Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

2018 Aloha Classic: Spotlight on Love the Sea

by International Windsurfing Tour 2 Nov 2018 11:20 UTC 28 October - 10 November 2018
Love the Sea © IWT

2018 Aloha Classic nonprofit benefactor, Love the Sea, aims to eradicate plastic pollution and marine debris in the world's oceans.

In this interview, cofounders Campbell Farrell and Matt Lane discuss their organization's mission and initiatives, as well as their own love of windsurfing!

How did Love the Sea come to be?

Love the Sea was formed to raise awareness of plastic pollution in the ocean. The nonprofit was created by concerned ocean enthusiasts, environmental activists, and people in the music industry. Our organization is supported by people who are dedicated to combating the irresponsible use of plastic on a global level. Love the Sea is especially dedicated to protecting the ocean environment and all wildlife affected by plastic pollution here in Hawaii.

What is Love the Sea really all about? What is your mission?

Love the Sea's mission is to inspire and unite plastic-free initiatives by showcasing positive, solution-based efforts that will increase education and action. Our motto is, "Fix'n it Local, take'n it Global." Love the Sea supports a global network of ocean stewards, all working towards the eradication of plastic pollution and marine debris in the world's oceans. We aim to achieve our goals through effective direct action, innovative educational outreach, and strategic policy-making campaigns.

Last year, Love the Sea produced the Ocean Aid Hawaii music festival on Oahu. The event was free to the public and was designed to raise awareness of the many nonprofit groups who are champions of the cause. The event was broadcast live across Hawaii in a partnership with Hawaii News Now. We are planning another Ocean Aid Hawaii event for 2019. Exciting details will be announced SOON!

Currently, Love the Sea is helping fund and manage a five-month sailing voyage called "Eat Less Plastic." ELP has visited seven South Pacific nations in an attempt to document the effects of plastic waste in small island communities. Hollywood celebrities and marine biologists both speak for the cause at local schools as a way to educate and inspire.

Check out this short video to learn more about the “Eat Less Plastic” initiative!

What is your involvement with the IWT/Aloha Classic?

Having windsurfed for over 35 years, windsurfing feels like a part of my life I can never forget. I have lived on Maui for 27 years and witnessed many ocean sports events. The IWT and Aloha Classic have always been a benchmark for competition and a major spectacle for ocean water sports worldwide.

Over the years I have become friends with many of the people involved with the tour. As Executive Director of LTS, I was so excited to be asked if our organization wished to be identified as the official nonprofit benefactor of the 2018 Aloha Classic. I am excited that our efforts to help protect the ocean and environment from plastic waste are being noticed, and I am very grateful for the exposure this will bring to the issue as well as to our organization. — Campbell Farrell

What excites you about this year's competition at Ho'okipa?

Of course I am excited to see the level of competition that always seems to improve year after year, especially from the younger generation. I am also excited that, by naming Love the Sea as the nonprofit benefactor, the IWT has officially recognized efforts to combat the issues of single-use plastic, especially by our coalition partners: Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Surfrider Foundation, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, and Sea Cleaners NZ.

Seventeen students from Hawai’I set out to answer one question: How is plastic pollution shaping the future of our ocean?

Related Articles

Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 3
The best female wave sailors in the world showcase their skills on the global stage After the men had taken centre stage for the opening two days of the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup, today was the day for the best female wave sailors in the world to showcase their skills on the global stage. Posted on 8 Jul
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 2
Philip Köster triumphs again in Pozo Izquierdo Köster survives a late scare to earn an eighth Pozo event title, and first 5-star victory since 2022, in even windier conditions than Saturday. Posted on 6 Jul
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 1
Philip Köster edges out Marcilio Browne in one of the closest finals ever Philip Köster edges out Marcilio Browne in one of the closest finals ever as Pozo delivers 50 knot winds and waves. Posted on 6 Jul
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros overall
The Meltemi winds once again set the stage for the final day As the riders gathered at the event site of the 2025 FPT Paros for one last time and the Meltemi winds once again began blowing strong, the stage for the final day of the event was set. Posted on 2 Jul
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros day 3
The return of Super X Day 3 at the FPT Paros 2025 was a slower one - with a lay day with no wind anticipated and a late skippers meeting at 13:00 to assess the conditions, there wasn't much initially filling up the schedule. Posted on 1 Jul
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros day 2
The strong Meltemi blowing all throughout the night, greeted the riders in the morning Day 2 at the Freestyle Pro Tour Paros once again delivered, with the strong Meltemi blowing all throughout the night, greeting the riders at around 30 knots in the morning. Posted on 30 Jun
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros day 1
Kicking off with a nuclear single elim The opening day of the Freestyle Pro Tour (FPT) Paros kicked off exactly as forecasted - nuclear winds from morning till late afternoon, accompanied by nonstop freestyle action. Posted on 30 Jun
Freestyle Pro Tour Sardinia day 4
Caers, Huvermann and Pezetti win in full-power freestyle conditons Day 4 at FPT Sardinia delivered a full dose of high-wind freestyle, with Juniors, Women, and Men's fleets all completing full eliminations under the blasting winds. Posted on 9 Jun
Freestyle Pro Tour Sardinia day 3
Tow-in time in Porto Pollo Day 3 marked the start of the tow-in action at the 2025 Freestyle Pro Tour stop in Porto Pollo, with two qualification rounds splitting the 12 riders into two groups of six, each providing the top 3 riders with a ticket to the finals at sundown. Posted on 7 Jun
Freestyle Pro Tour Sardinia day 1 and 2
Foilstyle, flowstye and tow-in at Porto Pollo Day 1 at the Freestyle Pro Tour (FPT) in Porto Pollo started slow, with the forecast showing light winds - riders completed registration and attended the initial skipper's meeting in the morning. Posted on 7 Jun
Sea Sure 2025Switch One DesignC-Tech 2021 (Spars-QFX Racer) 728x90 BOTTOM