Kai Lenny Explained

Kai Lenny (born October 8, 1992) is an American professional big wave surfer, stand-up paddle (SUP) surfer and racer, surfer, tow-in surfer, windsurfer, kitesurfer, wing foiler and celebrity watersports enthusiast. Lenny lives on Maui.

Career

Lenny achieved recognition in 2012 with first place at the Hawaii Island Finals SUP pro, and first place at the Sunset Beach SUP pro.^[2]

Kai Lenny claimed the SUP racing world champion title when he won the seasons finals of the first Standup World Series championship races held at Turtle Bay Resort, O'ahu, Hawaii on 13–14 September 2012.^[3]

In February 2020 Lenny won the Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge, at Praia do Norte, in Portugal. The contest ran in massive waves and included the participation of the best big wave riders in the world.^[4]

He is also known for big beach clean-ups in Hawaii.

Kai is a Red Bull athlete.^[5]

Positively Kai Foundation

In May 2021, Lenny established the nonprofit Positively Kai Foundation of Puunene, Maui.^[6] Following the August 2023 Maui wildfires, the Positively Kai Foundation announced "All donations go to the families affected by the Lahaina and Kula Fires."^[7] The Positively Kai Foundation website added that the Fidelity National Title & Escrow of Hawaii provided a matching funds drive in August 2024.^[7] In 2023, $25,000 was donated by the Tulsi Gabbard associated nonprofit We Must Protect, which was established in the state of Hawaii in January 2021, to the Positively Kai Foundation.^[6] Lenny appeared in Tulsi Gabbard's video of her 2023 visit to Maui after the fires.^{[6] [8] [9] [10]}

Personal life

Lenny is married to Maui-based interior designer Molly Payne. The couple recently announced the gender of their expected twins with Lenny surfing a wave with a pink flare.^[11]

Notes and References

1. Carberry. Joe. Water Walker. Outside. June 2014. 26.
2. http://www.oxboworld.com/rider/kai-lenny Kai Lenny
3. http://standupjournal.com/team-naish-rocks-the-sup-racing-world/ Team Naish rocks the SUP Racing World
4. Web site: Champions crowned at the 2020 Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge.
5. Web site: Kai Lenny . 2022-09-21 . Red Bull . en.
6. News: Blair . Chad . Has Tulsi Gabbard Bid Hawaii A Last Aloha? The former elected official representing the islands has rarely been seen here lately as she goes all in for Donald Trump. . . December 4, 2024 . December 4, 2024 . https://archive.is/vzMtX . December 4, 2024.
7. Web site: MAUI FIRE FUND . Positively Kai Foundation (positivelykaifoundation.org) . 2024 . December 4, 2024 . https://archive.is/AA4NB . December 4, 2024.
8. News: Impact on community from Maui wildfire 'hard to conceive of': Tulsi Gabbard: Former Hawaii Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard discusses the wildfires in Maui, the impact to the community, and the rescue and recovery efforts. . . August 12, 2023 . December 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241204200557/https://www.foxnews.com/video/6333251918112 . December 4, 2024.
9. News: Gabbard . Tulsi . Tulsi Gabbard . After the Maui fires: When I went to West Maui four days after the fire, many people told me, 'You’re the first person who has anything to do with the government who has shown up' . . October 20, 2023 . December 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241204201111/https://thespectator.com/topic/after-maui-fires-lahaina-tulsi-gabbard/ . December 4, 2024.
10. News: Poonia . Gitanjali . Criticism over Biden’s response to wildfires follows him to Maui: It’s important for a president to show empathy and strength during such times . . August 22, 2023 . December 4, 2024 . https://archive.is/wS3x3 . December 4, 2024.
11. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/05/30/kai-lenny-surfs-the-unsurfable Kai Lenny Surfs the Unsurfable