In this high-stakes playground, Rosie credits legendary surfers for fostering her confidence and love of the ocean—a skill that’s become her livelihood as a surf instructor on the North shore. When she’s not guiding visitors into their first waves at her home break, Rosie is feeding her legitimate addiction to levitating on the tip and scheming her next surf trip. There’s that time she stopped through California on the way to Mexico sans wetsuit, but that didn’t phase her from paddling out at Malibu in her swimsuit when everyone else was shielded in no less than 3mm rubber. Or the countless times she’s rallied with a smile—despite knee-high sloppy shore break—to share the Aloha spirit with out-of-towners. 

Before Rosie headed out to her next weeks-long surf sabbatical in Bali for the Deus 9 Feet & Single Surf Festival, we caught up with her to talk more about the mentors who shaped her identity. 
 
Photos by Luki O'Keefe, Bryce Johnson, and Keoki Saguibo shot in Oahu, Bali and Australia. 

How did you get involved with Buttons’ Surf School and what lessons did you learn from him that stay with you?

I got involved with Buttons Surf School one day when I was surfing. I heard someone behind me say, "Eh girl, like work?" I worked for another surf school at the time and we shared the same reef but hadn't ever thought he needed my help. Working for him changed my life and attitude. Have you ever had a boss ask you if you were happy with the amount they paid you and if you needed more? He was that boss.

I like to think that Buttons is still surfing with me at times, pushing the radicalness or protecting his 9-year-old out in the lineup. Buttons taught me about what it means to be a Hawaiian and a surfer, all fun and love.

Just recently when I was at the Noosa [Festival of Surfing] contest, a Waikiki boy was on a wave and Robbie Paige came walking up and yelled, “How much Buttons does that boy have dripping off him. Holy sh*t, I'm sitting here with the Hawaiians. I got goose bumps all over me!" I could see the instant chill all over his body and I teared inside knowing that Buttons was with us.

I like to live through Buttons’ style and the way he treated everyone with love and kindness. I miss him all the time and am thankful for him coming into my life right before his time and teaching me life lessons.

What was it like going to school in Hawaii? How was surfing part of the culture?

Going to a school being Asian in a Polynesian world was pretty crazy. I would say they roughed and toughened me up. I played soccer, swimming and water polo in high school.

I remember once going surfing after swimming practice at 4-foot Ehukai [Pipeline] and a huge set breaking right in front of me. I took the leash off and bailed my board. The guy next to me tried to duck dive under the wave, his leash got ripped off anyways and he came up with no board. I realized I probably did the right thing by bailing my board and things like this made me feel safer in the ocean knowing what to do at the right time.

Did you realize that Hawaii was a famous surf mecca when you were growing up?

When I realized that all the world’s best surfers came to my home to prove how good they are, I realized I had no reason not to be a skilled water woman being born and raised in some of the world’s most respected surf.

I always have felt lucky to have been born and raised in such a beautiful place with perfect waves in the winter and lake-like snorkeling conditions in the summer. All my friends are water dwellers as well. Growing up surfing with your friends was the best time of our lives. All we did was surf, piled as many people that could fit into the van or truck and headed to Haleiwa. Older sisters surfed outside Haleiwa while babies surfed the white wash on the inside and we all slowly progressed to the outsides and other spots. Playing in 10-foot Waimea shore break as a little girl was just something we did for fun.

They have careers or families now, but they always crave the ocean at some point or another. In old Hawaiian days, everyone's village ran from the mountain towards the ocean, Mauka to Makai. I enjoy going into the mountains too, it can give me the same calm as the ocean. Surfing and the ocean are all I have as an identity, as a water baby, I don't know what life would be without the ocean.

We can't wait to come visit you again on Oahu. Welcome to the family Rosie! 

• Introducing the Karina Signature Suit
• Living Aloha: Sierra Lerback
• Why North Shore Hawaii Local Rosie Jaffurs is Always Stoked
• Rosie Jaffurs' Guide to the friendliest Summer waves in Oahu

“If you had two weeks in Bali I would recommend moving around from spot to spot, spending 2 to 3 nights at each different location, and not staying in one location.”
After her third trip to Bali (spanning Canggu, Bingin, and Uluwatu), Rosie Jaffurs share her favorite places and spaces for fun surf, meeting locals, and crystal clear underwater exploring.

Featuring Rosie Jaffurs and Ashley Johnson. All photos by Bryce Johnson. 

Uluwatu  

If you’ve seen iconic cliffside views of a left point in Bali, chances are you’ve seen Uluwatu. Tourists love Uluwatu and while it’s not the best choice for that off-the-beaten-path feel, the view from the villas and resorts (we stayed at Uluwatu Surf Villas) are spectacular. 

Surfers: paddle out with caution. “There is some of the best surf in the world there. The majority of the times I have paddled out, I’m out in the lineup thinking to myself, ‘I don't surf Pipe. Why am I out here?’ Big left hand barrels with a lot of beginner surfers out there trying to get something as well.

The first time I surfed Uluwatu the swell and tide changed. Right when I got out the surf grew a couple feet. I saw the nicest waves set come in and every person that caught a wave in the set got taken out by someone trying to get under the wave. A perfect six wave set! Perfect surf, but it can just be little crowded and dangerous." 

Eat: Uluwatu Wasabi, a sushi restaurant owned by a local Indonesian.

Gili Trawangan Island 

Anyone looking for the prettiest stretch of empty white sand beach and clear waters to dive and float in, Gili Island is your paradise.

How to get there: By boat. Here is where you want to splurge. “Get a little bit more of a pricey ticket to get on a fast safe legit boat. There’s a lot of stories about boat mishaps in Indo and the safest ones to travel on are the newest ones!”

How to get around: Womanpower and horsepower. “There are no mo-peds or vehicles on this little island, just peddle bikes and horse carriages. It was like going back in time. We did nothing but ride our bikes around.” It takes about 20 minutes to circle around the island.

What to do: “Get something cool to drink like a fresh watermelon juice. Hang out at the beach and just stare out into the sea, completely get away from world. A lot of people go to the island for scuba. The water and fish are just like the picture books that if you get to see in real life, you know you are doing life right!”

Surf: Not on this trip. But one of the best waves in Indo (a below sea level right hand barrel) pops up on this little island when the swell and tide are right.

Banyumala Falls

How to get there: We asked the security at the front of our hotel which one we should go to and they reply, “Oh this one and I can drive you there if you like, perfect! If you find a good driver that enjoys taking you around and showing you their island, Stick with them, ask them where you should go and what to check out.”

What to expect: From Kuta, the drive is about 3 hours into the mountains but the drive itself is getting to experience Bali country and its breath taking. Rice fields on rice fields with coconut trees surrounding it and a big crater volcano in the back! Finally, when you are near the waterfalls you are in the mountains surrounded only by green! It’s a different part of Bali that I would not have experienced had I stayed by the ocean! Not only that, the people you see up in the mountains are almost completely living off the land and just to be around that and see it feels so cool and appreciative for them being able to live like that and makes me reflect back on how reliable I am in my own life.

Kuta

Visitors beware that Kuta is hectic. It has a rowdy nightlife and lots of tourists during the holiday seasons. But the one thing it has going for it is beginner-friendly surf, which is in the eye of the beholder.

“A lot of surfers don't like Kuta because it is the busy city, surf isn't the best but I enjoy Kuta A LOT. I don't ever mind spending a lot of my time here and using it as a home base. The surf is small and sandbar, perfect for my log and then if it gets bigger you can shortboard it and get little barrels.”

Extracurricular activities: “Figuring out what to eat is never a problem because you have a million options. There are also spas galore around there so you can get a nice one hour massage for $7 and then go shopping and buy cute dresses and jumpsuits that back home are $120 you can get for $5.” While you’re at it, learn how to bargain. “Practice by asking how much things are at different places you will get all different prices. Find a fixed price shop to let you know what prices should be around. All the shops pretty much have the same things at different prices.”
 

Rosie's Bali Checklist:  

• Bring a longboard, a shortboard, and your own board straps.

• Rent a mo-ped if you trust yourself.. & USE the HELMET!!

• Tip the people but not too much, don't want prices rising too much!

• Try the Bali authentic foods like fried fish with Sambal. Also try the street food but go make sure it's fresh. Go for the specialty carts. These only serve at certain times of the day and there are Indo locals crowded around them.

• Be careful with eating raw vegetables. Sometimes they are washed in tap water and that’s one way that tourists get sick.

• Travel with charcoal pills! Bali Belly isn't a serious health hazard but if it does happen to you, it can mess the whole trip. There are cheap in Bali and available at any Apotek (Pharmacy).

• Expanding Horizons in Bali
• United by the Sea: Handsome Citizens

“For so long, I felt like Bali was just one of those destinations you had to go to being a surfer and from Hawaii. I had heard so many things about it, that I knew at some point I had to get there,” explained Ashley Johnson.

Rosie Jaffurs added it was her third time going to Bali, and every year is a culture shock to merge onto the chaotic streets and new discoveries. “Every summer a lot of the North shore surf community ends up heading to Indonesia because of the good waves and affordable living. Every time I have gone there it's been for a month, the longest I am ever away from home. Arriving in Bali it is kind of shocking, the smells, the scooters, the lifestyle. It is very different from home. Fast paced living, hustling and late nights,” Rosie said.

We talked more with Ashley and Rosie about their most memorable moments traveling together, and what the hype is all about.

All photos by Bryce Johnson.

Traveling has a way of opening our minds and changing us. What did you learn about yourself on this trip to Bali?

Rosie: Exploring new places and to just GO are the biggest things I learned about this trip. You can't just stay in your comfort zone, you have to pull the trigger and get out there. There is so much to this world we can experience but we can always come up with billions of excuses as to why you can't do this or that. To me, you’re missing out on what life has to offer. This being my third trip to Bali and finally getting away from what I have done the previous times really opened my eyes as to how much I miss when I let others tell me it isn’t safe to do this or that, but to just GO! 

I finally got out and away from the main tourist traps and went into the country in Bali. It is absolutely breathtaking. Coconut trees upon coconut trees and the most unique man-made rice patty fields that blow your mind. How in the world did these little Indos make these? People living off the land in the middle of the jungle while their kids still manage to attend school by walking along the roads in their uniforms.
Ashley: Personally, this trip made me realized how much I love the craziness of third world countries. I have been trying to travel as much as I can over the last few years and I must say, this trip made me realize traveling to an affordable country is not only awesome, I actually love the controlled madness. The mopeds, the cheap food, the awesome restaurants, fresh juice everywhere you go, tucked away villas straight out of a magazine—just everything makes the experience so vibrant!
It’s also pretty easy to get out of the craziness and experience the beauty of the country: rice fields, palm tree groves, waterfalls and world class waves to name a few!

Some of my favorite memories were driving and exploring on mopeds through the crazy streets of Seminyak and Ubud and also the beautiful waterfalls of Sekumpul. OMG, that place was a dream! We also had an awesome tour guide, who was so sweet and by the end of the tour we were going down natural waterslides with all the locals and children! The best part was all of us getting packed by the locals on motorbikes through the most beautiful rice fields. Definitely a trip highlight! 

That sounds amazing! Was it a smooth trip all the way through or was there anything that didn’t go as planned?

Rosie: My boyfriend Keoki was supposed to meet us on the trip but ended up getting hurt in a different part of remote Indonesia and had to head to Singapore in a scare of a broken back. Luckily it wasn't life threatening and he was going to be ok. I was pretty bummed that he wasn't going to be meeting us but having friends around me kept me sane and going on daily adventures and experiencing new parts of Indonesia is what got me through the fact Keoki was not there, though he was supposed to be with me.

Ashley: I almost didn’t even make it into the country. UM YEAH! DONT TRAVEL TO BALI IF YOUR PASSPORT EXPIRES WITHIN LESS THAN SIX MONTHS!!! Lol. Yeah, that was me. I literally was in disbelief the moment the officer told me my passport isn’t valid for our rules of getting into Indonesia while being escorted to a back room. Seriously one of the scariest and longest 45 minutes of my life. I still don't even know how I got in. Honestly, the grace of God. I’m already getting anxiety thinking about it!

You mentioned that you had a local guide take you to the waterfalls. Did you get to meet any other locals and find out what it’s like living in Bali?

Rosie: I have a friend in Bali that usually helps all the Hawaiians when they come to Bali. I stayed with him and his wife before my friends arrived and it was awesome. They took me to eat places that I would have never trusted to go by myself with and were just the most loving and giving people ever. They always tried to pay for my food whenever we went out and it was just crazy to me that they would try to do this every time when our American money is probably three times stronger than the Indonesian rupiah. So giving!

Religion is probably the most important thing to Indonesians. My friend and his wife are Muslim and they like I said they were the most loving, giving and also open to any questions I had about their religion.

We went to this waterfall in the middle of the jungle where you needed to pay a guide to take you there, probably the village’s biggest source of income, but our guide knew perfect English. I was so impressed with the fact of how hard this boy probably had to study in order to learn English this well. He said he was the only one in his village that knew English. My mind was blown and I didn't mind giving him my Hawaii towel after he took care of us that day.

Ashley: For the most part, the people of Bali were so nice and friendly. My experience with the locals was only welcoming. They work very hard and the people we were in contact with on the daily were so helpful and accommodating. At a few places where we stayed, the workers would arrange transportation and travel tips for us from a local perspective—often times hiring their own family and friends, which made the trip feel more personal.

• United by the Sea: Handsome Citizens
• Leila Hurst's Top Five in Indo