Carissa Moore is a world-champion Hawaiian surfer idolized by little girls around the globe, a role model in and out of the water.
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But in 2018, just after her third world championship title, she found herself at an all-time low, the pressure building up and taking a toll on her mental health. She questioned herself during losses, struggled with her body image and felt like people would only love her if she was winning.
“I was chasing the wrong things to fill the void,” the 34-year-old said on a recent day during a call from Fiji, where she’s competing once again against the world’s best. “l hit a low point and had to go back to the drawing board. What does success look like? What will fill my cup, and my heart, and my soul? It took losing everything, in a mental sense, and kind of built my way back up.”
Carissa Moore, right, a five-time surfing world champion, talks with aspiring surfer Riviera Hunter, 12, of Santa Cruz during a World Surf League Rising Tides event, a program designed to mentor and support the next generation of young female surfers, at the San Clemente Pier in September 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Carissa Moore celebrates after winning the Rip Curl World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, CA on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Carissa Moore is introduced during a press conference for the World Surf League finals at the pier in San Clemente, CA on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Aspiring surfers Zoe Panettiere, left, 12, of San Diego and Riviera Hunter, 12, of Santa Cruz pose for a photo with professional surfer and five-time world champion Carissa Moore during a World Surf League Meet and Greet event at the San Clemente Pier Bowl on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore,SCNG)
The pro surfer founded Moore Aloha to spread positivity to others who may be struggling. The nonprofit hosts multi-day workshops. At first, the intent was to help young girls, but Moore is now opening up outreach to women of all ages.
A fundraising event on Sept. 8 in Huntington Beach at Duke’s Restaurant will help support next year’s programming.
The idea is built on three pillars that have helped guide her through her own struggles: “Live Authentically. Be Fearless. Lead With Love.”
“My goal is to share the same love I’ve been shown with the next generation and grow a community of strong, confident and compassionate women,” her website reads.
Once she was able to tackle her own struggles — an ongoing process she admits — she’s found a happier version of herself.
“I think mental health is such an important topic to talk about,” Moore said. “So many things happen throughout the day that can be a distraction. I want to remind women and girls of their worth and give them tools to find their confidence.”
“They are worthy of their dreams and everything is possible.”
Her own mental work seems to be paying off. The following year after she founded her Moore Aloha foundation, she clinched her fourth world championship title. She repeated the world title in 2021, making five total, and the same year earned the first-ever surfing gold medal for Team USA in the Olympics.
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She took a break from professional surfing last year for her greatest feat yet: giving birth to her daughter.
Then, she returned to the World Tour this year and has won two events, in New Zealand and El Salvador, and sits in the No. 1 spot in the rankings, with her baby in tow.
“Getting to do this with my daughter has been such a gift,” Moore said.
After the Fiji event, she will be in Orange County to get ready for the Lowers Pro contest just south of San Clemente. Moore Aloha is also partnering with the World Surf League’s Rising Tides, where pro surfers take young girls out in the water and talk with them about achieving their dreams.
The upcoming fundraiser at Duke’s Restaurant will be a “beautifully curated evening for connection and celebration for what we have in the future,” with a silent auction, cocktails and dinner.
Moore will be at the event, along with some other special guest friends, she said.
She’s excited to share her mission with others, with hopes to hold more events to help girls and women come together for a cause, so they don’t feel alone with what they are going through.
Next year’s programming will host events throughout Hawaii, California and other areas around the globe with four-day events that focus on building self worth from the inside out, typically with a day of journaling, discussions, lei making and time in the water, whether it’s surfing, paddleboarding or just swimming.
“It’s really healthy to work through your mental space and get you outside of your comfort zone, which helps you mentally, and with confidence,” Moore said. “One of the rewarding things is when women or girls leave with new friendships.”
Tickets are $250 for the fundraiser, with table purchases available. For more info about the event, go to: moorealoha.com/2026-dream-waves.
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