Page 42 of Try Easy

“Why?”

“Someday contests are going to ruin surfing for everyone.”

“How do you mean?” Lou asked.

“Hawaiians have a rich tradition of surfing competitions,” Keoni said. “Chiefs would compete against each other, and the people would gamble on who would win. Warriors would settle a fight before it began by having a contest.”

“So what’s the problem?” Lou asked.

“It’s hard to explain,” he said.

“Try.”

Keoni sighed.

“Hawaiians have had everything stolen from us,” Keoni said. “Our land, our culture, our language.” He ticked off everything his people had been robbed of, his voice rising with each item. “But no one can take surfing,” he said.

Lou’s eyebrows drew together. She didn’t understand. “Surfing contests celebrate the sport,” she said.

“Yeah,” Keoni agreed. “That’s the tricky part. They do,” he said. “But what if I go up to Sunset on Saturday, and I want to surf?” he asked. “I can’t because the beach is closed for the contest.”

“Ahh.”

“You see?”

“Yes.”

“The more popular surfing gets, the bigger the chance we have of it being stolen,” Keoni said.

Lou pursed her lips, thinking. “You think you can do something about it?” she asked.

Keoni shrugged. “I’m going to try.”

“How?”

“That’s the problem,” he admitted, feeling frustrated. “I don’t really know how.”

Lou smiled. “You’ll think of something.”

“How’d you figure that?”

“Because you’re smart.”

“Hah!” Keoni laughed. “I didn’t even graduate high school.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Lou said. “You’re smart where it counts. Not in the classroom, but out here.” She gestured around them. “The people love you, Keoni. They will listen to you.”

“You think so?” he asked.

“I know so,” Lou answered. “This whole week, everywhere we go, people call your name, treat you like a celebrity.” She changed her voice, making it high-pitched as she imitated. “Keoni! Keoni!” Laughing, she said, “You’re the most popular person on the island.”

“Nah,” he said.

“It’s true,” Lou said. “I’m honored to be in your presence.”

“Is that what you want with your pictures?” he asked quietly. “For people to know your name?”

“No. I want people to see something that they’ve never seen before. I want them to look at something they’ve seen a million times and think it’s new.”

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