Arts and Culture

Shapes Of The North Shore – An Art Exhibit

Shapes of the North Shore Art Display in the Hawaii Life Hale’ iwa Office

Hawaii Life’s unique office on the North Shore of Oahu serves as much as a community space as it does a professional space to discuss Real Estate. They go hand and hand: community and home. Our North Shore office emulates an art gallery feel. To enhance the space the Haleiwa Art Cooperative made up of a handful of Hawaii Life Agents with a passion for the arts, has decided to exhibit a different local artist in the office each quarter. On the second Saturday of every month, we participate in the Hale’ iwa Art Walk along with other Art Galleries in Haleiwa, organized and curated by the Haleiwa Art Gallery.

This Saturday, March 14, from 3-8 PM, we will be featuring for the second month the “Shapes of the North Shore”. This unique exhibit displays surfboards by over 20 different local shapers. The North Shore is a surfing mecca, and surf craft builders are the quintessential craftsmen in this community. Spearheaded by our own team member Kyle Bernhardt, who is also a shaper, this event displays the variety that exists in wave riding vehicles. Each board has either a unique story, shape, or art design that makes it stand out.

Featured board with art by Clark Little and shape by Pat Rawson

Kyle got started shaping at an early age and comments about his beginnings and his passion saying, “I shaped my first board in 1985 (at age 17) because I didn’t have enough money to buy a board off the rack. I fell in love with the creative process and freedom of choices. Surfboards are boundless; there is always another shape to explore and enjoy; and beyond the shape, the color and art to compliment the shapes is a whole other adventure.”

Another long time local shaper, Dennis Pang, relates a story to us about how he began shaping and what the art means to him. Dennis writes: “I started shaping in spring of 1968 when the short board revolution began. I had been surfing on longboards for 7 years already. My passion for surfing was overwhelming as a teenager, and I surfed the reefs of the southeast side every day. My neighbor Gerry Lopez had just gotten back from Maui and brought back the first short board I had ever seen, an 8’6” “mini gun” pintail made by Dick Brewer. Another neighbor Buddy Dumphy and Lopez began stripping (peeling the glass off) old longboards and reshaping the blank and glassing them in their parents garage. So those guys who were 3 years older and taught me that process. We began making our own version of that 8’6” Brewer that spring and summer for our friends on the southeast shore and Ala Moana bowls and ruining our parents’ garage.”

Colorful stories like these lie behind each and every board shaped by these local shapers. Dennis has a big wave riding surfboard, also known as a “gun”, on display in the office.

Hawaii Life Agent, Gina Overton, with Dennis Pang and Gina’s husband.

They all come from a different background, time period, and affinity of craft. Just like an artist, each shaper has their own style. Come join us in our office this Saturday to see the boards for yourself. Bring your friends!

From Left to Right: Pat Rawson, Kyle Bernhardt, Drew Sparrow, Chuck Andrus, Dennis Pang

The North Shore community is surf-centric, and these are the craft makers that fan that flame. Part of what makes our community so special is our collective love for the Ocean. Kyle says, “I count my blessings every day I wake up on the North Shore. The surf is very good, water is blue, the mountains are green, the weather is warm, it’s a fantastic place for a healthy, active lifestyle.” And Dennis Pang reminds us the most important thing, “The main thing… get in the water and have fun.”

Check out each shapers website and page at their links below. And if you can’t join us this weekend at our Shapes of the North Shore event, then feel free to drop by the office any time during business hours to check out the boards. Additionally, each board is for sale, and a proceed of the sale will benefit the Hawaii Life Charitable Fund.

Pat Rawson, shaper and musician entertaining at our last event.

Event Details

When: Saturday, March 14, 2020
3 pm – 8 pm

Where: Hawaii Life Haleiwa
62-594 Kamehameha Hwy #2
Haleiwa, HI 96712

On display this weekend are boards from these North Shore board shapers.

Akila Aipa
Eric Arakawa
Chuck Andrus
Kyle Bernhardt
Jeff Bushman
Tom Carroll
John Carper
Mike Casey
Jonathan Damm
Joe Demarco
Chris Galagher Stone
Daniel Jones
Robin Johnston
Brian King
Paulo Mendonca
Bret Marumoto
Carson Myers
Dennis Pang
Jon Pyzel
Pat Rawson
Matt Raynor
Carl Schaper
Kent Senatore
Drew Sparrow
Brian A. Tudor
Matt Yerxa

Shaper Chuck Andrus with North Shore Hawaii Life Agent, Leane Darling Horton

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Barry

March 12, 2020

Gorgeous shot of boards on wall. Would love it if I could send the original pic to canvas pops.com and have a canvas print made

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