How 3 Hawaiian teen princes brought surfing to the mainland
Summary
In 1885, three Hawaiian royal siblings introduced surfing to the mainland United States in Santa Cruz, California. They crafted surfboards from local redwood and surfed the waves, bringing attention to the sport. A current exhibition at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History highlights their role in popularizing surfing in America.Key Facts
- In 1885, Hawaiian royal siblings David Kawānanakoa, Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, and Edward Keliʻiahonui introduced surfing to America.
- They surfed in Santa Cruz, California, using the local redwood to make their boards.
- Surfing was called "surfboard swimming" at the time.
- The area where they surfed was ideal for the sport until the mid-1960s when harbor construction changed wave patterns.
- Surfing's popularity in the U.S. has grown significantly, averaging an 8% annual increase from 2019 to 2024.
- The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History is holding an exhibition to celebrate their contribution to surfing.
- Surfboards used by the princes were much heavier and longer than modern surfboards and lacked stabilizing fins.
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