George Helm kinda came out of nowhere. I hadn’t photographed George before, I’d only read about him.
A Meeting at Black Point
I wanted to get a picture of him for a leaflet. I met him at John Kelly‘s house at Black Point. He impressed me. He was planning at the time, wave velocity, wave direction, and all that stuff. He showed the topographical maps with his thoughts on the best place to land on Kahoʻolawe. John Kelly and other disagreed, they thought it was crazy to try and land there, due to tide and swell reports. This meeting happened several days before his trip there.
I don’t know if George Helm knew John Kelly ahead of that meeting.
They went ahead with the trip. That’s when he disappeared.
Becoming a Hero of the Movement
After the meeting at the Kelly household, word got out that there was a new Kahoʻolawe hero. It was George Helm. Not many people knew who he was however, so there was a lot of interest in him. He became a hero of the Movement at that time.
Anyone who would attempt to paddle from Maui to Kahoʻolawe would gain positive attention from the surfing community.
After he disappeared, his fame instantly grew larger. To this day, no one knows what happened to him.
Ed Greevy
Honolulu, HI
George Helm performing at Kokua Hawaiʻi fundraiser at the Waikiki Shell (1973)
George Helm (second from left) performs for a Kokua Hawaiʻi fundraiser at the Waikiki Shell (1973)
George Helm performed and supported the Waiahole Waikane residents in their eviction fight. Randy Kalahiki and John Witeck at right (1976)
George Helm (right) prepares for concert appearance at McKinley High School with Wayne Reis (1973)
George Helm (right) practicing for a concert appearance (Feb 3, 1973)
George Helm (right) gets support from John Lake (left) (Feb 3, 1973) Negative: 2631-7-36
George Helm performs at a fundraiser concert for Kokua Hawaiʻi, at the Waikiki Shell (1973) Negative: 2668-10