AccesSurf Marks 20 Years of Adaptive Ocean Recreation
The Honolulu-area nonprofit celebrated its anniversary at White Plains Beach as it launches a $200,000 fundraising drive.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Surfing
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AccesSurf, a local nonprofit that makes ocean activities accessible to people with disabilities, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a Day at the Beach event at White Plains Beach in Kalaeloa on Saturday. The organization also launched its "20 for 20" campaign, which aims to raise $200,000.
Why it matters
The milestone highlights the role of adaptive recreation programs in expanding access to ocean activities for people with disabilities in Honolulu and across Hawaii. The fundraiser is meant to sustain programming that the organization says has already provided tens of thousands of ocean experiences.
AccesSurf has hosted more than 1,000 events since 2006, and its "20 for 20" campaign seeks $200,000 to fund 20 free Day at the Beach programs. The totals are organizational figures, and the amount raised so far has not been reported.
The players
AccesSurf
AccesSurf is a Hawaii-based nonprofit that provides adaptive ocean recreation programs for people with disabilities.
The details
AccesSurf celebrated its anniversary with a Day at the Beach event at White Plains Beach in Kalaeloa, where it also launched its "20 for 20" fundraiser. The organization provides specialized equipment and adaptive recreation programs for people with disabilities, and the campaign runs through Dec. 6.
Timeline
2006: AccesSurf was founded and began hosting events.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026: AccesSurf celebrated 20 years with a Day at the Beach event.
Dec. 6, 2026: The "20 for 20" fundraising campaign ends.
Season Trajectory
AccesSurf's two decades of work place it among Hawaii's established adaptive surfing programs, which have expanded access to the ocean beyond able-bodied participants. The "20 for 20" drive extends that effort into its third decade with a fixed fundraising target.
The campaign's funding will support 20 free Day at the Beach programs, which give people with disabilities a chance to take part in ocean activities at no cost. Readers who want to contribute can do so through the organization's donation page.
The takeaway
Sustained funding determines how many people with disabilities can access the ocean through adaptive programs. The "20 for 20" campaign shows how a local nonprofit plans to fund that access over the next stage of its work.
What happens next
The "20 for 20" fundraising campaign ends Dec. 6, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the sport itself, see Surfing coverage.
More information
Learn more and donate through the AccesSurf donation and information website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hawaiinewsnow.
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