Slippery When Wet

In San Clemente, CA, surf store owner Dale Velzy receives a photograph from a friend in Hawaii, displaying the impressive waves that characterize the surf around the islands. Dale shows the photo to friend Dell Kennon, who then excitedly contacts surfing buddies Freddy Fowler, Henry Ford and lifeguard Dick Thomas to suggest they pool their meager resources and travel to the island of Hawaii for a surfing vacation. When the friends have their surf boards reconditioned at Velzy's, assistant Kemp Auberg decides to quit his job and join the others on their adventure. The day before departing, the boys test their boards out on the mild coastal location known as "the Trestle." Novice surfer Mooks joins the others but is quickly dissuaded from continuing when he soon cracks the nose of his new surfboard. The friends leave the following day and upon arriving in Hawaii, immediately head off to Waikiki Beach where they join a group of locals surfing with a canoe. The friends go to the far edge of the beach and surf an area known as the "Public Baths" because of the constant foam and warm shower spray caused by the endless waves. That evening the boys sleep on the beach in sleeping bags. The next day the group heads out to Yokahama Beach where the waves break frequently and come as close as seventy-five feet to the beach. The following day the group goes in search of Papakea Beach on the north side of the island, but are startled that the weekend has brought out a score of local surfers. The boys spend some time surfing there, but then return to the quieter Waikiki area. After spending several night on the beach, the boys buy a beat-up used car, rent a run-down house near the beach and buy a large supply of canned beans. Near Waikiki, the group goes to Sandy Beach where they try body surfing or "body whompers," as locals describe the pounding surf. At the famous Makaha Beach, the boys are disappointed to find a flat sea, but as soon as the surf begins to rise, they are able to take to the waves again. On a Waikiki area beach that the boys nickname "Velzyland Beach," fellow tourist surfer Dewy Webber challenges Kemp to a surfing competition, which ends in a draw. Later, the group goes to Sunset Beach where they surf enormous waves. When the ocean remains flat the next day, the boys go to the Waikiki swimming pool and take turns jumping off the high diving tower. The boys then go to the northern part of the island and hike up to Weimea Falls where they spend the day jumping and diving off the eighty-foot high cliffs. After enduring two weeks of flat seas, the ocean begins to rise and the boys return to Papakea Beach where they resume their surfing holiday.