MEET TAMMY MONIZ
Surfer, Mother and Owner of Moniz Family Surf School
Even when she was in high school, Tammy Moniz’s friends called her “mom,” and today, Tammy is without a doubt a mother figure to many in Waikīkī and Hawai’i in general. Born and raised in Honolulu, Tammy beams passion and love for the culture of surfing. It’s something you can just see from the moment you meet her and something she has deeply instilled in her entire family. Her own children, of which there are five, (Micah, Kelia, Isaiah, Josh, and Seth), are recognized as some of the best professional surfers in the world and the Moniz family and their two surf schools are without a doubt, an anchor in the everchanging landscape that is Waikīkī. As someone who has seen the area change, and been a part of that change at times, Tammy’s insight on the importance of upholding the traditions of the surf school in Waikīkī speak volumes to the significance of learning the culture behind surfing in Hawai’i.
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"To understand surfing as a sport is one thing, but to understand surfing as a culture, as a love and as something that we’ll do for the rest of our lives is another. It’s the one thing that, as old as I am, I will continue to do because it keeps me inspired and fresh."
