Black Shorts, also known as Da Hui (which means group or club in Hawaiian), were established around 1976 as a group of local surfers from the north shore of Hawaii, on Oahu. Eddie Rothman, who seems more mythological (one-tenth human and the rest irrational animal) than human, is one of their founders and a main member of this gang.
Black Shorts is nothing more than a gang of local surfers, similar to the "Wolf Pack" also from Hawaii, Kauai, or the "Bra Boys" from Maroubra, Australia.
Initially organized to preserve and defend Hawaiian culture as well as ocean rights, it began as a very romantic and heartwarming ideal, but quickly moved to the more violent side of things. They would beat up foreigners and even beginners, and also sabotage world championships. We actually find this last practice quite amusing.
In 1976, during the second heat of a world surfing championship in Oahu, Eddie Rothman and his Black Shorts gang sabotaged the championship by surfing the contest wave, as if nothing was happening, much to the participants' dismay. They did this as a way to assert the rights of local surfers, as they were not allowed to participate in these events, not to mention the sums of money being amassed from them.
What strikes us most about this Crew is their aesthetic and initial ideals rather than their violent attitude, which unfortunately served as an example for many other locals across the world's coast.
