Eli Olson Scores ‘Chocolate Barrels’ Amid Historic Hawaii Flooding (Video)

Hawaii is hurting right now, and particularly the North Shore of Oahu.

Back-to-back Kona low storms have battered the islands, and the scenes have been horrendous. Cars underwater, dams breaking, homes flying off their foundations, knee-deep mud inundating entire towns. And the cleanup efforts are still underway.

But amidst the chaos, and the long road to repair for some Hawaii communities, there were still some opportunities for waves on the hallowed “Seven Mile Miracle.” But it wasn’t the dreamy, electric blue tubes that we’re used to seeing; instead, as North Shore native Eli Olson shows below, it was more like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

“That was actually super fun,” Olson says after a muddy session at Backdoor. “I think every wave had a little barrel. The crowd was super empty. Everyone was gone. Koa [Rothman], John [John Florence], Nate [Florence]…all my friends are traveling. So, it was just me and a few other guys, trading barrels…chocolate barrels.”

It’s a stark change from the normal scenes on the North Shore, which it can’t be stressed enough, is undergoing some serious hardships right now due to the historic downpours and flooding. But despite the difficult situation, Olson still finds a few diamonds in the rough, a few tubes amidst the turbulence.

And many within the surf community are struggling, while also putting their boots on the ground and helping with the relief efforts. As our colleague, Chris Dodds, reported:

“In the wake of the storms, the spirit of aloha has taken the form of shovels, first aid, and volunteer muscle. While relief agencies are working tirelessly to distribute essentials, the surfing family is also looking inward to take care of its own. We have selected a few verified fundraisers from the heart of our community that need your immediate support.”

See how to support the Hawaii community following the floods here.