Salt of the Earth: Examining the Cultural Diasporas of Surfing

Henry Highton
Literature
UC Santa Cruz

Rob Sean Wilson
Literature
UC Santa Cruz

This conference had the following goals: Call attention to Santa Cruz and UCSC as a center of surf history, culture, and theorization. Celebrate the indigenous Hawaiian practice of he’e nalu and its impact on the world. Provide a public forum for leaders in their respective fields to come together to showcase and discuss their work and its significance in both local and global contexts. Demonstrate how theory can be applied and literally be brought to life through critical applications in everyday life–even the mundane act of surfing. Inspire both artistic creativity and a sense of self-empowerment in our students and community through the exemplary achievements of surfing DIY artists and activists. Strengthen bonds between the university and the local community in Santa Cruz.