Māmā of the Month: Honolua Blomfield

This November, we're thrilled to feature Honolua Blomfield as our Māmā of the Month! A 3x World Longboard Champion and professional surfer raised on the North Shore of O‘ahu, Honolua recently stepped into a new chapter of life as a mom to her baby boy, Reign. We asked her about her upbringing, motherhood journey, and what it's like to raise a little one while still competing at the highest level.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

"Hi! I'm Honolua Blomfield, a professional surfer & 3x World Longboard Champion. I was born and raised in Hale‘iwa on the North Shore of O‘ahu to two surfer parents. My mom is a flight attendant and dad, a lifeguard! I was pretty much born on a surfboard loving all things ocean-related—surfing, diving, fishing with my 3 siblings. I rode shortboards and longboards as a kid but eventually found a deeper connection with longboarding, and that became my lifelong passion! I also just became a mama this year to my 6-month-old son, Reign."

What values from your own upbringing in Hawai‘i do you hope to pass on to your child?

"I grew up in Hawai‘i surrounded by a strong sense of aloha—showing kindness, respect, and compassion to everyone. I also grew up surfing and playing in the ocean from the time I was born, so the ocean has always been a big part of my life. It taught me patience, respect for nature, and the importance of staying grounded. I hope to pass that same spirit on to my child, like my parents did for me, and their parents did for them. The love for the ocean and our islands, the importance of family (‘ohana), and the values of caring for our community and the land (‘āina). Those are the things that shaped who I am, and I want my child to grow up with that same connection and sense of aloha."

You recently won the Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic—congrats! What did that win mean to you as a new mom?

"It truly meant the world to me. The fact that I am continuing to evolve in my surfing and as a mom is so special. It was my most empowering win ever, giving birth just barely 6 months before. I surfed the tour all year—the first contest was 3 months after having my baby. Although it was fun, I had some hard luck in the first 2 events and couldn't find my groove. Winning in Abu Dhabi really made me realize how much I still LOVE competition and surfing."

After becoming a mother, did anything change about the way you approach competition or training?

"When you become a mother, your baby becomes your first priority. I feel like my approach hasn’t changed much though. I've always had a pretty laid-back mindset, never putting too much pressure on myself or taking it too seriously. The only difference I can think of is not having (as much) time to get out there before the contest. Naturally though, when the horn blows, I’m a fierce competitor, I always wanna win and that sure has not changed! lol"

Any tips for traveling internationally with a little one in tow? What’s been surprisingly helpful or unexpectedly hard?

"Traveling with a newborn! This one's a tough one. I feel like personally we have had so much fun traveling with our baby—his first trip being when he was just 2 months old. After the first 3 trips we decided not to get nervous anymore! Haha… Every stage is so, so different so you definitely just have to roll with the punches. I breastfeed and that has been the biggest blessing while we travel, never having to pack a cooler & bottles or worry about washing/sterilization while on the go is the best.

Another thing is having a few fresh new toys ready for the plane when they're 4+ months. The spinning window toys are amazing. Also, pack triple the amount of diapers and clothes because babies are so unpredictable and you don’t wanna be scrambling if anything happens! :) I put them in little grab bags with a diaper + wipes + outfit so they’re easy to get to when you reach in your carry-on.

The biggest thing I've learned is to have an open mind—it's likely that a few things will not go according to plan and that’s okay! We're all just out here trying our best!"

Mahalo, Honolua, for sharing your story and your wisdom with us! We're rooting for you as you continue your competition journey in El Salvador!

Be sure to follow along her journey here!