SAVE OUR SURF
SOS became a militant movement overnight in late 1969 when plans were unveiled by the Army Corps of Engineers and the state to "broaden" the beaches of Waikiki. Using old fashioned political techniques- hand-bills, demonstrations and colorful presentations at public meetings - SOS quickly won the respect of the politicians and developed strong grassroots support in the community at large.
The principal spokesman for the group was John Kelly. As described by Kelly in 1971, the SOS strategy rests on three simple concepts: respect the intelligence of the people, get the facts to them and help the people develop and action program.
For more information, see DEI funding request for the "Save Our Surf, a Grassroots Organization" project.
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Related Links
The Rise of Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawai'i: Anti-War, Student and Early Community Struggles by John Witeck posted August 1, 2002 on The Asian American Movement Ezine
Save Our Surf by John Kelly excerpted from Turning the Tide: Journal of Anti-Racist Activism, Research & Education Volume 7, #3-4, Summer 1994
Ed Greevy - Save Our Surf Photographs and recollection by Ed Greevy
"Hawaii SOS Stirs Ecology Wave" OUR ENVIRONMENT by Stewart Udall and John Stansbury, September 1971