When dawn breaks, the North Shore comes alive. Excitement buzzes through the stretch of coast coined the "Seven Mile Miracle." Its contest season is a time when thousands of the most devoted surfers and fans flock to the birthplace of Big Wave Surfing, the infamous North Shore of Oahu. Spectators watch in disbelief as some of the world's most daring athletes tempt their fate against Mother Nature's four-story buildings. Considered the Mecca of surfing, crowds in the thousands gather to witness something nowhere else in the world can offer.

The scene is incomparable. In a place where intimidation is the name of the game and living on the edge is a way of life, the crowd craves danger, adrenalin and speed.

So when the swells subside during the summer months, it is clear that something is missing. Surfers stare longingly at the flat ocean, waiting once again for the winter months to bring back the thrills they seek. But thankfully, over the past four summers, this vibrant group has been drawn back to the polo field at Mokuleia. Spectators who pine for the show of fearless, borderline crazy athletes are showing up in the thousands, reviving the buzz around polo. The surf culture has its own unique language, fashion and lifestyle and it has created a hybrid Hawaiian polo scene with a style all its own. When tiny bikinis meet big hats, the combination is undeniably electric.

In a place where brands like Red Bull, Quicksilver and Volcolm dominate and dictate a lifestyle philosophy about pushing the limits of our bodies, it seems only natural that polo would find its place among the adrenalin-junkie, thrill-seeking cohort who call the North Shore home. Polo has even gained new athletes like Red Bull pro-surfer, Jamie Sterling (see page 38). Jamie has participated in polo games and blogged on Red Bull's website, drawing international attention from the surfing world. He has discovered that the balance, control, strength and mind-power required for polo is the perfect cross training for big-wave surfing.

The players, participants and promoters in Hawaii have done an amazing job of making polo accessible to a wide audience. Once-dwindling sidelines now host an international crowd of thousands. Vendors and sponsors are flocking to the field to get a piece of the action. Local food trucks serve "ono grinds" (good food), and busy beach bars serve drinks to club members and spectators. After every game, a local band plays until the beautiful Hawaiian sun dips below the horizon.

Polo has found itself a new ohana—or family—on the North Shore. It is a place where the essence of the game is truly appreciated. The sport has gained tremendous respect among the surfing community and has found its niche in a place respected by athletes around the world. Oahu is known as "The Gathering Place," which is exactly what polo is to the people here. The spirit of Aloha is alive here. It truly is a very special place, with a very unique type of polo getting more popular every year.

--Story by Chelsea-Glenn Newman • photos by C.J. Dewolf/Dawson Media Group.