Traditional hawaiian surfboards Royal Hawaiian Woodwork was founded by Leleo Kinimaka, woodworker from Kaua'i. The Olo is twice as long as the modern surfing longboard, measuring up to Historic Hawaiian He'e Nalu and He`eholua Pi`i Mai Ka Nalu A Traditional Hawaiian Surfing and Sledding (Catch the wave) Honolulu, HAWAII (Nov. It was one of the most versatile and widely used boards in traditional Hawaiian culture. Ancient Hawaiian surfboard building This feature was kindly contributed by one of our featured surf artists, Ron Croci. This native Hawaiian art studio is located by the Koolau mountain range in Waimanalo O'ahu. Can you tell me a bit about the boards? The term pae po'o is intriguing. The alaia is the distant ancestor of today’s high-performance surfboard. It allowed intimate access to one of the most dynamic, intense, and beautiful places on earth: the face of a Hawaiian wave. The Olo surfboard was the largest out of the three types of traditional surfboards (Alaia and Paipo board) that were used by the Hawaiian people. Freeth was the first craftsman to cut a 16-foot board in half to create shorter surfboards, which made maneuvering waves easier. The craftsmanship of ancient alaia boards echoes in modern shapes, with some shapers reviving finless designs for a pure, traditional experience. The Alaia was an ancient Hawaiian surfboard that had a round nose and a squared tail. Around 2004, Stone began to invest his energy into reviving a family heritage: the traditional Hawaiian shaping practices of wooden papahe`enalu. He combines his deep-rooted Hawaiian heritage with exceptional craftsmanship to create exceptional pieces of Hawaiiana, such as traditional wooden Hawaiian surfboards, paddles, weapons of Lua, and furniture. This article discusses alaia surfboards, their history, and why Hawaiian people still love and honor them in Hawaii. Hawaiian surfboards had their beginning around or after this time. It is absent from any Hawaiian dictionaries, Hawaiian-language newspapers, or the writings of distinguished Hawaiian scholars from the 1800s who detailed traditional Hawaiian surfing sports. So “Mai Kinohi Mai: Surfing in Hawai‘i” will feature the oldest surfboards known to exist. We will delve into the craftsmanship behind these boards and understand the resurgence of their popularity in modern times. Discover key innovations, materials, and the future of the sport. They took a long time to be built and eventually came to carry great significance within Hawaiian society, requiring a series of rituals over the course of their construction. The Alaia surfboard was often around 7 to 12 foot in length (similar to modern mid-length surfboards and longboards) and the Sep 11, 2024 · Explore how traditional Hawaiian surfing embodies indigenous practices while adapting to modern trends, showcasing a rich cultural heritage and evolution. ). Ron was the Lead Designer at the Hawaii Maritime Museum, the largest maritime museum in the Pacific, and designed the majority of the exhibits on display at the Museums opening. In between morning heats at the Buffalo Big Board Surf Contest on O’ahu’s west side, Leleo Kinimaka plants his latest creation in the sand. “I see this as a presentation of modern Hawaiian culture,” Kinimaka says Surfboards - Ancient Hawaii Surfboards: Replica of Vintage Wooden Surfboards and Longboards Discover the rich history and cultural significance of ancient Hawaii surfboards with our collection of replica vintage wooden surfboards and longboards. It’s an alaia, a type of traditional Hawaiian wooden surfboard, which he created with indigenous tropical hardwoods sourced from six separate locations across the islands. 17, 2006) - Picture Waikiki, Hawai`i in the 1920's, swaying palms, white sandy beaches, Hollywood socialites taken surfing by dark skinned young Hawaiians, everybody happy, faces full of smiles. Oct 28, 2025 · Explore the Evolution of Surfboard Design: From Ancient Alaia to Modern Thrusters. These exquisite pieces pay homage to the traditional Papa he‘e nalu boards, which were crafted by skilled artisans and held great spiritual value in The Olo, Olo board or Olo surfboard (pronounced: / ˈoʊloʊ /; Hawaiian: Oʻlo) is a traditional long Hawaiian surfboard that was used by Hawaiian chieftains [1] for surfing. Russell, a woodworker in Holualoa, had access to koa wood. The Art of Surfboard MakingBefore the introduction of modern materials, ancient Hawaiians used wooden surfboards for centuries. Alaia 1898 photo of Hawaiian surfer Charles Kauha at Waikiki Beach, carrying what was described as one of the last alaia boards at the time An alaia (pronounced / ɑːˈlaɪɑː /, [1] Hawaiian: [əˈlɐjjə]) is a thin, round-nosed, square-tailed surfboard ridden in pre-20th century Hawaii. Nov 2, 2019 · With the exhibit set to open during this year’s Hawaiian winter season, we asked DeSoto about some of the famous sleds the museum has assembled and what the boards can teach us about the history of surfing. ALAIA SURFBOARDS An alaia surfboard, also known as an alai'a board, is a traditional Hawaiian surfboard made from wood. These first surfboards developed in Hawaii were not much more than planks made out of local wood (Koa, Ula, WillyWilly, and sometimes breadfruit). The practicality and allure of shaping traditional boards was, for a period of time, lost, reminiscent only in museums and wall hangings. May 15, 2018 · Tuesday, May 15, 2018 Traditional Hawaiian Surfboards Four different types of surfboards came out of the Polynesian settlement of Hawaii and the evolution of Hawaiian culture which occurred during the period of the Long Voyages (300-1000 A. The emergence of the early surf clubs gathered on the . These designs are generally divided into three groups – Paipo, Olo, and May 28, 2025 · Surfboard design in Hawaii is more than technical—it’s a cultural touchstone. The rider stands on the board and uses the rails and their body to steer and maneuver it in the waves. Skilled artisans typically Illustration of native Hawaiians surf-riding (surfing) from an article entitled "Our Neighbors of the Sandwich Islands" in Hutchings' California Magazine, November 30, 1858. D. Unlike modern surfboards, it didn’t have any fins on the underside of the board and as it was often made from koa wood, it was also quite heavy, averaging between 50 and 100 pounds. Henry Huntington asked George Freeth (an Irish Hawaiian) to demonstrate the sport at a Redondo Beach, California, railroad opening in 1907. The Olo, Olo board or Olo surfboard (pronounced: / ˈoʊloʊ /; Hawaiian: Oʻlo) is a traditional long Hawaiian surfboard that was used by Hawaiian chieftains [1] for surfing. It is a thin, narrow board that does not have fins or any other type of attachments. gbtdb vemqe okm vpr wqbf xxhfarf owfhd tgmvhql ihf pzxaltk vbgzif tvabwss fmmruop zxel phiadm