AccesSurf Hawaiʻi is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special Day at the Beach this Saturday, Nov. 7.
The event will be held at White Plains Beach in Kalaeloa on Oʻahu. The milestone also coincides with the nonprofit’s 20 for 20 fundraising campaign, which aims to raise $200,000 to fund 20 free Day at the Beach community programs.
The organization was founded back in November 2006 by a group of therapists, watermen and waterwomen, medical professionals and adaptive athletes. AccessSurf began with a Day at the Beach, and a shared vision of making Hawaiʻi’s beaches and ocean more accessible to people with disabilities. Since then, the nonprofit has expanded to offer free adaptive surfing, swimming and paddling programs, including Wounded Warrior Day at the Beach, which launched in 2011.
READ MORE: AcceSurf Lets Everyone Have a Day at the Beach
Over the past two decades, AccesSurf has hosted more than 1,000 events and facilitated more than 40,000 adaptive ocean experiences. Just in 2025, the organization hosted 64 programs and events, providing 1,678 experiences to 478 participants. More than 1,500 volunteers helped make these opportunities happen.
Photo: Courtesy of AccesSurf Hawaiʻi
AccesSurf has also helped to grow competitive surfing. The organization started to develop competitive opportunities in 2007. Since 2019, its hosted an annual adaptive surfing competition in Waikīkī, bringing together athletes from around the world. Its work even incudes partnerships with adaptive ocean programs in Okinawa, Japan.
“The anniversary honors the people who built AccesSurf: the participants, volunteers, families and staff who have shown up over the last 20 years to make the ocean accessible to everyone,” executive director Zoe Lewis said in a news release. “As we look to the next 20 years and beyond, we invite everyone to be a part of our mission. Whether you join as a participant, a volunteer or supporter, there is a place for you with AccesSurf.”
The 20th Anniversary Day at the Beach brings together participants, volunteers, families, community partners and supporters at White Plains Beach for adaptive surfing and swimming, live music, lunch and a look back at the organization’s history.
For more information and registration visit accessurf.org/datb. For more information about AccesSurf’s programs, volunteer opportunities and ways to support, visit accessurf.org.
