[Update (December 8, 2010): Well, sometimes I’m just plain wrong. Today I found two columns by Honolulu Advertiser Sports Editor Red McQueen that provide the real story behind these photos. Turns out that the photos are actually from May 1959 and were not from the 1953 body surfing event as I originally believed. I made the mistake when trying to make sense of these unidentified photos. I’ll add a link to the correct story as soon as it’s finished.]
–> See today’s full photo gallery.
![[text]](http://ilind.net/oldkine_images/makapuu1958/source/image/reception-04.jpg)
On Sunday, August 16, 1953, the Waikiki Surf Club sponsored the first body surfing championships held in Hawaii since the beginning of World War II.
In addition to the body surfing competition, the day included a demonstration by the Hawaii Surf Life Saving Association “featuring the surf-life saving reel that was introduced to Hawaii recently by the visiting Australian Team,” according to newspaper stories at the time.
Honolulu newspapers reported that 4,000 spectators crowded Makapuu for the event, although photos taken that day don’t appear to confirm the high attendance.
Police ticketed cars illegally parked along the highway, with one officer reporting 50 tickets given out within an hour.
Nine bodysurfers were chosen as “champions”: Mango Kalahiki, Louis Zarko, Charles Todd, Kennis Rowe, Rabbit Kekai, Renny Kruger, Noah Kalama Sr., George Downing, and Buster Kine.
I found several small envelopes containing 120 format negatives that turned out to be from this daynat Makapuu.. Most were in bad shape, virtually melted together. I tried soaking one set in water for several hours, but the emulsion didn’t soften enough to separate the sheets of negatives.
But I was able to salvage a few in relatively good condition, and was surprised to find several photographs of my dad, John Lind, with Duke Kahanamoku and George “Dad” Center. They were at what appears to be a reception for several unidentified visitors.
The photos also show Duke escorting several guests at Makapuu, the life saving demonstration and body surfing contest. The reception appears to have been associated with this event.
![[text]](http://ilind.net/oldkine_images/makapuu1958/source/image/reception-10.jpg)
I don’t know who the visitors were. I was sure my dad would recall this blond, who certainly looks like a model or a movie star, but no lights went on when I showed him the photo.
A reader identified one of the people at the reception as Sam Harris, manager at the Outrigger Canoe Club, so it’s possible that’s the location. Other guesses are the old Waikiki Tavern, where the Waikiki Surf Club had its office, or Don the Beachcomber’s restaurant in Waikiki.
And who is that blond? And don’t you love that surfer hood ornament? Several online references indicate it was on Duke Kahanamoku’s car.
If you recognize any other people, please email me or leave a comment below.
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Wow !!! Very COOL post…Nice pics.
Timely post since the annual “Dad Center” canoe race, which is put on by the Outrigger Canoe Club goes from Kailua to Kaimana, will take place this weekend.
As they used to say in the Animaniacs cartoon: helllooo nurse! I’m prolly in the minority here, but I like the pics of vintage hotties much more than pics of the cats.
I believe that is the front end of a 1955 Chrysler Imperial, just the kind of fancy boat they’d use to ride dignitaries/movie stars around.
Ian,
The link on the top photo doesn’t seem to work. I get a 404 error. Clicking on the blonde in the second picture only takes me to that pic. I niele’d around in your folders and found:
http://ilind.net/oldkine_images/makapuu1958
Which took me to the folder of all the Makapuu pictures. (I wish there were more shots of the breaks. I know the shoreline changes a lot by season. I assume the bottom has changed over the years. I wonder if the breaks have).
Thanks for letting me know about the bad link. Fixed now. I’ll check on other photos.
About the Duke’s hood ornament, Orange Coast Magazine June 1992 has a story about it. Apparently it is (or was) in the Huntington Beach Surf Museum, or at least one of them. In the story the museum director indicates that Mrs. Kahanamoku had told them the first ornament was stolen off Duke’s Lincoln. But the car in the picture does look like an Imperial. Maybe he had an ornament for each car he owned. Great suff, Ian. (BTW, you need to write your father’s biography.)
In 1950 prior to my joining the US Coast Guard, I was a Seasonal Lifeguard for the City of San Diego. In 1951 the Coast Guard transferred me to 14th CG District. Assigned to the Capt. iof the Port Office in the Aloha Tower, I had time to take ARC WSI at the Natatorium. When The Australian team came to Oahu I was on Team that took their training. We guarded Sandy Beach with the reel left by the SLSA and a Torpedo Boy I had sent from SD. The Teams were formed in different areas and was incorporated as the Hawaii Surf Lifesaving Association. I left the Islands in Mid July 1953.