In 1972, Ho purchased the a surf shop on the corner of Main and Bay Streets in Venice, California; he rebranded the shop as "Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions." With an 86, he learned about that famous Hawaiian juice and eventually asked Donald Takayama to make him a board that was nearly 10 feet long. [7], The advent of the 1930s marks the next technological revolutions in the history of the surfboard shaper. Make sure the symmetry is correct on the other rail. The shop was initially started in order to provide foam to the in-house shapers at The Surfboard Factory and other shapers in the area i.e. The other major hallmark of his career is his advocacy for environmentally-friendly EPS epoxy foam and resin, which he posits more as a cost-effective, high-tech approach to running his business than hippie propensity. He pounded surfboards out, trying to keep up with demand, making about $20 a board, specializing in big wave guns. Lighting is a crucial part of the crafting process to make sure the board is perfectly constructed with the right dimensions. These computer programs allow the shaper to create an exacting and reproducible design that can be easily fine-tuned and adjusted. Today you can easily spot a Hamilton board by the strip of aloha-print fabric around the rails. With virtually no precedent to work from, he was the first to hollow out the solid wood boards of the time, reducing the weight by almost half, which allowed him to glide faster than anyone before. Each aspect of the shaping process is done by hand, from start to finish, to ensure every inch of the board has his personal care -- and thats all the way down to his psychedelic, pastel color glass jobs, which Junod also does in-house. Call Us: 800-920-2363; . Best Surfboard Shaper near me in Honolulu, Hawaii. She studied music at UC-Santa Barbara, where she familiarized herself with the Queen of the Coast surfing spot Rincon Point. But the notoriously gruff and outspoken Biolos also led a peoples power movement producing tens of thousands of wide, thick, and fun shortboards that changed many surfers perspective on what good surfing in bad waves could look like. Before Blake, the few surfers in the world seemed content to glide along in one direction on gentle, sloping waves. Remove the extra foam by passing it perpendicular to the stringer from tail to nose. From the Local Shapers Blog: Shaper of the Month - Chris Ruddy Surfboards; Local Shaper Alrik Yull featured at the 2013 Vans US Open of Surfing; Shaper of the Month - July 2013 - Nate Gill of Kinetic Energy Surfboard Design; Shaper of the Month - June 2013 - Dan O'Hara of Solid Surfboards and South Coast Surfboards CLOSED 5.0 (1 review) Surf Shop "Crafting custom shapes here on the Islands for nearly a quarter of a century and has shaped for many well known shapers in the past, Todd continues to work with some of the best" more 10. With reduced weight, a wider range of people could carry, paddle, and control a surfboard. One year later, before he finished school, he packed his things and moved to Hawaii. They opened retail shops along the coasts and developed wholesale businesses, allowing others to open shops and carry their boards globally. Kauai's Master Surfboard Shapers are Some of Hawaii's Best Some of surfing's most revolutionary board makers can be found on the Garden Isle, with its reefs and point breaks. Meyerhoffer, a fifty-something industrial designer, hails from what may be the least friendly surf city in the world: Stockholm, Sweden. You have Jeff Clark to thank. BOBBY MARTINEZ Evan Rossell // Chiller Fleece Pullover Hoodie $ 64.99 Size : Add to Cart. Three foundational templates for surfboard shaping were utilized by the Hawaiian islanders: the alaia, the paipo, and the olo. Alter (with partner Gordon Clark) is more responsible than anyone for the introduction and widespread use of foam and fiberglass surfboards. It is time for me sit on the beach and let you guys have ALL the waves, he wrote on March 2. Staff is super kind and helpful.more, Awesome little skate and surf shop. [7] Furthermore, surfboard shapers began to utilize alternate base materials, including both plastic and polyurethane foam. Kennelly has also tried her hand at acting, appearing in the movie Blue Crush and the HBO show John from Cincinnati. Bradshaw-Hawaii, Inc. is now celebrating It's Twentieth Anniversary. Order a custom board by phone 1-808-244-5230 or email valleyislesurf@gmail.com HOME; DESIGNS; . She started surfing at the tender age of five on the beaches of Waikiki. Anderson's innovation, colloquially known as the "thruster", produced surfboards with enhanced stability and improved manuveribility. Accounts written by Europeans who visited the Hawaiian Islands in the late 18th century described this pastime, which, like many aspects of Hawaiian society, was significantly stratified. To honor these unsung heroes, were highlighting 10 California shapers every surfer worth their wax should know: Talk about San Franciscos oceanfront resurgence, which over the last 15 years has transformed the Outer Sunset neighborhood from fog-shrouded afterthought to an epicenter of creative pursuits, and one man comes to mind: Danny Hess. Then round and smooth the rails on both side. Bob Simmons star shone bright for too short a time. It was the image of . The ability to turn, the quest for critical positioning, and the rumblings of a counterculture were born. But Reidel stuck with quads, pursuing his experimentation with the new design to the point of perfection. TOM BLAKE + THE HOT CURL CREW "Tom Blake is the most influential surfboard designer of all time. Hobart Alter, also known as Hobie", was a prominent surfboard shaper from Dana Point, California who is famously known for his experimentation with polyurethane foam as a base material for surfboards. The type of surfboard shape was actually indicative of Hawaiian social structure; the alaia and paipo boards were used by the commoners, while the olo boards were reserved for the royal class. Then measure the size and thickness of the blank this will give you the measurements of foam needed. What began as a hobby born of a teenage desire to own more surfboards than he could afford, Scovels early dabbling in surfboard shaping developed into a career that allows him to travel the world, testing his equipment on foreign waves while researching new designs. [9], Many professional shapers outsource the highly specialized task of lamination to glassers; glassers laminate fiberglass to the foam core of the surfboard using thermosetting resins, such as polyester or epoxy. It all adds up to explain why that curvy, curious surfboard attracted so much attention when it first debuted ten years ago. The boards he made under the Bing label were revolutionary, and David Nuuhiwa showed what they were capable of. Developed in the 70s, a displacement hull board has a convex bottom contour, as opposed to the standard surfboards concave bottom. About: Kim Purington: Surfboards, Hawaii. A board-making process in which the rails are built with a tightly woven band of fabric results in a structural improvement that can boost the strength of a surfboard by about 28 percent, he says. Takayama's knowledge and skill in regards to surfboard design have defined him as one of the most influential surfboard shapers of all time. Almost overnight, board lengths began to dropalong with a lot of psychedelicsand the Shortboard Revolution was on. He began shaping surfboards out of wooden railway ties as a young boy; however, in 1957, he moved to California to apprentice under the legendary shaper Dale Velzy. It was 1960. He's been called " surfing . All rights reserved. Scovel, who was born in Japan but has lived on Kauai since he was a toddler, says much of his business comes from visiting surfers who want custom boards crafted by a shaper who knows the unique demands of Kauais surf. A denizen of Kauais north shore, Hamilton has been shaping surfboards for a half-century. SURFER has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Within a year, the twin-fin was all but forgotten. Their bold combination of P.T. Hawaii Surf Factory is a full service facility. In other words, he knows how to make boards that can seriously perform, even when made out of eco-friendly materials. We respect your privacy, and we totes won't spam you. Photos: Dick Brewer Surfboards/ Doug Walker. SURFERs Newsletter to receive stories like this straight to your inbox. Carefully remove all mistakes on the blank with sandpaper. ", PHILOSOPHY: "Listen to the customers to find out what type of board will suit their needs, FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE EASTSIDE: "Great surf community, fun waves and a small-town vibe. He bought a blank, a Walker, and carved out a 910. On top of that, he instituted the first surfer-led big-wave Water Patrol brigade to keep daredevil surfers safe and helped elevate Half Moon Bay to international lore through organizing the on-again, off-again Mavericks surf contest. Captivated by the wooden boards the Native Hawaiians rode before the advent of modern surfing, Hamilton crafts raw slabs of monkeypod, wiliwili, koa and balsa wood into museum-quality wall hangers that wear glistening coats of kukui oil. Furthermore, youd be hard pressed to find an earlier example of his groundbreaking outlinethe narrowish nose and bump-wing squash tailto which he married his three-fin setup. One of only five surfers to win back-to-back world titles, John John Florence has been making a name for himself since the age of 13, when he became the youngest surfer to ever compete in the Vans Triple Crown. How he does it: Reidel once said that his dad taught him you cant make anything clean in filth so, he cleans his shaping room twice a day himself. U.S. Open of Surfing 2012 | Post Heat Interviews, Surfboard collector Mark Buggs Arico discusses a few of his prized possessions on Surfermag.com. In the 1920s and '30s, his contributions and inventions to overcome the performance limitations of the surfboard were borderline Edisonian. After her recovery, Hamilton adapted her surfing style and returned to the sport to win a national title in 2005. The 2018 film Kissed by God offers a telling glimpse into the tragic end of Andy Irons life and celebrates the impact he had on surfing, as well as his friends and family, especially his brother, Bruce: Speaking of stand-out surfers from Kauai, Bethany Hamilton certainly qualifies. Moores five titles put her within striking range of seven-time champ Layne Beachley and eight-time champ Stephanie Gilmore, two of the greatest female surfers in recent times. In 1926, Blake acquired an ancient olo surfboard from Honolulus Bishop Museum; the board was originally 16 feet long and weighed 150 pounds. It can drop into steeper waves, turn on a dime, and accelerate quickly, all while still producing the cruise and glide integral to any longer board. In 1966, Ho began working as an apprentice to Bob Milner at Robert's Surfboards in Playa del Ray, California. Its the job of the shaper to actualize all of this data into the perfect conduit, and that conduit is different for every rider. I am leaving the hospital today and have been diagnosed with MSD. Hes been called surfings most influential board maker. He didnt just shape surfboards he shaped an entire culture and industry. In fact, she was the female 2018 Big Wave World Champion, the first woman to be towed into the famous Tahitian big wave Teahupoo, and the first woman to be invited to the Eddie Aikau Invitational. By signing up you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Hamilton, who has shaped boards for surfing legends Andy Irons and Laird Hamilton, is famed for his longboards and big wave-riding guns. A few years later, he got a custom shape, a nine-foot Woody Brown template. What she does: Lloyds sleek longboard shapes, made specifically for Santa Cruzs slow, easygoing pointbreaks, represent such an important connection back to the golden days of California surfing. Each surfboard is a custom one of a kind creation. Growing up on Oahus North Shore didnt hurtand it ultimately gave Florence a level of comfort and familiarity with Pipeline that few others ever experience. He also spent family vacations on the long, drawn-out pointbreaks of Santa Barbara, before he settled down in Santa Cruz. Sunn was a pioneering female surfer from Makaha who fearlessly paddled out into the largely male-dominated lineup as surfers flocked to Oahu in the 50s. They then moved to Whittier where Dick joined a water polo team. We were all watching, including Kelly Slater. Tom Stone, a professor of Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawaii and a surfboard shaper, said the early alaias were essentially made from scraps. He discovered the heaving coldwater behemoth and surfed it solo for years before he could convince anyone to join him. Schaper Hawaii Surfboards + SHOP Schaper Hawaii Models MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE @SCHAPERHAWAII AND OUR USED BOARDS INVENTORY PAGE @SCHAPERHAWAII_USED FOR REGULAR UPDATES ON WHAT WE HAVE IN STOCK ** For custom models please call (808) 638-0050 and we'll work with you to get you the perfect board Although Andreini always wanted to be a teacher, today hes happiest making small batches of his hand-shaped boards for displacement hull devotees so that they can derive the same joy from surfing as he does. Chad Kaimanu Jackson comes by his passion for surfboard shaping honestly: his father, Bruce, first started building boards in 1969 -- then passed the business on to Chad in 1992. The type of surfboard shape was actually indicative of Hawaiian social structure; the alaia and paipo boards were used by the commoners, while the olo boards were reserved for the royal class. The Waialua Sugar Mill is the epicenter for custom surfboard manufacturing on Oahu, yet it remains surprisingly covert. Schaper Hawaii 67-106 Kealohanui St Waialua, HI 96791 Copyright 2016. Custom Scovel Surfboards start at $500 for a shortboard and $900 for a longboard. This innovation serves as the foundation for contemporary performance surfing. Many also know Aikau for his incredible bravery in the ocean, which eventually cost him his life. This allowed Young and his large, powerful frame to turn more radically on a wave than ever seen before. Finally, sign the surfboard and send it off to glassing. Location-106 Ka'anapali Shores Place, Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii 96761. Working together with, and inspired by, Californian expat George Greenough and his flexible scooped-nose kneeboards, they hacked the lengths down dramatically, kicked up the nose rockers, and cut deep vee panels into the tails. After surfing in her first contest at eight years old, Hamilton scored her first sponsorship two years later. In 1980, after viewing the work of shaper Frank Williams, Anderson constructed a surfboard with a square tail and three identical fins. Custom Dick Brewer Surfboards begin at about $1,200. ANDY IRONS California in the post-World War II 1940s was a playground paradise. Hawaii has long been recognized as the capital of surfing. Add to Cart. You might know Gerry Lopez as Mr. Instead of just making what somebody wants, Im building boards that capture a certain style of surfing thats within my vision.. Photo Credit: Grant Ellis Given this long historyand the plethora of surf breaks in Hawaiiits no surprise that the state turns out a considerable number of talented surfers, some of whom have become household names. Measure and take note of the dimensions of the board. Just reach out to one of our experts for a free quote to get started. However, these days, OBrien is less focused on competition and more on freesurfingenjoying the sport on his terms, free from the grind of the World Surf League tour and its rankings. Richard Dick Brewer was born on October 13, 1936, in Bemidji, Minnesota. It is definitely worth driving to and from DingDocs. The same way California surfboard shapers dedicate their lives to the perfect board, Peets Coffee has been working since 1966 to put coffee first -- and it shows in their new bottled cold brew. What makes my boards different is that I have kind of married the shortboard into the longboard so its more of a high-performance riding board, but it has a lot of the characteristics of the old longboards we used to ride in the 60s.. Fins and assorted plugs are usually after lamination, and the final product is sanded and glossed down with buffing compounds and glossing resins.[10]. Surfboards shipped from Hawaii to any place in the world! For inquiries, contact Brewer at dickbrewer@hawaiiantel.net. As he describes it, shaping for him is about creating curves that extract the best performance out of the wave itself. Lightning Bolt was one of the first heavy-hitter surf companies back in the early '70s. George Downing, Wally Froiseth, Woody Brown, and Buzzy Trent (among others), are considered the forefathers of big wave riding. Located at the north end of the world famous Ka'anapali Beach. Instead, OBrien has become a master of the business of surfing, and he runs one of the sports most popular vlogs. Our List of the 11 Best Breweries on Oahu, Christmas in Hawaii: Everything You Need to Know. Barnum savvy and Henry Ford industrialism basically birthed the surf industry through manufacturing, merchandising, and marketing. Most boards cost over $700 and it's nevermore, One of the cool things about the store was the revolving surfboard rack on the ceiling.more, Whether you are a beginner or an veteran surfer, this is a great place to buy a surfboard.more, to hoeheenalu surf shop , flight surf shop, kazuma surf shop or used surfboards hawaii for theirmore, After 40 years of surfing, I buy surfboards and surfing-related merchandise in Honolulu from only 2more, From his website: KIMO GREENE SURFBOARDS Aloha, since 1967, Kimo Greene has been making surfboardsmore, is a testament to his skill and labor of love to produce exquisite surfboards of all shapes andmore, Huge collection of boards. He taught Gerry Lopez about shaping. Start by turning the rails with the planer (nose to tail), then create a 45-degree angle from turning point on the deck to the top. He estimates shaping 25,000 to 30,000 boards, and the surfer-turned-shaper says he still assembles about 150 custom boards a year. Ken started his own business, Bradshaw-Hawaii, a manufacturer of custom surfboards in 1978. If a commoner dropped in on one of the aliior stole a waveit was a serious violation, punishable by death. His hands have designed more boards for more world champions than those of anyone else alive, inspiring surfers to charge the biggest, heaviest rideable waves around. [6], The next technological change in the surfboard shaping industry came with the introduction of the Hollow Board by Hawaiian resident Tom Blake. Or, you might know Lopez as an influential surfboard shaper whose Lightning Bolt brand was once one of the most ubiquitous out there. 44 Hawaiian and Pidgin Phrases Every Visitor Needs to Know, 20 Thoughts Every Hiker has had on the Trail Up Koko Head Crater, Shop These 5 Sophisticated Aloha Shirt Brands, The Enduring Nostalgia of Hawaii's Historic Drive-In Restaurants, Find Solitude and Serenity at the Waipio Wayside Bed and Breakfast, How the Klauea Lighthouse Saved an Airship in 1927, Q&A with Hawaii Fashion Designer Micah Kamohoalii. Takayama eventually began to shape for Jacobs' Surfboards; his visually-clean longboard design became one of the most popular surfboard models in the mid 20th century. Meet Your Shaper. If you dont know Rell Sunns name, you should. Unfortunately for him, the name he gave his board model, The Thruster, was plagiarized by everyone and essentially became public domain., AL MERRICK Custom shapes made for you by some of Hawaii's top shapers and dropped off right at your door - anywhere in the world! Born from legendary shapers Jack Shipley and Gerry Lopez, surfers knew they were getting quality product and flocked to Hawaii to get their hands on Lightning Bolt boards and apparel. George Downing also developed the first big wave surfboard, making the bigger waves more accessible. Subscribe to Dale Velzy (September 23, 1927 - May 26, 2005) was an American surfboard shaper, credited with being the world's first commercial shaper.He opened the first professional surf shop in Manhattan Beach, California in 1950, personally hand fashioning the surfboards from wood or synthetic material. World Surf League Ben Aipa - surfer, board shaper, coach - died at his home in Hilo last week at the age of 78. . Rewatch "Riss", "Pentacoastal" and more of this year's s On the road with one of the most stylish surfers on this generation, These talented women offer unique perspectives on lineups around the world, Just dont come complaining to us if you plane a finger off, Not another Instagram carousel, this is the crme de la crme from our year in print. In 1939, when the second World War was ramping up, Brewers father, Charles, packed the family up and moved to California. DOT License #227698 DOT Motor Carrier License #165352 DOT Freight Forwarder License #003549 Hawaii PUC #85-C. And if you doubt his prowess on a surfboard, hes got a long list of big wave awards to his name (2019 Mens XXL Biggest Wave, 2020 Winner of the Tow Challenge, 2021 Red Bull Big Wave Award for Biggest Paddle, 2021 Mens Performer of the Year). 27 years after first exploring Alaska's coast, Josh Mulcoy returns to find a Watch the fourth and final episode of Torren Martyn's "Lost Track: Atla Recapping a historic day of competitive surfing, The epic biopic about the 2019 World Champ and Olympic gold medalist is finally here, Nic von Rupp and Nate Behl score all-time Ments, These 14 contestants are vying for $100K and a spot on the 2022 WSL Championship Tour, Egg Guru Devon Howard provides guidance on ordering a 7-foot-plus surfcraft, Money cant buy happiness, but it can buy cool shit. The addition of the new materials as well as fiberglass gave surfboard shapers more freedom and allowed them to incorporate both fins and rocker design in the construction of surfboards. BEN AIPA. Youll constantly see cars passing by with a board on the roof, sticking out over the back of a truck bed, or even squeezed inside. ", INFLUENCES: "Eric Arakawa, Ed Angulo, Dave Hill, Dave Purington and Peter Trombly. [7], Currently, many surfboard shapers design surfboards using computer programs and hot-wire cutting machines that expedite the design process, especially in relation to mass-production. The past five decades of building surfboards on Maui has led to years of fun surfing, Honolua Bay to name his . Tour Performance Surf Hat // Green $ 38. Its an inverted hourglass shape with bulging hips in the back third of the board, a narrow empire waist, and another wide bubble near the nose. (And, yes, if youre curious, the family is also related to Don Ho; he and Derek are cousins.). After traveling the world to surf, teaching high school in Australia, and eventually becoming the #2 rated surfer on the United States fledgling pro circuit in 1976, Pearson returned to Santa Cruz, opening the citys iconic Arrow Surf Shop and quickly becoming one of the biggest producers of surfboards in the world. Aikau hopped on his surfboard and attempted to paddle to Lanai for help. At least half of the World Surf League Championship Tours top surfers rely on his boards, particularly when they descend on Lower Trestles in San Clemente for their big contest every summer. Visit our factory showroom to check out our extensive inventory: Surfboard Factory Hawaii. The making of a custom surfboard begins with a probe: What is your weight? Ho was featured in the 2020 documentary, She Is the Ocean, the story of nine women who are intimately connected to the water. There are four key steps in building and shaping a surfboard: Shaping the template, preparing the fin setup and rails, rounding rails, and smoothing the outline. Often called the father of modern surfing, Duke Kahanamoku first came to prominence during the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games, where he won gold in the 100-meter freestyle and silver in the 4200 relay. SHAPERS RENO ABELLIRA BEN AIPA BAHNE BILL BARNFIELD CLYDE BEATTY BENNET LARRY BERTLEMANN BING BK HAWAII TOM BLAKE BRONZED AUSSIES BROTHERS NEILSON BUNGER SURFBOARDS BUSHMAN BUTTONS HAWAII BYRNE CALIFORNIA COMPANY CHALLENGER CHANNIN OWL CHAPMAN CLEAN LINES CON CORKY CARROLL JEFF CRAWFORD DRB CHUCK DENT GEORGE DOWNING PHIL EDWARDS ENERGY-S. ANDERSON ET SURFBOARDS FIBRECRAFT MARK FOO FRESH JUICE . He grew up during the annexation of Hawaii and is a strong representative of Hawaiian culture and attitude. They did anmore, Aloha, Accommodating groups and private families surf lessons to all ages and abilities, from first time surfer/beginner to more advanced surfers with the best instructors to guestsmore, If I can give 6 stars, I would. Armed with a knowledge of military hydrodynamics and postwar, new-age materials, Simmons used the time and space well, continuously driving and surfing up and down the uncrowded coastline, crafting and testing his futuristic designs. Pipeline, the man with the most outrageously relaxed stance on one of the most intense waves in the world. SHAPING SINCE: "I shaped my first board in 1975; started shaping professionally in 1983." INFLUENCES: "Eric Arakawa, Ed Angulo, Dave Hill, Dave Purington and Peter Trombly." KNOWN FOR: "Performance shortboards, fish, step-up boards, guns and . Check out these seemingly contradictory sides to Gerry Lopez in the 2021 film, the Yin and Yang of Gerry Lopez, directed by Stacy Peralta (Riding Giants, Dogtown and Z-Boys): Following in the footsteps of all-around watermen like Duke Kahanamoku, Eddie Aikau, Laird Hamilton, and Dave Kalama, Kai Lenny has embraced a broad variety of disciplines in the water. (By the way, Sunn was assuming her rightful role in a longstanding Hawaiian cultural tradition; accounts reveal that many Hawaiian women, including Queen Kaahumanu, wife of Kamehameha the Great, surfed. ) tokoro surfboards, Hawaii, surfboards, surfing, shapers. ", KNOWN FOR: "Performance shortboards, fish, step-up boards, guns and longboards. We've got you covered. How he does it: While Chad inherited dads Kaimanu Surfboards label when he was 18, he immediately set out to push the business into the future by concentrating on natural materials: eco-friendly, agave-based foam for the surfboard blank; a hemp-derived fiberglass substitute for its strong outer layer; and recycled redwood for the fins on the bottom. Inside the shaping bay, thats even more accurate. His meticulousness has made him a perpetually in-demand shaper, known for fine-tuning old-school design ideas into adventurous, high-performance present-day experiences. Custom Surfboards in Hawaii, and custom surfboards from the north shore of Oahu in particular, are the best surfboards you can find, and I'm going to explain why established or underground shapers on the north shore, and all shapers in Hawaii for that matter, have every type, size and shape of wave imaginable, a deep well of local rippers, and a never . [1], There exists very little evidence that pinpoints the exact location of the first surfboard shaper; however, historical analysis suggests that surfboarding itself first originated in Hawaii. Surfboard Factory Hawaii is the exclusive surfboard licensee for Hawaiian Island Creations and produces the best quality stock and custom HIC surfboards with the latest designs and technology to enhance your surfing experience. It was here that Ho developed both the skillset to design high-performance surfboards; Ho's innovation led to the creation of the swallowtail board, which would later become a signifier of his shaping. His surfboards largely paved the roads that led surfing to where it is today. The Hawaiian islanders most likely utilized only three species of tree as the base for their surfboards: the wiliwili (Erythrina monosperma), ulu (Artocarpus incisa), and koa (Acacia koa). He basically invented the mini-gun. You can see the statue honoring his legacy in the heart of Waikiki today, where its often adorned with fresh lei. A man at the top of his craft, Brewer continues to evolve the art of shaping while expanding the limits of surfing, one bespoke board at a time. Mel is known as "big wave' surfer and his son John Mel is a four-time surfing National Champion. GOOD ViBES! Kahanamoku held many different roles during his lifetime: legendary waterman, sheriff of Honolulu, Hollywood actor, Hawaiis Ambassador of Aloha, husband, and father.