The 808… Action Sports Reality At Its Finest
After watching a re-run of Fuel TV’s “The 808″ again for the first time in months last night, I was left with the same embarrassment and sickening feeling that I had the first time I saw the original episodes that began airing last summer.The 808 sends the wrong message in so many ways. Kala Alexander tries to paint himself as the peace-keeping Sheriff of Pipe, but the reality is that he is a whistle-toting thug dispensing vigilante justice. And the execs at Fuel are knowing accomplices.
How many 16 year olds out there, surfers, skaters, snowboarders, motocrossers, watch this show and think “we need to protect our turf by any means necessary, too.” Makua Rothman, who recently just signed a deal with RVCA, punching out someone for dropping in on him shows a lack of discipline and self control that will likely end up causing him difficulty in the future (i.e. Sunny Garcia). Not only that, but had the submissive body-boarder he was kneeing and punching decided to press assault charges he would simply need to show tape of this assault to any police officer and Rothman would be in a world of trouble.
For Fuel to air this episode and all of the others that include this type of gangster mentality is irresponsible programming and is the same as condoning it. For example, viewers know that the violence on a show like The Sopranos was a scripted drama. We all new they didn’t really kill anybody. The 808 is the worst sort of reality show, because the violence is real.
The scene that included a whacked out Buttons Kaluhiokalani (who also made an appearance on “Dog The Bounty Hunter) at the Turtle Bay restaurant meeting of “Da Hui” hierarchy really left me scratching my head. Bug eyed, whacked out, and unintelligible. How did that sequence end up in the final cut? When you cut out all of the fluff this show did nothing more than glorify drug use, violence, scamming chicks, and drinking.
Fuel likes to portray itself as a hip, clean cut messenger for the world of action sports and, for the most part, they are right on. However, by putting the 808 on air for every 14 year old wanna-be to watch and learn from they are inspiring a whole new generation in the wrong way and teaching them that this is the way you need to carry yourself to make it to the next level.
And what about the other message. The one that says “We own this spot, keep out.” Hawaii has a bad enough rap for localism without this. This message is intentional on Kala’s part, I believe, in an effort to keep his own slice of the pie. So much for the “Aloha Spirit”, I guess.
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Posted by Cameron on Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 in Surfing.
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January 31st, 2008 at 9:20 am
Thug core sells I guess. How awesome was it that Chris Ward punched those girls in Mammoth? Wheee!
February 5th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Whoever writes this blog is a f–king kook. It is so obvious you’re not part of the industry you write about. The fact that you think people want read who you think a company like RVCA should and shouldn’t support is laughable. Your one of those f–cking idiots that writes stuff on the Malakye forum like, “I think Volcom is the coolest, how do I get a job with them,” and then clogs up system for the people that are really in the industry and have a chance at these jobs. I wish there was a way to weed you out.
You have no right to tell people in Hawaii how they should act. You’re one of those typical white people that stick their nose where it does not belong in the islands. Long Live Hawaiian Justice for hoales. I fly my Hawaiian flag upside down. If you don’t know what that means look it up. Stay out of Hawaii, you don’t belong there. If you want to visit and surf, respect the local people or it will be your last time. The show is warning to all you So Cal Wussbags to behave in land that should not be part of your country.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
First of all, you’re in VA, not Hawai’i (IP tracking ;))
Second, the author who wrote this blog post is from Hawai’i… Just thought I’d let you know.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Tureky Demon…. What is a ‘hoale’? or did you mean ‘haole’, as in, ‘you’re so haole you don’t even know you’re haole?’
February 6th, 2008 at 9:34 am
This whole thug mentality taking over in action sports is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. Wake up douche bags… Getting a tattoo on your neck and surfing Huntington does not make you hard. Just because snowboarding clothes are baggy does not make you a gangster.
I know Hawaii has always had a problem with people trying to protect you’re their break, but when you paddle out at Newport and some out of work Mortgage Broker with a tribal arm band starts throwing down when the waves are knee high we have a problem.
February 24th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Kala Alexander is the biggest coward I’ve ever met in my life. He almost ran a 6 1/2 year old girl over with his dirt bike on V-land going at least 70MPH according to numerous witnesses, including myself. I then challenged him to a fight, one on one, man to man in front of dozens of people. He ran away and came back with his little fag gang…see you in court Kala…
May 11th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
See you in court. Ha. Spoken like a true pussy. We both know what really happened.
May 11th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
As far as the critic above writing about “the 808″ you really are clueless aren’t you. Judging by your comments you didn’t listen to one thing we said. We don’t condone violence or drugs, but these things happen. Go back. Watch the show again. Listen to every word and then process the information again. Just so I don’t have to explain everything again go and watch all the shows again and then maybe you’ll understand what is really going on. Sounds to me you’re just a jealous hater with nothing better to do.
May 21st, 2008 at 8:21 am
Well Kala everyone knows the truth about you and your thug friends. I’ve seen you assault people on the North Shore…sucker punching, or “fresh punching” them like the coward you are. You are neither a fighter or a hero, but a petty thug who will get his due rewards.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Kala Alexander has 17 criminal convictions! Any company that sponsors him should be ashamed…
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Get a life Jamil. You think I’m the first and only person in the world who’s made mistakes. I never said I was perfect. You don’t know me or my friends. We do a lot of positive things for our community. I don’t sucker punch people either. I explain this in the show too. Go and watch it again. Thanks for the support. My only priority is feeding my kids, not causing trouble. I don’t start trouble, people with no respect come over and start trouble all the time. And I dont have 17 convictions. I had a tough life with no father and no guidance. I say all this in the show. Don’t be a hater Jamil. I wish you and your family the best
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Leave Kala alone people. Get over yourselves, self righteous idiots.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:27 pm
You are a fucking liar Kala. Do you want me to post your criminal record online so everyone can see what a lying piece of shit you are?!! Covarde filho de uma puta desgracado. I HAVE SEEN YOU SUCKER PUNCH inncoent people you liar….you had a tough life does not give you excuse to hurt innocent people. I have tough life in Brasil also..but I don’t hit sucker punch people…I will post your record so everyone can see what a lying coward and piece of merda you are.
Come to Brasil tough guy and see what kind of here you are. I feel sorry for your children. Too bad they don’t have a real man as father.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Kala I see you have new mugshot on your Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center eCrim Record….must be from your latest arrest…
June 4th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Oh poor Kala…just misunderstood and being beaten up by people on the internet…go cry like the baby you are. Better yet come to Brasil and fight Vale Tudo just like Monster Resende challenged Kala to Vale Tudo fight but poor baby Kala was too scared.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Jamil, I think you made your point. We do our best not to moderate comments here on the site, but in your case we may need to make an exception if you keep it up.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
monster is a friend. He never challenged me. I challenge you. Shut your big mouth already. Where are you so I can come see you? I have many Brazilian friends, but you give them a bad name. Say this to my face. If not shut your mouth.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
jamil I hope to meet you one day you pussy. In Brazil they would kill you for some disrespects. In Hawaii maybe you get your head slapped. Nobody dies. You have no life you pussetta. You have nothing better to do. You guys are just jealous haters. I think violence is very wrong. I say so in the show. I wanna thank all of you for watching the show.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
ok guys, now you’ve both made your points… thanks.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:23 am
OK,IVE HEARD ENOUGH!!!! SO WHAT IF U HAVE A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND,I HAD ONE 19YRS.AGO…ARE U GONNA JUDGE ME??? LIFE MOVES TOO FAST,GET ONE!!!! A NICE WORD OF ADVICE….WHO ARE U TO JUDGE THE LIFE THEY LIVE??? WE KNOW WE’RE NOT PERFECT AND DON’T LIVE TO BE,BUT BEFORE U START POINTING FINGERS MAKE SURE YOUR HANDS ARE CLEAN,LEAVE KALA ALONE,ITS NOT OUR FAULT U CAN’T BE HIM……
June 28th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
wow all this internet warfare! hey the kauai boys came over and picked it up where the old school oahu guys left off, plain and simple, if no one sets the rules, its a free for all, and us people who grew up surfing here sometimes get the short end of the stick, if you dont like it, dont surf pipe, you will see there are tough fuckers at almost all the spots here. the wolfpak isnt setting a bad example, thats the way surfing is these days, from hawaii to south africa there are people protecting the spots, you cant blame the wolfpak! the show is reality, thats what people want right? reality tv? you want it? eat it. I hope you choke. stop hating.
July 15th, 2008 at 10:16 am
A lot more could have definitely been done to give coverage to the positives that da wolfpak brings to Hawaii. Haven’t they been instrumental in beach clean-ups and fundraisers on top of just regulating the North Shore?
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Tureky Demon comes off even more stupid than kala in this thread lol. Hawaiian pride brah, lol pshhh, get real. Last time i checked you guys were part of the United States of America so dont talk to anyone from a different state like your superior to us or something cause your defenenately not. Its probably only a matter of time anyway before we all see you two on dog the bounty hunter as some of the fugitives they are chasing down because there addicted to ice or have committed some other crime. The 808 Brahs pretty much have no respect from the other snow/skate community, all of us pretty much just think your a joke. And for kala, u said everyone has made mistakes and that is so true, but most of us learn from them and dont make any more after number 1 or 2. but 17? lol ouch, your just plain stupid arent you “brah” lol. oh yeah and wolf pack clothing? hahaha, dont even get me started
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