Founder’s Corner: Duke Kahanamoku’s “Chief” Surfboard

Duke Kahanamoku’s “Chief” Surfboard featured in a Dole Pineapple ad.

One of the most iconic, and valuable, surfboards in the SHACC collection, this is Duke’s real-deal, everyday rider circa the 1930s.

Duke Kahanamoku’s “Chief” Surfboard, S.223, in the SHACC collection.
View S.223 in the SHACC eMuseum. →

Crafted from redwood, mahogany and balsa, measuring 11 feet and 6 inches and weighing in 80 pounds, “The Chief,” as it’s affectionately known, comes straight out of Duke Kahanamoku’s personal quiver. Nearly 100 years old now, it’s stood the test of time and has more than one story to tell.

Celebrating Duke’s legacy, the aesthetic and design of the board harken back to a time when The Beach Boys of Waikiki lorded over the sand and surf, while Duke was setting Olympic records and bringing the sport of kings to the masses in mainland America and Australia.

“In Hawai’i we greet friends, loved ones and strangers with Aloha, which means with love,” famously said Duke. “Aloha is the key word to the universal spirit of real hospitality, which makes Hawai’i renowned as the world’s center of understanding and fellowship. Try meeting or leaving people with Aloha. You’ll be surprised by their reaction. I believe it and it is my creed,” he continued.

Amidst a career that spanned Hollywood and drew the admiration of royalty, Duke's heart remained rooted in Hawaii. Fluent in Hawaiian, passionate about hula, and the embodiment of aloha spirit, Duke found solace close to the ocean, among family and friends.

This surfboard, an intimate part of Duke's personal collection, found new life when acquired from his estate in 1985 by SHACC founder Dick Metz, setting a record at the time at $3,000. Made by Pacific Systems Homes, which was one of the first companies to mass produce surfboards in the 1920s and 1930s, the Chief’s construction includes balsa and redwood stringers on the bottom and a mahogany veneer on the deck. Adorned with a distinctive Hawaiian chief painting, the board symbolized Duke's esteemed status as a waterman. It became a star in tourist photos and advertisements, including a notable appearance in a Dole Pineapple ad.

Over time, the board's painting weathered, prompting a meticulous restoration in 2010 by SHACC co-founder Spencer Croul. A professional fine art restorer carefully removed the yellowed varnish, unveiling the original colors and meticulously addressing flaked-off spots. This surfboard, once belonging to a legend, stands as a testament to Duke Kahanamoku's enduring impact on the world of surfing and beyond.