The first-ever Local Legends Legacy Awards, created by the newly formed Ocean Alliance Network, were recently given with a goal of celebrating “community, collaboration, culture, and conservation.”

“I want to recognize leaders, legends, people who are impacting,” said Ana Rothwell, who created the initiative and brought the event at El Caminante Bar & Bungalows in Dana Point to life. “We don’t want to lose the heart of where we came from.”

Rothwell said she wanted a way ocean-focused businesses could help each other, make a difference and come together for solutions out in the water from addressing pollution to whale strikes.

“This is my community, I’ve been here a long time,” Rothwell said. “I love this ocean. I love the whales, the dolphins, surf … everyone has such a special purpose,

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