A day for The Keiki

Nickens Team Presents: “A Day for the Keiki”

Every morning as I wake up to a cup of coffee, I watch the news. Hoping to update myself on everyday current events. As I watch the newsreel go round and round, I realize the news thrives off reporting the negativity our world deals with everyday. They never have anything good to report. Yet I continue to watch, hoping to get something beneficial out of it. Bush, Iraq, Iran, diplomatic attempts and failures, natural catastrophes, and whatever else makes our head spin. It’s as if the media wants us to maintain a state of depression.

Fortunately I can turn off the TV and look out my window and realize I live in Paradise. Not only that, but I was born and raised in paradise. I wake up every morning feeling more and more blessed that I grew up where I did. Especially after watching how some insurgents ignited a bomb in some cafÈ just to declare their religious standpoint.

Maui is a place of it’s own. I’m not claiming everything’s perfect here, but it sure is heck close to it. One of those reasons is surfing. I was introduced to surfing at a very young age. My father (Steve Nickens) has been surfing since he was a young “grommit”. Growing up near Hookipa Beach Park, it was inevitable that surfing would be in my blood. Not only that but it paid my bills for the last decade. I’ve been able to take the love of the sport turn it into a full time job. For over ten years I have been a professional surfer. I’ve traveled the world looking for perfect waves. Maintaining exposure in all major surf magazines in the US as well as around the world. I was able to live the dream. However, I didn’t come easy. I worked very hard to obtain my achievements.

After turning off the news one morning it dawned on me…not everyone on Maui has lived such a blessed life as myself. I realize that there are kids here on Maui that has little to look forward to. Many come from families that deal with drug and alcohol abuse, physical and verbal abuse, and worst of all limited dreams. Can you imagine growing up on Maui and not appreciating every second of the day?

The news gave me an idea. I know I can’t change the world, but I can change the lives of a small group of kids. I wanted to lighten up their with some good news. With the help of my good friend Xander Putris and work colleague Patrick Kilbride, we got to put a smile on over 30 young boys who were dealt a tough hand in life.

With the help of the Boy Scouts of America, we bussed over 30 kids to the south shore for a day of fun and positive reimbursement. As they boarded the bus in Kahului, every kid was served a catered breakfast. Not one of them knew what to expect. As far as they knew, it was just another Scout trip. As they filed out of the bus, every one of them had a puzzled look.

I introduced myself, along with Xander and Patrick and told them who we were. We also told them what the day entailed. There were still puzzled looks on every face. Our goal was to teach these kids how to surf. And that we did…not one kid didn’t stand up and ride a wave. The puzzled looks began to turn to looks of excitement and joy. Once they started warming up to us, we became buddies.

After getting all of them in the water, we decided to play two-hand touch football. Of course it instantly became tackle football. All the kids took pleasure in pounding us old folk into the sand. It was so awesome to see these kids having a great time. There was a glimmer in their eyes probably not seen often. After football, it was lunchtime. Catered by Flat Bread pizza, everyone enjoyed the feast. The kids were laughing and stuffing their faces, while we sat back and realized it was a job well done.Maui condominiums for sale

To top off a great day of fun, we gathered all the kids and parents around a tent and had a little talk. I really wanted to express how important it is to dream. Without dreams, there are no goals. I told them about my achievements and how hard I worked to obtain them. There are no limitations, only self-doubt. Personal confidence, a drug free lifestyle, and the power of attraction are mainly what I wanted them to understand.

At the end, every one of them walked away with a brand new DA KINE backpack full of goodies (tee’s, reef sandals, wallets, stickers, hats, towels, etc…). They were completely shocked. Most of them have never seen a Christmas with that many gifts. I have never heard the words “thank you” come out so many times in ten minutes. Even the scout leaders got some cools gifts.

After sending the kids back on the bus and cleaning up, we couldn’t help but smile. We pulled it off. These kids had a day they never expected. They realize that people do care about them and that anything is possible. Basically they got to live my life for one day. And that once again made me realize how blessed I am.

I look forward to next year’s kids..Wailea condominiums for sale

Aloha and Mahalo,

Micah Nickens R(S)
Coldwell Banker Island Properties
Shops At Wailea
Cell: 808 250-4763
micahnickens@mac.com
www.nickensmaui.com