AccesSurf

What AccesSurf does

AccesSurf Hawaii Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in November 2006 in Honolulu, Hawaii, that delivers adaptive water sports and ocean-accessibility programs to people with disabilities. Its core product portfolio centers on direct community programming — Day at the Beach, Wounded Warrior Day at the Beach (in partnership with the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation), Adaptive Swim Clinics at the Rehab Hospital of the Pacific, a Canoe Day program at Honolulu Pearl Canoe Club, Maui Day at the Beach with Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy, and Multi-Day Adaptive Surf Camps — operating across Hawaiian beach locations including White Plains Beach, Kalaeloa, and Kualoa Regional Park. The organization also hosts the Hawai'i Adaptive Surfing Championships (HASC), an official Association of Adaptive Surfing Professionals (AASP) World Championship Tour event held at Queens, Waikiki.

AccesSurf's business model is that of a donor- and grant-funded nonprofit: revenue is generated through individual and corporate donations, foundation grants (e.g., a $50,000 grant from The Hartford in June 2023, and Challenged Athletes Foundation grants for female adaptive surfers), premier corporate sponsorships (Kyoya Hotels & Resorts, Southwest Airlines, North Shore Prosthetics & Orthotics, Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, Pasha Hawaii), and organized fundraising events (Visitor Industry Charity Walk, Sunset at Sunhala). Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on volunteer networks, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok), email newsletters, and direct community programming to reach individuals with disabilities, wounded veterans, adaptive athletes, schools, and corporate team-building clients. Supporting infrastructure includes an Online Training Manual platform (accessurf-training.org) for volunteer certification and a public Accessibility Map resource.

The organization operates with 1–10 employees and delivers over 90 program days and 4,000+ life-changing experiences annually. It is governed by its original founders (Mark Marble, Rich Julian, Kate Julian, and Amen Somal) and a board of directors, holds Tax ID #20-4420646, is registered with Aloha United Way (#70640) and the Combined Federal Campaign (#24591), and runs a merchandise e-commerce channel (shop.accessurf.org). AccesSurf's competitive position rests on its 19-year operational track record, its AASP-sanctioned championship status, and its deeply embedded relationships with Hawaiian hotel, transportation, and clinical partners — assets that would be costly and slow for a new entrant to replicate.

Name

AccesSurf

Legal name

AccesSurf Hawaii Inc.

Website

https://accessurf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AccesSurf Hawaii Inc. is a Honolulu-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that delivers adaptive surfing, swimming, canoeing, and wounded-warrior ocean programs to people with disabilities in Hawaii, funded by donations, grants, and premier corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Water Sports Programs

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839), Marinas (71393)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Tours (Guided/Paddling Excursions) (THAJAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Charters & Yacht Experiences (Crewed, Bareboat, Day Charters) (THAJAJAB), Hot Springs, Lagoons & Water-Based Wellness (Thermal Pools, Floating Spas) (THAJAJAN), Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

Keywords

• Adaptive surf programs
• Accessible water sports
• Disability ocean access
• Adaptive swim clinics
• Wounded warrior programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual and corporate donations from supporters of adaptive sports and ocean accessibility
2. Grants: Foundation and corporate grants including The Hartford's $50,000 grant for adaptive sports equipment, Challenged Athletes Foundation grants for female adaptive surfers
3. Fundraising Activities: Organized fundraising events including annual charity walk and other community fundraising initiatives

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AccesSurf is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates adaptive water sports programming for people with disabilities in Hawaii. Core offerings include Day at the Beach programs, Wounded Warrior therapeutic surf experiences, adaptive swim clinics, adaptive outrigger canoe programs, multi-day adaptive surf camps, and the annual Hawai'i Adaptive Surfing Championships (HASC), delivered through trained instructors and adaptive equipment at Hawaiian beach locations.

Product overview

AccesSurf is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing life-changing accessible water programs for people with disabilities in Hawaii. The organization offers a portfolio of programs centered on adaptive water sports including Day at the Beach (core beach accessibility program), Wounded Warrior Day at the Beach, Adaptive Swim Clinic, Canoe Day, Multi-Day Surf Camps, and hosts the annual Hawai'i Adaptive Surfing Championships (HASC) as an AASP World Championship Tour event. Supporting programs include fundraising events like Sunset at Sunhala and the Visitor Industry Charity Walk, plus training resources through their Online Training Manual. The organization serves over 4,000 life-changing experiences annually through more than 90 program days, operating from locations including White Plains Beach, Kalaeloa, and partner sites on Maui and Oahu.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hawai'i Adaptive Surfing Championships (HASC): Annual adaptive surfing competition hosted by AccesSurf, part of the AASP World Championship Tour. Event held in Queens, Waikiki, Hawaii.

Products and services

• Day at the Beach Primary accessible beach program providing water activities for people with disabilities at locations including White Plains Beach, Kalaeloa, and Kualoa Regional Park.
• Wounded Warrior Day at the Beach Specialized program serving active service members, veterans, and first responders with disabilities, including partnership with the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation.
• Adaptive Swim Clinic Program One-on-one coaching and support in a controlled environment at Rehab Hospital of the Pacific for anyone with a disability to develop swimming skills from beginner to advanced levels.
• Canoe Day Program Adaptive outrigger canoe program held at Honolulu Pearl Canoe Club, Sand Island, offering community members with disabilities the opportunity to participate in traditional Hawaiian canoeing.
• Maui Day at the Beach Partner program with Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy providing accessible beach experiences on Maui at Launiupoko Beach Park.
• Hawai'i Adaptive Surfing Championships (HASC) Annual competitive adaptive surfing championship held in Queens, Waikiki (May 5-8, 2026) as an AASP World Championship Tour event, featuring prize money structure and athlete classification system.
• Online Training Manual Digital training resource for volunteers and staff to learn program protocols and safety procedures.
• Sunset at Sunhala

Quantifiable outcome

• 90+ program days annually
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered premier, core and minor.

• Kyoya Hotels & ResortspremierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor providing hotel accommodations and support for AccesSurf programming and events in Hawaii.
• Southwest AirlinespremierGTM or Marketing PartnerTransportation partner providing travel support for AccesSurf programs, athletes, and events as a premier sponsor.
• North Shore Prosthetics & OrthoticspremierStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier sponsor providing specialized prosthetic and orthotic expertise and equipment support for adaptive surf athletes.
• Pasha HawaiipremierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor providing maritime-related support for AccesSurf programs and events in Hawaii.
• Twin Fin WaikikipremierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor and hotel partner providing accommodations and venue support for AccesSurf programming.
• Kahākūkahi Ocean AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for Maui Day at the Beach programming, collaborating on adaptive surf instruction and ocean safety education.
• AASP (Association of Adaptive Surfing Professionals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partnership for the World Championship Tour, hosting and supporting competitive adaptive surfing events and professional athlete development.
• Jimmy Miller Memorial FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for Wounded Warrior program, providing therapeutic adaptive surf experiences for veterans with service-related injuries.
• 'Alohilani Resort Waikiki BeachminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel partner providing accommodations and venue access for AccesSurf programs and corporate retreat clients.
• Twin Fin HotelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel partner providing accommodations for AccesSurf programming participants and event attendees.
• Hyatt Regency WaikikiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel partner providing venue and accommodation support for AccesSurf corporate retreats and events.
• OutriggerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel partner providing accommodations and support for AccesSurf programming in Waikiki.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy: Hawaii-based ocean safety and adaptive aquatics organization partnering with AccesSurf on the Maui Day at the Beach program. Smaller emerging player with overlapping ocean accessibility mission.
• Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation: Adaptive ocean therapy nonprofit serving wounded warriors and individuals with disabilities in Southern California. Direct Wounded Warrior program partner with AccesSurf and operates in overlapping therapeutic surf space.

Direct peers

• Operation Surf: Adaptive surf nonprofit dedicated to helping wounded veterans and service members through surfing. Mirrors AccesSurf's Wounded Warrior Day at the Beach programming and therapeutic-surf mission.
• Life Rolls On: Adaptive surf nonprofit founded after a spinal cord injury surfer's experience; runs adaptive surf events and programs across multiple U.S. coastal markets. Most directly comparable peer to AccesSurf in mission and programming.
• Ocean Healing Group: Adaptive surf nonprofit based in Southern California that combines surf instruction with therapeutic outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Comparable in programming style and mission to AccesSurf.
• Surfers Healing: 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing adaptive surf camps primarily for individuals with autism and other disabilities. Operates day-camp style adaptive surf programs analogous to AccesSurf's Day at the Beach model.
• Adaptive Surf Project: Adaptive surf organization offering lessons, clinics, and community programming for surfers with disabilities. Directly competes with AccesSurf for adaptive surf athlete development and competition pathways.

Broad incumbents

• Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF): Large national 501(c)(3) providing grants and support to adaptive athletes across many sports. An existing AccesSurf funding partner but operates much more broadly with national reach and significantly larger budget.
• Move United: National adaptive sports nonprofit offering resources, advocacy, and program support across many sports. Represents a broader umbrella organization over individual adaptive sports programs like AccesSurf's.
• Special Olympics Hawai'i: Hawaii state affiliate of Special Olympics providing year-round adaptive sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Competes for similar donor and grant dollars in the Hawaii adaptive-sports nonprofit market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQK-mroXnRWImEKqIx1_dWg
• Facebookfacebook.com/AccesSurf
• Instagraminstagram.com/accessurf_hawaii
• TikToktiktok.com/@accessurf_hawaii

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AccesSurf