Blog
Congrat's to the Nanakuli High School - Leeward Kai Canoe Club for coming in 1st place for the NaOpio Varsity, 2nd place in the mix & 3rd place OIA varsity. Today January 28, 2017
We are proud to be a Sponsor for the Nanakuli High School Leeward Kai Canoe Club. A TEAM with BIG heart and passion for the sport!!! Reezen Hawaii
PRO Beach Volleyball Player Mel Melville
TEAM rider Jacob Hill . . . lighting it up in Tahoe, California
Stay tune for full interview by Brand Ambassador Jennifer Schmeer
Shot on site at the www.pelicanhill.com resort in Newport Coast, California
Bio –
Joshua Drake – 14 – freshman at Carlsbad High. Athlete of the week at Carlsbad High a couple weeks ago.
Surfs for Reezen eyewear, Reef, Sun Diego Surf Shop, Carrozza surfboards
Local grom making a mark in the Carlsbad lineup.
Reezen Hawaii Rep Jason Parel presenting 40 pairs of sunglasses😎 to MMA Fighter Nainoa Dung for his cause in making a difference... Also featured here are Martial Artist Kekama Agosta, Reezen Ohana' Damien and Stephanie. Mahalo again Nainoa for taking the time and for da' gray meal at Da Crab Shack in Kapolei. Great grinds if your ever down in the area... Aloha'
Personal Philosophy
Martial art teaches me about myself and life. Martial arts help me develop: self-respect, discipline, dedication, balance, loyalty, humility and confidence. My martial arts foundation in Shaolin Kenpo under Sifu Damien Agosto (father) and Senior Grand Master Rick Alemany systems has grounded me, my transition to Traditional Karate under 2 times World Champion, George Kotaka International Karate Federation and Marital Arts Federation of Hawaii continues to build my speed and skills necessary for the 2020 Olympics in Japan. However, the everlasting love of God and my family is the core that drives me and provides it all.
Education:
2015 Graduate from Kapolei High School, Business Academy
Senior Project, Teaching Kenpo Self Defense (1 year, 8 students ages 7-16)
2016 Patten University in Fall, Major: Business/Criminal Justice/Psycholo
Accomplishments:
2002-04 Hawaiian Kajukenbo Association Pee Wee and Junior Tournament of Grand Champions 1st place
2003-04 Hawaiian Islands Martial Arts Tournament, 1st and 2nd Place
Joe Bunches Memorial Tournament, 1st place
Long Beach International Tournament, 1st place, 1st Place
2011 Hawaii Kajukenbo Association 6th Annual Memorial Tournament , 1st Place
2012 Filipino Martial Arts Maui Open Tournament, 1st Place
53d All Hawaii State Karate Championship, 1st and 3rd Place
Tekeuchi Kenpo Organization Tournament, 1st Place
2013 KSDI Open Karate Tournament Las Vegas, 1st and 2nd Place
2013 Leeward Kenpo Karate Championships, 1st Place in Kumite and Kata
2012-14 Japanese International Karate Championships Center, 1st,2nd and 3rd Place
2013-14 Tekeuchi Kenpo Organization Tournament, 1st Place
Kajukenbo Emperado Annual Memorial Karate Tournament, 1st Place
2014 55th All Hawaii State Honolulu International Karate Championship, 1st Place
Ron Phonel Karate Championship Hawaii, Grand Champion
2015 Ozawa International Cup Championships in Las Vegas Nevada, 1st Place 16-17 age division
Leeward Kenpo Karate Grand Championship and 1st Place in Men’s 18-35 Division
2016 Ozawa International Cup Championship in Las Vegas Nevada, Men’s 18+, 2nd Place
Leeward Kenpo Karate Men’s 18-35 Hawaii, 1st Place
League of Angels Kenpo Karate Men’s 18-35 Hawaii, 1st Place
AAU National Karate Championships in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, Men’s WKF Heavy Weight Division, 1st Place
Aloha' everyone, we like to welcome Jason Parel to the Ohana'. He will assist us in representing Reezen Hawaii.
BIO
Jason was born on the Big Island of Hawaii and raised on the Island of Oahu. He is the husband and JPP Music Manager of Kaneohe's singer/song writer Johnna Padeken Parel follow her @www.johnnspsdekenparel.com. He loves to SUP & bodyboard on his spare time and loves being a dad to his first born baby girl. He enjoys football and basketball but most importantly spending time with his Ohana'. He will help us in spreading the R.E.E.Z.E.N. Aloha' to the island's. A Local boy with a heart of Gold. . .
Peter Featured here with his 2 Children. . .Check out this link of Peter's introduction to the film industry
Necessary Roughness
We are honored to be a sponsor for this amazing TEAM over the past several years. Rick Swanson's Obsession Racing TEAM has only been a positive experience with us. His drive and passion for the sport of Monster trucks is incredible, as he continues to bring innovative ideas in moving his company and the sport to the next level. However, behind every great Man is a great Woman. Jill is simply a powerhouse! Her abilities to balance both the Personal and business aspects of the company goes without saying. Their son Eric Swanson was still in High school when we had the opportunity to be part of Obsession racing. Eric is also the youngest official monster truck driver and has since made a mark within the industry.
The following is a brief bio that shares the history of the company. Please follow this awesome team @ www.obsessionracing.com and come out to see their incredible shows.
Rick’s Obsession started with building a 1970 Ford Bronco. This was Rick’s first vehicle. He purchased it from his Grandfather while in high school. He fixed it up to take it off road. One day he realized that it cost more than his paycheck to keep up this sport. He decided he would fix it up and take it to car shows. One day Rick was pulled over by a feature editor of Four Wheel Magazine. He wanted to do an article on the Bronco. Having the truck in magazines and showing the Bronco was much more profitable. He acquired sponsors for the truck and progressed from then on. The Bronco was show material only and wasn’t street legal when Rick had finished modifying it. He then purchased a full size Bronco to trailer the 1970 Bronco to shows. He also fixed up the full size Bronco to show. After showing the trucks for many years, Rick decided he wanted to build a Monster Truck. He sold the full size Bronco to pay for the frame, axles and four link bars. This was the beginning of Obsession. At the time Rick managed a printed circuit board shop owned by his father, while building the truck. He also worked for a trucking company to make money for the rest of the parts for the truck. Rick needed a name for the truck. He asked his wife Jill what she thought would be a good name? She said, “why don’t you call it Obsession, since your Obsessed with trucks.” For the color scheme Rick new he wanted yellow, but couldn’t decide what colors he wanted to go with it. They had a party and Jill looked at the plates and the colors were purple, yellow and teal. They thought that they went well together and that is how they chose those colors. In 2006 we changed sponsors and with that we changed the trucks color scheme to blue in yellow and we are currently running those colors on both trucks.
Rick and Jill have been successfully running the monster truck business since 1994. The first year they did about 10 events. They are now up to 35 weekends per year. In August of 2009 we completed our second truck Obsessed. Our first two truck event was in August of 2009. The Obsessed truck was built for our son Eric. His first event in his truck will be in October of 2009. Unfortunately not all promoters can have him drive at their events until he reaches the age of 18. In the mean time Rick will drive Obsessed and our good friend Jeff Jones will be driving Obsession at our two truck events. We are happy and blessed that we are able to work as a family and with great friends. Some people may think they are a little Obsessed, but we are grateful to be fulfilling our dreams. www.obsessionracing.com
We want to thank everyone who came out to support TEAM Sunny Livin 6-man tournament this past weekend August 27th in Long Beach, CA
Team Sunny Livin came together to make it happen @ASICS @WSOBV 6-Man Finals!
Unfortunately, they fell short at the finals by only 2 points. . .
Thank you TEAM Sunny Livin for allowing us to be part of this exciting day & for rocking the sunnies.
Mahalo'
Photo Credit : Sunny Livin TEAM
BIO
Status: Professional
Weight Class: Light Weight Last Weigh -in: 155.5 lbs
Residence: Fresno, California
Pro MMA record: 4 wins & 1 loss
Affiliation: Torres Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Last Fight: June 17, 2016 BFC-Bellator MMA
Rank 43rd of 193 Active California Pro Lightweights
Ranked 99 of 431 Active US West Pro Lightweights
Click below to read a great article about Grant "Twiggy" Baker written by our Ambassador Jennifer Schmeer.
http://www.theinertia.com/surf/getting-to-know-the-basics-of-all-things-grant-twiggy-baker/
Hanging out with the team. . .
John "Pops" Ah Choy was born in 1920 in 'O'okala on the Big Island of Hawaii. He was the third eldest of 13 children. At the age of 12, he had to leave school to work on the sugar plantation to help his family. John married in 1938, and had three children: Suzanne Young, Bobby Ah Choy, and Leroy Ah Choy. A few years later, in 1943, he arrived in Honolulu looking for a better way of life for his family, securing a job at Pearl Harbor as a crane operator. Soon after, he began working for Hawaiian Electric where he would retire after 37 years of service. Along the way, he remarried, and had three additional sons: Ricky, David, and Michael Ah Choy. The family resided in Waikiki, two blocks from Kuhio Beach, which became the Ah Choy playground.
John "Pops" Ah Choy started surfing at Waikiki at well known surfing spots, Queens and Canoes, in 1944. During this time, he raised six children; two of his sons became legendary Beach Boys. Bobby and Leroy Ah Choy both completed the Molokai Canoe Races during the 1950s and 60s. Both were Master Steersmen and water men, competing in tandem and stand-up surfing championships. Pops never missed a day of being in the water whether surfing or paddling in flat conditions.
He was also very inventive. In the 60s, the family lived two blocks from Kuhio beach and would carry their surfboards (longboards weighing up to 80lbs.) there, sometimes tiring out before ever getting in the water. My dad decided that there must be an easier way to get the boards to the beach. He created a surfboard wagon that could hold and pull up to 8 longboards. He also designed his own leg leashes. In the 1970s when skateboarding took off, he cut and shaped wood and fiber glass skateboards. He also created a chair with suction cups to place on the longboard when using it to fish.
Later, Leroy and Bobby used this technique in their photo business of taking pictures of tourists surfing at Waikiki. Eventually Pops decided to use a canoe paddle, knee pads, and a Hawaiian Electric hard hat when surfing. He would keep his cigarettes in the hat so they wouldn't get wet, and would also smoke a cigarette or two between sets. When his knees began to bother him as he got older, instead of kneeling on the board he decided to stand-up and paddle while surfing. That was in the late 60s, which is how stand-up surfing began. Later my brother, Leroy and Bobby, adopted the idea and used it once again for picture taking of tourists at Waikiki.
AIGA has assisted many student-athletes from across the Mainland United States, Hawai'i, and American Samoa in the sport of football. Many of the our staff and members are former professional and collegiate student-athletes who have built a strong network with existing college coaches and institutions. Although our staff has proficient knowledge in the football recruiting game, we have developed networks with other sports and coaches and are now looking to expand our reach to other sports.
AIGA understands the importance of academics and the role it plays in future employment and business opportunities. AIGA is here to bridge the gap to opportunity for student-athletes who are willing to work hard for it. Stay tuned for an AIGA event near you.
The AIGA Foundation originated from several local athletes from Carson, Ca. They believed they could make a difference in their local community by mentoring student-athletes.
To date, thousands of student-athletes have attended AIGA events and have gone on to compete at the college level.
The name 'aiga, which means family in the Samoan language, is the type of atmosphere we wanted to create thru the programs and events that we organize.
Come join us @ June 24, 25, 26, 2016 @ the 6th Annual John Pop Ah Choy Surf Fest in Waikiki, Hawaii. . .If you are unable to attend? our "Hawaii Film Industry" Ohana will be streaming the event live! Stay tune for more details. . .
Our first event on the Island of Lanai, Hawaii. We want to thank Nicole and Kendra for taking the time to share the REEZEN Aloha' on the Island of Lanai, Hawaii. . .
North Shore Villa
By Jennifer Schmeer
Hawaii holds volcanoes, waterfalls, perfect bodies, world class waves to name a few. Staying at a villa on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii in the month of November was one of my inspiring ideas in continuing my quest in adventure luxury travel.
Landing in Waikiki, we headed to the north side of the island to Haleiwa which is about a one hour drive. Haleiwa, pronounced hah-lay-EE-wah, known as the surfing capital of the world is a historic community dating back to the 1900’s devoted to the sugar plantation industry.
Crossing over the historic rainbow bridge over the Anahulu River marks the north end entrance to Haleiwa Town, the excitement builds.
Haleiwa is located on Waialua Bay, the mouth of Anahulu River. Passing by quaint shops and open fields, we find the road heading up the side of the tail end of the Koolau mountain range that will take us to our villa. The drive up the mountain gives us the most beautiful views of the north side of the island while passing palm trees and horses grazing. Located near the top, the villa is stunning with its gated entrance and ocean views. Not just any ocean view. The North Shore Villa overlooks Pipeline and Sunset world-renowned beaches.
Greeted by a friendly Canadian, Jeff, the owner, welcomes us and gives us a quick tour before disappearing allowing for the ultimate private holiday. With Bali inspired décor, this seven bedroom, five bathroom villa with sunken tubs, wrap around lanai with BBQ overlooking the pool surrounded by lush gardens, fruit trees, cabana and guest house, this villa is outstanding and breathtaking. The surroundings engage our senses and we automatically switch to vacation mode.
Chauffeur and private chefs are available as some of the onsite services, but we decided to enjoy the BBQ on the lanai and make our own wonderful meals every evening. My cousin, Troy took on the chef role and did not disappoint. It was easy because at the bottom of the mountain in downtown Haleiwa exist a shop called, VJs Butcher Block. We would stop in almost every day to pick out dinner for that evening. VJs Butcher provides a variety of 100% grass finished beef cuts, organic chickens, GMO free pork and assortments of wild caught fish from the islands at reasonable prices.
The North Shore Villa made for the perfect backdrop for dinner parties and where else to find some of the most interesting beings than on the North Shore. Hawaii based photographer, Terry Houston joined us one evening for grilled steaks and wine on the lanai and shared some of the best stories under the Hawaiian sky and ocean breeze. Terry has been photographing surfing including the famous Pipeline break and his global travels for years with just returning from Bali. Terry’s stories are as interesting as his photos.
There are so many things to do while in Hawaii; it is limitless. But in the neighborhood of the villa there is a waterfall and gardens that are worth the hike. Waimea Valley is just off of Kamehameha highway and holds beautiful botanical gardens leading to a tranquil waterfall.
Waimea Valley is an area of cultural significance. The Valley has an important place in Hawaiian religion and holds several historical structures including stone terraces and walls constructed during the time of the Hawaiian monarchy. The garden floor was once cultivated with crops and orchards introduced by Europeans after their arrival.
A great way to start your day by going on a hike through serene gardens ending up at an inviting waterfall where visitors can take a quick swim to replenish the soul; Waimea Valley adds to any holiday.
Another way to get a glimpse of the real Hawaii is to meet up with local photographer, Ehitu Keeling, who just also happens to be Hawaiian royalty. It is real easy to go island hopping with the assistance of Mokulele Airlines that will take you to the Big Island of Hawaii where Ehitu spends his time capturing local images including surfing and volcanoes erupting.
Some of the best views of the islands can be seen from above. Sites such as erupting volcanoes like Kilauea volcano sending red hot lava into the night make for great evening adventures. Pilot Luka Dayton-Smith of FVP Helicopter Tours take Ehitu and guests up for exciting views of volcanoes and up close to craters like Halema’uma’u known as the house of Pele.
As Brand Ambassador for Reezen, a company founded by the roots of respecting the Hawaiian culture, I could not wait to get here and really experience it for myself. I have been working with this company for about two years and impressed with their products that fuse Hawaii’s natural beauty with everyday fashion. This group wants to empower individuals to make a difference in this world while focusing on the importance of family. I always make sure the group that travels with me are decked out in Reezen wear because of this great group of people and their beliefs.
I travel with a few things- 1) My Family 2) Reezen’s sunglasses, hats, tshirts 3) Sirensong Wetsuits. These are my essentials and everything else is just gravy.
Back on the island of Oahu, we dedicate one day to driving around the entire island stopping at secluded beaches, snorkeling in Honauma Bay (one of my favorite snorkeling spots), and sampling sushi along the way.
Returning to the villa, our bodies are exhausted from adventures. We spend the evening by the pool gazing at the river of stars flowing above our heads while my cousin creates another enjoyable meal.
North Shore has great neighbors. Former Hawaiian MMA fighter, Rory Parker drops by for a quick hello after one of his training sessions with some of students. Rory was a professional surfer and MMA fighter for most of his life and now teaches fighting techniques on the North Shore. My daughter trained with Rory when we lived in California after I interviewed him for the surf magazine, Aladdin Surf Magazine. Rory was my first photo shoot for a magazine and I was able to get in the ring with him and photograph him. I remember being really nervous and at one point while lying on the mat looking up taking the shots; accidently sitting up too quickly; landing my head near his crotch. All I could do was giggle like a school kid. The photos and the interview came out amazing. He is easy on the eyes and keeps you on your toes.
Later on in the evening, talented, young filmmaker, Damien Robertson stops by since we are in his neighborhood. Hawaiian born and raised, Damien is a filmmaker for Red Bull and for surfing star, JOB and Sean aka Poopies; North Shore legends. His web series, “Who is JOB 5.0?” was recently recognized as one of the best series of the year via Surfer Poll/Surfer Magazine.
We enjoy wine in the gardens and he shares his extensive travel year. Talented beyond his years, Damien films like a painter creating masterpieces.
Time flies by on the North Shore and now time to return to the mainland. These islands hold treasures and we only discovered a few, but hope to return again real soon.
For Reservations North Shore Villa-Contact Jeff at 808-308-9598
Lava & crater photos provided by Ehitu Keeling; Follow Ehitu Keeling @HEETS7
Surf photos by Terry Houston; Follow Terry Houston @TERRYHOUSTONSURFPICS
Reezensceneco.com
Sirensongwetsuits.com
Team members Agnieszka Pregowska & Christina Vucich making it happen. . .
