Surf legend’s redemption wave
Kala Alexander awaits visa decision to star in NZ surf spectacular
A HAWAIIAN surfing legendturned Hollywood movie actor who got his life back on track after being jailed for assault has been invited as a star contestant in a New Zealand surf spectacular contest.
But Kala Alexander is awaiting the result of an application he filed for a visa to travel here, says Surfing New Zealand, which is holding the Ultimate Waterman competition next month.
Immigration rules say a person ‘‘convicted and sentenced to five years or more’’ in prison will not be granted a visa to enter New Zealand.
Alexander, 45, said he served three years for the 1992 assault, in which he said he bashed a man who ran over his dog.
‘‘I only did three years. It was not the mandatory five, that was the top, the limit I could have gotten,’’ Alexander told Sunday News from Hawaii earlier this month. ‘‘I am now a law-abiding man, a family man, a pillar of my community.’’
Photo by Kelly Cestari/ASP via Getty Images
Surfing NZ says it has been told by Immigration New Zealand no decision is likely on Alexander’s visa application for at least a week.
Alexander, whose father was a native Hawaiian, was keen to come to New Zealand.
‘‘I have Polynesian brothers down there with similar language, similar beliefs and culture and that is something I really appreciate.’’
Alexander wanted to do ‘‘anything I can do to help the youth, the Maori people. If I can teach anyone from my own experiences I will’’.
His assault conviction had, he said, happened at a bad time. His mother, who had raised him, had been severely injured in a hurricane and was dying and his wife was pregnant with the first of their five children.
‘‘I was emotionally spent and stressed out and made a bad decision,’’ Alexander said. ‘‘I learned how important it is to stay in control and not just react with anger to every situation. If you are sad, be sad and don’t take it out in anger.’’
Alexander, who had a hardman reputation as a member of the Wolfpak group which dictated surfing code on Hawaii’s North Shore in the 1990s, now takes cystic fibrosis children out surfing.
The charity of which he is president had been involved with helping 1300 children.
He has also featured in a number of big-budget hit movies and TV shows, including Blue Crush and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and the recent remake series of ‘‘ Hawaii Five-O’’.
Alexander has not been to New Zealand before, but said he had been deeply affected when he saw Kiwi movie Once Were Warriors.
The movie ‘‘broke my heart’’, he said. ‘‘I grew up around that kind of stuff. I have seen all of that, but you have got to stop the cycle. The kids are just neglected.
‘‘I know it is just a movie but that household exists all of the world where parents are abusing drugs and alcohol.’’
Alexander said he did not drink or go out partying. ‘‘I fish and surf and I work my ass out to look after my kids. I know how good life is; I know how important it is to be a good role model.’’
‘‘All I want to do is come down there [New Zealand] and promote health and well being,’’ he said.
Alexander said though he was fit and competitive, he knew the Ultimate Waterman would be tough for him.
‘‘I am old enough to be the father of most of them,’’ he said.
The inaugural Ultimate Waterman, based in Auckland but with events throughout the country, will see eight international athletes compete against each other in surfing, waka paddling and stand-up paddle boarding.
The event has been given $400,000 by Auckland Council and $300,000 by the Government’s Major Events Development Fund. Surfing NZ says the event would get major international TV and online coverage that would attract up to 50 million viewers.