baggies

In Hawaii, "baggies" is the classic local term for boardshorts or surf trunks. The word originated in the 1960s and 70s surf culture when wave riders transitioned from tight-fitting swim trunks to looser, longer shorts that allowed for more movement and protected their legs from surfboard wax. While mainlanders might call them swim trunks or bathing suits, locals almost exclusively use "baggies" or "boardshorts."

Today, baggies are considered standard everyday attire for men and boys across the islands. They are worn not just in the water, but to the grocery store, family parties, and casual outings. However, wearing baggies to a formal event, a nice restaurant, or a workplace is generally frowned upon unless the dress code is extremely relaxed. The term is universally understood across all generations in Hawaii, though older locals might use it slightly more frequently than the younger generation, who sometimes default to "boardies."

Fale stood at the edge of the cliff at South Point, the afternoon wind whipping his hair around as he puffed out his chest. He had just dropped eighty bucks on a brand new pair of neon green baggies from Pacific Vibrations in Kona, and he was making sure everyone noticed. "You guys see da water beading off? Four-way stretch, hydro-repellent," he bragged, slapping his thigh. "Dis da kine the pros wear at Pipeline. Guarantee I going catch major air off the jump today."

Minsu rolled his eyes, adjusting his faded, salt-stained cargo shorts. "Brah, we just jumping off one rock into the ocean, not surfing the Triple Crown. Your fancy baggies not going make you fly any bettah." Cora sat on the tailgate of her Tacoma, laughing so hard she almost dropped her Spam musubi. "Watch out, Minsu, Fale thinks he one sponsored athlete now just 'cause his shorts match his hydro flask."

Ignoring them, Fale took a running start and launched himself off the wooden hoist platform, throwing a massive backflip. He hit the water perfectly, but the impact of the drop was too much for the "hydro-repellent" fabric. When he bobbed back up to the surface, the neon green baggies were floating three feet away from him. Cora leaned over the edge, hollering down, "Eh pro surfer! Good thing your baggies get four-way stretch, 'cause they stretching all the way to Antarctica right now!"