Despite the tragic effect the crashing economy has had on philanthropy, a glimmer of hope remains in the surfing world. For more than two-and-a-half decades, China Uemura has sought to give back to his native Honolulu through his annual longboard classic surf contest in Waikiki. Over the course of the event’s life, China has raised more than 200,000 for local charities. And despite seeing a dip in the amount of entries for this year’s event, China still managed to cut a check to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
“Since I started this event 26 years ago, I’ve been trying to give back to the community. When I was a pro, I was given a lot by a lot of people. And now I’m trying to give back,” says Uemura. “Over the years, I’ve given to a lot of different charities … Details