The museum is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to preserve the past, participate in the present, and influence the future of all aspects of the surfing culture.
Surfing Walk of Fame
Dedicated to Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing in 1994. Located at the corner of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in downtown Huntington Beach. The inductees' names are imbedded in the Jack's Surfboards Shop's public sidewalk. Hawaii's Duke Kahanamoku is singularly credited with popularizing surfing world-wide during the 1920's
Springboarding off his 1912 and 1920 Olympic swimming fame, this record breaking champion brought his 10' redwood plank with him in his many travels and drew large crowds to his "performances".
First to challenge the North Shore's gigantic waves with style and ease, the Duke became an inspiration to young and old who then wanted to take up surfing. Loved by all, his many credits include starting the first surf club (Oahu 1907), voted Sheriff of Honolulu 13 times, made Official Greeter for Hawaii and establishing the first world wide surfing contest (The Duke Kahanamoku Invitational). When he died in 1968 of a massive heart attack, his funeral was the biggest Hawaii had ever seen.
Each year the Walk of Fame selection committee compiles a comprehensive ballot of qualified candidates with the help of cooperating surf associations, surfing museums, surfing magazines and other organizations. The ballots broken down into five categories of achievement, are then distributed to an international group of over 250 surfing authorities who cast their votes to decide which ballot candidates will receive the coveted place in stone.
Surfing Hall of Fame
The Surfers' Hall of Fame celebrated its first inductees in May 2002 at the corner of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in downtown Huntington Beach, right at the foot of the Duke Kahanamoku statue. But the celebration was a long awaited one for Huntington Surf and Sport store owner Aaron Pai.
His childhood dream of creating something like the Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theatre drove him to pursue a collection of hand and foot imprints from surfers of all walks of life. When the store added a longboard area and bakery, it was the perfect time to display his collection.
With some creativity and keen connections in the surf industry, Pai and his associates were able to travel to athletes to collect their imprints. Corky Carroll, a former world champion surfer, decided to assist Pai. So when the surf stars hit Southern California, they were off with a truck, wet cement and a chair. Their effort paid off. Pai was able to proudly display over 20 imprints in the store.
That was pre-2002. With a few meetings at the city council, some council member suggestions and three years, Pai got his ultimate wish granted - he was able to establish the Surfers' Hall of Fame as a public display at the corner of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway, heart of Surf City.
What once started out as a modest celebration of surf history and its top athletes turned into an open invitation for surf enthusiasts everywhere to enjoy the imprints of the world's most renowned surf heroes.
The Surfers' Hall of Fame is the first imprint collection of legendary surfers on the West Coast. Each year the committee, which consists of business owners, surfers and surf industry professionals, chose the inductees based on a contribution, dedication, integrity and revolution to the sport of surfing.
"Integrity, humility and great achievements are what make our inductees notable," said Michael Morgan, committee member and event master of ceremonies. "Not all of them are world champions. They respect the sport and bring it to a whole new level by their contributions to the sport and surf industry."
Although most surfers' imprints were placed inside Pai's store during 1997 and 2001, the athletes are honored to return to take their place in the legendary location, which boasts a beautiful bronze statue of Duke Kahanamoku, the grandfather of surfing.
