The Tale of Three Princes: The Birth of Surfing in Santa Cruz, California
In the picturesque coastal town of Santa Cruz, California, where the Pacific Ocean meets the golden shore, lies a tale of adventure, cultural exchange, and the birth of a sport that would shape the identity of this vibrant community. This is the story of how surfing, now synonymous with Santa Cruz, came to be—and it all began with three Hawaiian princes.
The Arrival of the Princes
In the summer of 1885, three young Hawaiian princes—David Kawānanakoa, Edward Keliʻiahonui, and Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole—arrived in Santa Cruz to attend the prestigious St. Matthew's Hall, a military school in San Mateo. These royal siblings, aged 12, 14, and 15, respectively, were sent to the mainland to receive a Western education, but they brought with them a rich cultural heritage and a love for the ocean.
Growing up in the Hawaiian Islands, the princes were well-versed in the ancient art of heʻe nalu, or wave sliding, which we now know as surfing. It was a tradition passed down through generations, a royal pastime that connected them deeply to their homeland and its natural beauty.
The First Surfboards
As the princes explored their new surroundings, they couldn't resist the call of the waves crashing along the shores of Santa Cruz. Determined to introduce their beloved sport to the people of California, they set out to create the first surfboards ever seen on the mainland. Using redwood planks, which were both sturdy and buoyant, they crafted their boards, reminiscent of the olo boards used by Hawaiian chiefs.
With their makeshift surfboards in hand, the princes paddled out into the cold waters of the San Lorenzo River mouth, where the river met the ocean. As they rode the waves with skill and grace, the locals watched in awe, witnessing a spectacle they had never seen before.
A New Era Begins
The sight of the Hawaiian princes riding the waves sparked a fascination among the residents of Santa Cruz. The princes' surfing demonstrations were more than just a display of athletic prowess; they were a cultural exchange, a bridge between two distant worlds connected by a shared love for the ocean. The princes' passion for surfing was infectious, and it wasn't long before the people of Santa Cruz began to embrace this new and exhilarating sport.
The legacy of the three Hawaiian princes lives on in Santa Cruz, a city now renowned as the birthplace of surfing on the mainland United States. The historic surfboards they crafted from local redwood are celebrated as symbols of the sport's origins in California, and the princes themselves are honored as pioneers who brought the spirit of aloha to the shores of Santa Cruz.
The Spirit of Aloha
Today, Santa Cruz is a haven for surfers from all around the world. The iconic surf spots, such as Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point, attract wave riders of all levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals. The city hosts numerous surfing competitions and festivals, celebrating the rich heritage and vibrant community that has grown from the seeds planted by the three Hawaiian princes.
The tale of the three princes is a reminder of the power of cultural exchange and the enduring impact of a shared passion. As surfers carve through the waves and feel the rush of the ocean beneath their feet, they carry forward a tradition that began with three young royals who dared to share their love for the sea with the world.
In Santa Cruz, the spirit of aloha lives on, forever etched into the heart of this coastal paradise, where the waves tell the story of the three princes and the birth of surfing in California.
