expect to see you take on in watersports? It was a great honor to be inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame. It never even crossed my mind. I’ve always just focused on my love and passion for the water and the sports I do. I still feel like I have a lot of growth to do and a lot to explore. I have so many projects that I’m working on and ideas to innovate and explore what is possible from the biggest waves in the world, to the strongest winds, to just other means of riding waves that everyone can enjoy hopefully one day.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date watch, tagheuer.com; Hurley wetsuit, hurley.com. photographed and styled by IJFKE RIDGLEY at MONTAGE KAPALUA BAY
You actually use a watch for your sport, and you specifically wear the TAG Heuer Aquaracer. Why is timing so important for surfing, and what can you say about the watch that speaks to its durability? What I love about the TAG Heuer Aquaracer the most is the fact that I use it for all occasions. I never take it off. In surfing, knowing the time and timing is tremendously important. If I’m channel crossing, I’ll know exactly to the nanosecond what my time is across those open ocean channels. Alternatively, by checking the buoy forecast, I can predict to the minute when a giant wave will come in. I really utilize the watch as a tool for what I do, and the craziest thing is what it can survive. It’s survived my worst wipeouts, and so it’s become more than just an item that I wear. It’s almost become a memorabilia because I can tell my kids, I can tell my friends, I can share stories of how this watch survived some of the heaviest waves on earth, and look, it looks brand-new.
What’s next for you? I am always looking for ways to give back to Lāhainā. Our foundation is trying to focus on what the community needs now. It might be 10 years before we have a town that resembles anything like it once was. Then as an athlete, I’m ready for the big wave season. I have new equipment, new goals, new projects, and things that have never been done before, and I’m really looking forward to trying to explore those areas of possibilities. It just doesn’t feel like there’s enough time to do it all, but you just got to keep pushing forward.
Billy Aloha sweatshirt, billyaloha.com; TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT watch and LINE Sunglasses, tagheuer.com. photographed and styled by IJFKE RIDGLEY at MONTAGE KAPALUA BAY
Grooming by Ry-N Shimabuku Styling Assistant: Aniel Morey Photo Assistant: Miles Reickert
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