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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 Wednesday,
February. 12, 2009, San Diego, Ca The Rell Sunn
Educational Fund Foundation will be screening
the multi award winning documentary HEART OF THE
SEA by Charlotte LaGarde and Lisa Denker as a
special presentation on Saturday, February 21nd
7 pm, in Oceanside, Ca. at the Grace Theater 102
Freeman Street, tickets are $10. HEART OF THE
SEA is the life story of Rell Sunn one of the
pioneers of the Women’s Professional Surfing
Association and she was the first lifeguard on
the West Side of Oahu, Hawaii. While Rell was
with us she was a familiar fixture in San Diego
from Wind N Sea to Oceanside Harbor breaks. For
many years she surfed in the Oceanside Longboard
Contest and has many surfers of whom she was close
to and inspired with her aloha spirit.
Rell Sunn was born in Makaha on Oahu in 1950,
and was given the Hawaiian name, Ka-polioka'ehukai,
which means Heart of the Sea. Rell guided many
young Hawaiians from troubled childhoods into
promising careers in surfing through her Menehune
Surf Contest. Without her energy and compassion,
many of the top Hawaiian professionals, from Kalani
Rob, Bethany Hamilton, Carrisa Moore and Sunny
Garcia, would likely have ended up not realizing
their dreams as a sponsored surfer.
Sunn was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1983,
at that time her prognosis of live was estimate
for only one year. She beat the odds everyday
and Sunn continued to surf after her diagnosis,
despite the pain and chemotherapy associated with
the disease. Rell Sunn died on January 2, 1998
and over 3,000 people attended her memorial service,
where her ashes were scattered in the ocean off
Makaha. The “Queen of Makaha” continues
to touch lives with the traditional Children’s
Menehune Surf Contest, now in its 34th year, a
contest that assist in raising funds for various
environmental, family and children's programs.
Rell also has the respect of fellow surfers and
waterman for sharing her skills and spirit of
aloha in and out of the water.
This special screening will be presented for the
first time by the Foundation in San Diego and
they have many highlights set for the event. The
La Jolla Hulau Heali I’s Polynesian Revue
will be performing and L & L Bar B Que will
feature the Hawaiian favorite of Spam Musubi.
Ira Opper of Opper Sports will share a short film
tribute to Rell prior to screening HEART OF THE
SEA. In all the evening will be a night of Aloha
sharing the life of Rell and her Foundations continuing
support to the community of children and surfing.
Tickets may be purchased at www.rellsunn.com
or at the door for only $10. The doors open at
7 pm and the show starts at 8 pm at the Grace
Chapel Theater 102 Freeman Street, Oceanside,
CA. For more information please visit the Website
or call 949-388-1966
A silent auction and opportunity drawing will
take place with an amazing array of items donated
by some of the who’s who in the surf industry.
An Eddie Akau Trophy, movie size poster of Wayne’s
World and signed autograph from the actress Tia
Carrea, Surfboard by Ned of Home Blown Bio Foam,
authentic art from the movie Lilo & Stitch,
Primo Beer Beach Cruiser with Surf Rack, Patagonia
Wetsuits, Photography from Jeff Devine, other
support from Sticky Bumps, Girl In The Curl, Tom
Servais, Wade Koniakowsky, Forever Stoked, Nixon
Watches and much more.
Towards the end of her life, Rell was approved
by many to create a life size bronze statue of
her riding the waves in hope to inspire others
by her giving spirit. The vision of her in the
famous toes-on-the-nose stance on her surfboard,
with a Hawaiian sea turtle swimming underneath
the wave was then designed by Lynn Liverton. The
statue is to be place in her beloved home of Hawaii
If you would like to help or seek more information
please free to visit the website at www.rellsunn.com
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Keiko Beatie
Cinema Paradisio
Events * Curation * Programming* Film
34401 Camino El Molino
Capistrano Beach, Ca 92624
949-395-0879
Keikobeatie@hotmail.com
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