Earth/Sky/Mauka/Makai

WATER SPORT STORE RAISES FUNDS FOR PVS

Moving from its Coral Street location, water sport supply shop C4 Waterman opened its Outpost at 515 Ward Ave. at the former Kanai Tofu Factory. It officially kicked things off Oct. 16 at the new store-front with a grand opening celebration.

That also marked the date that the shop launched a fundraising campaign to support the efforts of Polynesian Voyaging Society and the Hokulea: 50 percent of all proceeds from a custom-apparel line designed by Keone Nunes will go to PVS.

“My partners and I want this store to be more than just a place for people to come; we want it to be a place that actually serves a purpose,” explains C4 Waterman CEO Todd Bradley, who founded the company alongside Brian Keaulana, Dave Parmenter and Archie Kalepa. “To us, there is nothing closer to the Hawaiian waterman culture than what the Hokulea and PVS are doing right now.”

The Hokulea departed from Honolulu waters in May for a three-year journey around the world, stopping along the way to discuss sustainability and the environment with various communities.

“It is an amazing thing,” Bradley says. “They are going around the world — no GPS — with a compass using the stars, in a canoe that has no technology at all on it.

“People might be like, ‘That’s nuts!’ Well, yeah, but it is pretty special,” Bradley adds.

Nunes, who was part of the Hokulea crew in the 1990s, has designed various patterns with traditional Polynesian tattoos for the fundraising line that includes rashguards, workout shirts, towels and hats.

“Each of the patterns tells a story,” Bradley explains.

One design, for example, represents mountain peaks rising from clouds, while another depicts the water channels that run between the Hawaiian Islands.

Many of the items are available now, and the full product line will be ready for purchase shortly before Christmas. The shop’s fundraising effort will continue as long as the Hokulea is on its journey; proceeds will go toward any needs PVS may have.

C4 Waterman is recognized as one of the innovators in stand-up paddling. Before the sport was the craze it is now, it was something that Bradley and his co-founders did as a way to train for tow-in surfing. Bradley, who grew up paddling and surfing in Waikiki, launched C4 Waterman in 2006 out of his garage with the other co-founders as a hobby. But soon, stand-up paddling took off — and so did their business.

Along with gear for all types of stand-up paddling, the shop offers a range of water sport supplies and apparel, no matter what your interest. It’s got dry bags, a line of aloha wear from Jams World and rescue equipment.

The shop also offers board rentals, with any money put down for the rental going toward a purchase.

Bradley says that the store aims to be “a waterman’s toy chest.”

“We are not surfers. We are not stand-up paddlers. We’re not divers. We’re not fishermen. We’re watermen — because we do it all.”

For more information, visit c4waterman.com.