Imaikalani DeVault Is Humble And Hungry

Maui produces a lot of world-class surfers. Men and women who have no problem lounging in the foam ball at Jaws, taking to the skies, or doing whatever voodoo magic Clay Marzo does. 

Despite having the most extreme avenues of surfing covered, not many Maui surfers have found themselves in a Championship Tour jersey. Imaikalani Devault is looking to change that.

With a healthy combination of on-rail power and aerial wizardry, all tied up with a seamless style (“I don’t know how he learned to surf like that around here,” says Albee Layer.), Imai recently placed 11th on the WSL Challenger series and became the first surfer to represent the Valley Isle on tour since Dusty Payne in 2016. 

Imai is the subject of Vans’ latest episode of Door to Door, a weekly series hosted by Nathan Florence highlighting Hawaiian talent during the Vans Digital Triple Crown of surfing. Here, Imai reflects on what it means to represent Maui, his relationship with the North Shore, and how he balances his mellow demeanor with his desire to spar with the world’s elite. 

If you want to know more about the stylishly powerful 24-year-old, check out his conversation with Nathan Fletcher in the second episode of Stab’s weekly show, The Pick-Up.