Maui, Hawaii, April 22, 2010. Over 130 wahines showed up on Saturday, April 17th for the 4th Annual Maui Butterfly Effect, also raising $1000 to benefit Women Helping Women.
A worldwide water woman movement promoting women and ocean sports, The Butterfly Effect brings women together in a non-competitive gathering celebrating community and love of the ocean while instilling confidence in women of all ages and skill sets.
Novices and professionals alike joined together in support of each other, as the butterflies braved high surf advisories to windsurf, kite, stand up paddle and kayak along the North Shore of Maui. The group, initially planning to launch from Ho’okipa and land at Kanaha, adjusted launch to Sprecks due to the eight foot waves on the North Shore.
Professional athletes that participated included Ann-Marie Reichman, Annita Blanch, Junko Nagoshn, Talia Gangini, Tiffany Ward, Nayra Alonso, Tonia Farman, Tomoko Okazaki, Resi Stiegler, Tatiana Howard and many more.
The Butterfly Effect began in Hawaii in 2007 by water women, Tatiana Howard and Juliana Shelef. Since then, the founders have flown around the world to organize affiliated events in Brazil, New Zealand, France, Oregon, Germany, Tahiti, Dominican Republic and Australia, and hundreds of international women have joined the movement.
The main featured sports of The Butterfly Effect include, but are not limited to, windsurfing, stand-up paddle and kiting. Other participating sports include wake boarding, surf and kayak. The standard event agenda also includes group sessions, clinics, safety and stretching sessions, food and gear from local sponsors and fundraising for local charities.
The Butterfly Effect will be going on world tour this summer, with events being held in: Italy, Hood River (Oregon), Fiji, Dominican Republic and Brazil.
“Maui, being the home of Aloha, is the perfect base for The Butterfly Effect, an event that celebrates feminine values, camaraderie and self-empowerment rather than judging and competition,” says The Butterfly Effect founder Tatiana Howard. “Although it is an all-women event, I hope that the success and enthusiasm that each event brings will be an inspiration to all.”
Sponsors of The Butterfly Effect Maui 2010 included: LuvSUP, Matiko, Dakine, Café Mambo, Green Banana Café, Wings Hawaii, Olukai, Neil Pryde Maui, Cohen Landscaping, Grace Delivers, Flatbread, Naish, Kaenon, HonBlue and Paia Yoga. The event was documented by: photography by Nate Volk, Batel Shimi, Jimmie Hepp and Dan Rayburn; by helicopter with video and photos, Kevin Pritchard; and video from both land and sea, Jonas Marpot.
betheeffect.com http://mpora.com/videos/b4J0QMLB5
