Surf Royalty Reno Abellira Missing from Beach Campsite

Soon after posting the notice, and the photo of Reno’s living quarters, pro surfer Nathan Fletcher chimed in that, “He’s by Foodland the last few days!!” So, as of now, looks like Reno has just been on the move. Still, the surf community is showing their support, and looking out for their own.

From the beginning, Abellira had a meteoric and meaningful impact on the world of surfing. Per Matt Warshaw’s Encyclopedia of Surfing:

“Stylish, enigmatic regularfooter from Honolulu, Hawaii; world-ranked #4 in 1977, and a central figure throughout the first decade of shortboard surfing. Abellira was born (1950) and raised in Honolulu, the son of a middleweight boxer who was shot and killed in a Chinatown pool hall. Abellira began surfing at age four in Waikiki, but didn't get his first board until 11. He won the juniors division of the Makaha International in 1966 and 1967, and earned $200 for winning the 1966 Hawaiian Noseriding Contest, the state's first professional surfing event.”

Abellira went on to win many more professional competitions, throughout the seventies, and made his mark as a surfboard shaper as well. Later, however, he fell on hard times.

Warshaw added:

“While Abellira was for the most part removed from the surf scene beginning in the early '80s, over the decades he has occasionally produced thoughtful and eloquent articles for the American surf press. Abellira made headlines himself in 1993 when he disappeared for several months after being indicted on cocaine distribution charges; he was later convicted and spent several months in prison.”

Keep an eye out for Reno; best wishes to this legend.