MAKAHA PANTS

At Malibu and at San Onofre in southern California, the surf rolls in in the long, sweeping waves that are called makahas by the beachboys at Waikiki. Here, even in chilly November, the surfers are out, as avid as any member of Hawaii's Outrigger Club (page 62). This year the mainland surfers borrowed an idea from their island brethren: makaha pants. These brightly colored, knee-length or calf-length pants were designed to protect the surfer's legs from the sandpaperlike surface of Fiberglas surfboards. They have become such a hit with swimmers and sailors as well that American swimsuit manufacturers (Gantner and Catalina) will be selling them coast to coast by spring.

AT SAN ONOFRE, favorite surf beach, Sam Haskins shows calf-length blue surfing pants (Waltah Clarke, $7.95), John English calf-length red surfers (Kahala, $8.95) and Steen Gantzel of Pasadena knee-length yellow trunks (Service Center, Honolulu, $7.95).

AT NEWPORT HARBOR, aboard Dick Miller's PC sailboat Windy, Surfer Gantzel wears striped makahas of M. & W. Thomas cotton (Gantner, $7.95) and Ron Davis knee-length red surf pants with characteristic blue and white side stripes (Gantner, $5).

TWO PHOTOS

PHIL BATH