Kelia Moniz: The Queen of Aloha

There’s a certain magic in watching Kelia Moniz glide across a wave. It’s not just the way she floats on the nose of her board, toes curling over the edge like she’s flying over the water. It’s the ease of it all—the kind of grace that feels effortless but comes from a lifetime of being a wave rider. Born into the heart of Hawaiian surf royalty, Kelia’s story isn’t one of chasing the ocean; it’s about being born to it, raised by it, and giving it back tenfold.

Photo by @roxy

Honolulu Pawn Shop

Kelia hit the scene on February 5, 1993, in Honolulu, a daughter of Oahu’s South Shore and the Moniz family—a crew so intertwined with surfing you’d swear they were born in the water. Her dad, Tony Moniz, is a big-wave legend, a fixture at the Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Invitational, and the man behind Faith Surf School. Her mom, Tammy, held it all together, homeschooling Kelia and her four brothers—Micah, Isaiah, Josh, and Seth—under a tent on Waikiki Beach while the family built a life around the tides. Surfing wasn’t a choice for Kelia; it was the air she breathed, the rhythm of her childhood. She got her first board at 10, but she’d been riding waves since she could stand. Kelia is a goofy-footer with a smile that could light up the lineup.

Growing up with four brothers toughened her up, but it also gave her a front-row seat to the art of shredding. The Moniz clan isn’t just a family—they’re a force, each sibling carving their own path through the surf world. Kelia, though, found her groove on the longboard, a canvas for her soulful style. She’s got that rare knack for making every ride look like a dance with the wave—fluid and playful. By 13, she caught the eye of Roxy, who saw her potential not just as a rider but also as a brand ambassador for the heart of surfing. She started on a shortboard, ripping alongside her brothers, but it was the longboard that called her home. At 16, she rejoined Roxy as their golden girl, and the rest is history.

In 2012, at just 19, Kelia snagged her first ASP Women’s World Longboard Championship in China, outmaneuvering Chelsea Williams with a cool-headed finesse that belied her age. She doubled down in 2013, claiming the title again and cementing her status as the “Queen of Waikiki.” But don’t let the crowns fool you—Kelia’s never been one to chase the spotlight. “I like to compete,” she once told Surfer Magazine, “but it’s not something I chase. I just want to enjoy surfing for what it is.” That’s the Moniz way: surf first, ego second.

Her life’s been a balance between Hawaii and the world—New York, Hermosa Beach, the Mentawais—always with a board under her arm and a crew of friends in tow. She’s known as “Sister” to the South Shore locals, a nickname that stuck because she’s the heart of every session, the one who brings the aloha wherever she goes. In 2020, seven months pregnant, she was still out there, paddling on her knees with a bigger board, riding better than ever. “It’s motivating to know what your body’s capable of,” she said.

Now, at 32, Kelia’s more than a surfer—she’s a creator, a mother, and a business owner. Her latest gig, Honolulu Pawn Shop, is a love letter to Hawaiian roots and her husband Joe Termini’s New York edge, blending her designs with his photography in a space that feels like an extension of her living room. It’s not just a store; it’s a vibe, a place where community and creativity crash together like a perfect set. She’s still hitting the WSL Longboard Tour when the mood strikes—Noosa, Spain, New York—but her focus these days is on maximizing time with her kids, her surf crew, and the waves that raised her.

In a world obsessed with high-performance vertical snaps and air reverses, Kelia is a reminder of what surfing can be: soulful, timeless, and drenched in aloha. So next time you’re paddling out, channel a little Kelia—smile wide, hang ten, and let your surfing do the talking.

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