THE FIRST SURFERS EVER IN THE U.S. - DAYS THAT CHANGED SURFING
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- Опубликовано: 11 янв 2024
- The United States, and California in specific, lit the surfing flame that fired up world.
But how did it all start? When and where did the first surf session ever in the continental United States take place and who were the surfers??
The day was July 20, 1885. Three Hawaiian princes, Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, David Kawananakoa and Edward Keliiahonui paddled out to the Santa Cruz Rivermouth and made history. The debut was published in the Santa Cruz Daily Surf newspaper.
The brothers, princes as they were nephews of King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani, came to California as students at St. Matthew’s Hall, a military academy in San Mateo as part of "Education of Hawaiian Youths Abroad", a government-funded educational program to help students further their educations beyond the institutions available in Hawaii at that time.
They would ride the Southern Pacific railroad from San Mateo to Santa Cruz on weekends, where they either stayed with family friends or stayed at the Wilkins House on Pacific Avenue and Cathcart Street. Grover lumber company was just up the street, where they milled first growth redwood into solid 15 to 17 ft royal o'lo boards that weighed up to 175 pounds. This also marked Santa Cruz as the first place in the United States where surfboards were manufactured.
The brothers stayed in California to surf and complete their studies for a few years before returning to Hawaii. They brought the boards home with them, which changed the way surfboards were constructed in Hawaii as redwood became the go-to, and shipping of redwood to the islands began.
Edward died of Scarlet Fever shortly after returning to Hawaii, but Jonah and David went on to travel and spread surfing to the world. In 1890 they introduced surfing to Europe at Bridlington in northern England along with their cousin Princess Victoria Ka'iulani, and their English tutor, author John Wrightson even got some waves.
They returned to Hawaii , Jonah working in the Department of the Interior and Customs Office and David as Council of State, under their aunt, Quenn Liliuokalani.
In 1893, the monarchy of the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown by the Untied States,
putting in power a Provisional Government of Hawaii, established by the coup leaders.
Jonah and David participated in the Wilcox rebellion against the newly United States formed, Republic of Hawaiʻi. The rebels proved no match for the Republic troops and police, and shortly after hostilities began, all those involved in the rebellion were routed and captured. David was jailed yet released for lack of evidence, but Jonah was sentenced to and served a year in prison. When he got out he left Hawaii, travelling the world and serving a stint as a British Army observer in the Second Boer War.
Following annexation, the Hawaiian Organic Act established Hawaii in the United Staes government and David became one of five founders of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.
Jonah returned to Hawaii from his self-imposed exile to take part in politics in an attempt to preserve and strengthen the Hawaiian people, culture and heritage. He was active in The Home Rule party of Hawaii, The Hui Kuokoa Party, and in 1902 Jonah became a delegate in the United States congress, as a Republican. In 1919, Kūhiō introduced in Congress the first-ever Hawaii Statehood Act. Forty years later it came to fruition.
Kūhiō is memorialized by streets, beaches and surf breaks, Kuhio Beach Park in Poipu near his birthplace, the Prince Kūhiō Plaza Shopping Center, and the Prince Kuhio Federal Building named in his honor. Prince Kūhiō Day on March 26 is a state holiday that honors Kūhiō's birth.[6] Two of Hawaii's public schools also honor him: Prince Jonah Kūhiō Elementary School in Honolulu and Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Elementary and Intermediate School in Papaikou, Hawaii, near Hilo on the Island of Hawaii. A plaque with the three princes was added at Santa Cruz Surfing Museum at Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse.
Today, the two surfboards of Jonah and David are at Bishop Museum in Honolulu.
Video by Tony Roberts
sources:
Bishop Museum
Wikipedia
manoa.hawaii.edu 
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Right on TR!! Love our heritage here. HB can call it self whatever it likes, but we all know where it started.
EXACTO!
iMuy! as Verde would type
@@RealSurfStories
Thanks! That was some good info.
Mahalo. 🔥👌
The Santa Cruz water temp must have been shocking to the young lads!
I love your videos. I'm not a surfer but have spent the last 30 travelling the world to go scuba diving. If there is a good reef to dive on, there is usually good surf nearby so Ive learned to love surfing. Your videos are very informative.
🤙
Excellent read, kuhio for da win , Thank you Tony always appreciated, any cultural values and building blokes of our culture 🤙🏼💯🇨🇷 Pura Vida Master 🤙🏼😎
Gracias Ramz 👏
bless you 🤩
Chee hoo!