Two weeks before Halloween, the U.S. stock market crashed 503 points, the earth's shadow covered the moon, smoke filled the air, and the fields were aglow with cane fires. On October 22, rain fell on the cane fires, the air thickened with the pungent smell of humid molasses and gave warning that something heavy was about to happen.

The next day, a double rainbow focused on Hookipa Beach, Maui. The air cleared, the swell increased to ten feet and the wind gusted to thirty knots. It was registration day for the Aloha Classic and the best surfsailors in the world were here. The way to register was to sign your name on the twenty-foot faces of Hookipa..