Today, I find myself with an abundance of potential headlines for my blog. However, I must set them aside for the moment until I complete the writing process. Eventually, one will resonate with me more than the others.
For those who are new to my blog and may not be familiar with Duke Kahanamoku, allow me to introduce him as the Father of Modern Surfing.
When I began writing about Duke earlier this year, around February 2025, I initially feared that I would exhaust topics to discuss.
To my surprise, I discovered a wealth of stories about him, along with personal experiences that emerged as I delved deeper into his life. This exploration revealed connections beyond just water surfing, uncovering various aspects of his legacy.
Before engaging with his story, I often used the phrase “surf online,” which led some to correct me, insisting I meant “browsing online.” I maintained my preference for “surfing online,” even claiming to surf with bots, much to their confusion.
The term “surfing” carries various meanings, depending on context, which ultimately inspired me to cultivate a new hobby: collecting surfing postcards and cutting images from magazines.
You may wonder how I developed this hobby.
It all began this month, July 2025, when I stumbled upon a book titled “Surfing Postcards” while flipping through its pages.
This book not only showcased beach boys but also featured hula girls, cartoon characters like Porky Pig lounging on the sand while Daffy Duck rides a wave atop him, advertisements with drinks alongside surfers, stunning island imagery with surfboards, and much more. Among the highlights were scenes depicting a man beside his surfboard, ships docked on the shores of Waikiki, and whimsical brand promotions with characters enjoying Hawaiian Punch named Puncy holding a glass of Hawaiian punch drink next to his three surfboards.
The inspiration I drew from this book was profound, but it was Duke Kahanamoku’s legacy that truly motivated me to not only write about him but also to start collecting surfing images.
Though my collection is still in its infancy, I have already amassed a significant number of items, particularly vintage issues of Surfer magazine from 1999, which spotlight many prominent surfers from Duke’s era, spanning from the 1890s to the late 1970s.
This exposure has enriched my knowledge of legendary surfers as well as contemporary figures, illuminating the intricacies of wave dynamics—an area that fascinates me, despite my lack of surfing experience. As a Cancer, a water sign, I feel a natural affinity for the ocean, which is as fluid and dynamic as the surfers themselves.
Recently, I considered expanding my collection of surfing postcards and decided to sift through my extensive collection, which likely numbers in the hundreds or thousands.
Among my finds were vintage postcards featuring surfing, sailing, swimming, and beaches, as well as postcards related to Regatta ships.
For those unfamiliar with the connection between regatta ships, yacht racing, catamarans, NADU and Duke, I encourage you to revisit my previous blog post titled “Manu’iwa,” where I delve into these details.
The cover image for this blog features a monkey surfing, which serves as the cover photo for my sailing album. Do you like it?
The first page showcases Duke riding his surfboard from 1914, who graced the cover of the Mid Pacific Carnival. There is a story behind this choice, which I will save for another blog post.
Reflecting on my journey, I realize that surfing represents a deeper exploration of my curiosities and passions, guiding me toward pursuits that inspire me.
As I navigate my thoughts about what else to write on the topic of surfing, I want to express just how much I enjoy blogging about Duke. The process brings a sense of ebb and flow that invigorates and inspires me.
For now, I’ll sign off with a cheerful “Cowabunga, dude!”