Opening night of the annual Hawaii Ocean Film Festival will be a tribute to both the people of the Gulf Coast and ocean volunteers in Hawaii. Generally, the festival receives independent films about marine resources, ocean recreation and our cultural connections to the sea from e...xotic, isolated, or coastal and island nations.

In the 10+ years the event has been in existance, they have never received a short film from the Gulf of Mexico or the Southern U.S. But this year, around Valentines Day, filmmaker Robbie Fisher, from Mississippi submitted the short documentary "Gulf Islands," about the The Gulf Islands National Seashore Park, the barrier islands which stretch 160 miles from Cat Island Mississippi to Okaloosa Florida.

Surf Into Yoga with former WCT pro-surfer Rochelle Ballard is an instructional Yoga DVD, that encourages a growing consciousness of mind, body, spirit, and the footprints we leave on this planet.

With the experience of her brother, Hatha Yoga Instructor, Hoku Gordines and Co-producer, Pro Snowboarder Chanelle Sladics, the film takes the veiwer through five different yoga sequences, from Hip and Shoulder Opener's, to Sun Salutation Vinyasasa's. All captivated by artistic cinematography that embodies the beauty and essence of Hawaii. Music in the DVD includes tracks by Jack Johnson, John Swift, Donavon Frankentreiter, and Kai Walsh.

Russell Winter is the new Saltrock Open Champion. The final took place in clean, 3 ft sets in a sun soaked Croyde and brought to an end a hard fought and very well supported competition.

Russell, who is originally from London but now calls Newquay home has been the English, British and European surfing champion and is generally regarded as Britain’s most successful surfer. He is a regular on the UKPST and was the first European surfer to qualify for the WCT tour where he famously once beat Kelly Slater in a heat at Sunset Beach in Hawaii.

Russell Winter is the new Saltrock Open Champion. The final took place in clean, 3 ft sets in a sun soaked Croyde and brought to an end a hard fought and very well supported competition.

Russell, who is originally from London but now calls Newquay home has been the English, British and European surfing champion and is generally regarded as Britain’s most successful surfer. He is a regular on the UKPST and was the first European surfer to qualify for the WCT tour where he famously once beat Kelly Slater in a heat at Sunset Beach in Hawaii.

Russell Winter is the new Saltrock Open Champion. The final took place in clean, 3 ft sets in a sun soaked Croyde and brought to an end a hard fought and very well supported competition.

Russell, who is originally from London but now calls Newquay home has been the English, British and European surfing champion and is generally regarded as Britain’s most successful surfer. He is a regular on the UKPST and was the first European surfer to qualify for the WCT tour where he famously once beat Kelly Slater in a heat at Sunset Beach in Hawaii.

Hawaiian House Democrats have killed the identification of surfing reserves in the State, after the measure was approved unanimously, minutes before, by the State Senate.

The proposal had been designed by Fred Hemmings, a Republican surfing passionate, who was retiring from politics.

Hemmings was just trying to show the world the cultural and historical value of surfing in Hawaii, but Democrats felt like it was time for the traditional political fights.

Hawaii's 2010 state champions of surfing have been decided, following the three-day Hard Rock Cafe Skull Candy State Championships at Ala Moana Bowls, presented by the Hawaii Surfing Association (HSA). The state championships are the culmination of the regional Hard Rock Cafe Surf Series and determine Hawaii's team that will compete in the US National Championships in California next month.

The HSA has been delivering champions for over 40 years, including some of the most famous names in surfing: Derek and Michael Ho, Eddie and Clyde Aikau, Gerry Lopez, Tony Moniz, Andy and Bruce Irons, and the list still grows today.

"BoardHeads" will make it's premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival, Sunday, April 25, at 1:30pm.

"BoardHeads" is a feature length documentary on the fascinating cultures of BoardRiders around the world, and how we're all connected. Not only Surfers, but SkateBoarders, SnowBoarders, WindSurfers, WakeBoarders and KiteSurfers…anyone riding ANY board on every conceivable surface is a BoardHead! We all share the stoke of boardriding and that's what makes us a Global Tribe. Even bodyboarders, sandboarders, skimboarders, skysurfers and gamers are part of the clan.

"BoardHeads" features real world shredders and action sports superstars including Kelly Slater, Greg Noll, Tony Hawk, Shaun White, Robby Naish, Kevin Langeree and Shaun Tomson. Its been filmed in DV and Hi-Def over the last six years at hot spots around the world: Hawaii, Aruba, California, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, New Zealand, Italy, France, Switzerland, Dominican Republic, Bonaire and many more awesome locations thanks to the help of a global team of shooters.

As the countdown continues to the April 23rd climax of the Tenth Annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy, additional nominees have been announced in the wipeout and best all-around performance categories.

Always a crowd favorite, the 2010 Verizon Wireless Wipeout of the Year contenders are a terrifying product of the awesome hydraulic power to be found offshore of Hawaii, California and the Australian island state of Tasmania. South Africa’s Grant Baker (despite being nominated in most other categories) proved that no surfer is perfect, earning a wipeout nod for a high-speed face-plant at Maui’s notorious Jaws break -- followed by a 50-foot journey over the falls, his body encased in the lip of the heaving wave.

The finalists for the 2010 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy were announced today in the wake of one of the greatest years in surfing history. Following 12 months of enormous swell events from South Africa to Hawaii to Australia to California to Mexico to Tahiti and beyond, over 1000 entered images have been distilled down to this year's elite nominations. Video and still images of all the top rides are now available for viewing on the updated event website at BillabongXXL.com.

The winners will be announced on Friday, April 23, 2010 at the tenth-annual invitation-only awards gala at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California in front of 2,250 surf world VIPs. The entire night's festivities will be webcast live on the event website and will also be the focus of a one-hour television special airing on the ESPN networks starting on the evening of May 18.