I was listening to a Hawaiian speaker/artist and she said that she would like to see all the items (poi pounders, capes, etc.) in the Bishop Museum removed from their display cases and put to use. She said that collecting these artifacts is a western practice that dishonors the tools, and the ancestors who made them. The conversation got me thinking… do you think there any so-called “collectable” surfboards that are so valuable or rare that they shouldn’t be ridden? The lady said that these items are lifeless unless they are being used for their intended purpose. There was a classic surfboard auction in Hawaii recently and one of Duke’s boards (his last?) was on the auction block. The winning bidder (I forget his name) paddled the board out at Waikiki. I thought that was awesome!
An interesting question. On the one hand I would be so happy to own a vintage board that I would want to preserve it.But On the other hand, what fun is it if you cant ride it? Maybe you could just take it out on those special days. I think you need to let the board live. Take it out now and again and just make sure to be as cautious as you can while using it.
I was listening to a Hawaiian speaker/artist and she said that she would > like to see all the items (poi pounders, capes, etc.) in the Bishop Museum > removed from their display cases and put to use. She said that collecting > these artifacts is a western practice that dishonors the tools, and the > ancestors who made them. The conversation got me thinking… do you think > there any so-called “collectable” surfboards that are so > valuable or rare that they shouldn’t be ridden? The lady said that these > items are lifeless unless they are being used for their intended purpose. > There was a classic surfboard auction in Hawaii recently and one of Duke’s > boards (his last?) was on the auction block. The winning bidder (I forget > his name) paddled the board out at Waikiki. I thought that was awesome! With all due respect, “…lifeless unless they are being used for their intended purpose…”? Perhaps… but instead of “lifeless”, would we rather have it all eventually disintegrate, vanishing forever into dust? My point: if it weren
t for the western practice (?) of carefully collecting and at least attempting to preserve what
s left of the historical artifacts literally passing away all around us, much of which is, at best, extremely vulnerable… logically, there would then be no real need for Bishop Museum itself, or little of anything remaining to even debate about… “Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in honor of his late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha family. The Museum was originally established to house the large collection of Hawaiian artifacts and royal family heirlooms of the Princess, and has since expanded to include over 2 million artifacts, documents and photographs about Hawaii and other Pacific island cultures. Mr. Bishop built the magnificent Polynesian and Hawaiian Hall you now see on the grounds of the original Kamehameha Schools for Boys. This school was established by Princess Pauahi to educate children of Hawai
i. The Museum was meant to augment that education and instill a greater pride in their Hawaiian heritage. Today, Bishop Museum is the premier natural and cultural history institution in the Pacific and is recognized throughout the world for its cultural collections, research projects, consulting services and public educational programs. It also has one of the largest natural history specimen collections in the world.” http://www.bishopmuseum.org/
Son of Solomon “1”. Hawaiian speaker/artist “0” Also with due respect and aloha.
I was listening to a Hawaiian speaker/artist and she said that she would > like to see all the items (poi pounders, capes, etc.) in the Bishop Museum > removed from their display cases and put to use. She said that collecting > these artifacts is a western practice that dishonors the tools, and the > ancestors who made them. The conversation got me thinking… do you think > there any so-called “collectable” surfboards that are so > valuable or rare that they shouldn’t be ridden? The lady said that these > items are lifeless unless they are being used for their intended purpose. > There was a classic surfboard auction in Hawaii recently and one of Duke’s > boards (his last?) was on the auction block. The winning bidder (I forget > his name) paddled the board out at Waikiki. I thought that was awesome! I fthey are too rare or fragile then no, don,t surf them- they have already been surfed.What is neat, I think, is that Greg Noll is basicalyy reproducing most of the ancient boards.So, if you desire to surf an olo or whatever, get on his list them surf it , let friends surf it,etc.then share with others your experience /input of that particular board. Bottom line is a museum piece is taken out the risk of theft or damage is too high and once that happens, it could be lost forever.At least on display people can look, reflect, imagine and even duplicate the piece.
Yes, I’ve read a few articles about Noll keeping ancient board design alive. Has he or anyone else tried shaping one with contemporary foam and glass? I’m sure it would be a totally different animal, but neat to see anyway. Talk about retro!
Yes, I’ve read a few articles about Noll keeping ancient board design > alive. Has he or anyone else tried shaping one with contemporary foam and > glass? I’m sure it would be a totally different animal, but neat to see > anyway. Talk about retro! Tom Morey, maybe with Mike Doyle, did some kind of limited edition Ali’i (sp?) board run maybe 20-25 years ago. Don’t recall if it was faithful recreation or modern interpretation. Either or both guys always thinking, always ahead…
With prices for collectibles being what they are and condition of collectibles being so important and relative to value, are you going to risk a fin slice through the rail or a nice rock gouge just to see what it’s like to ride it? It could be a very expensive experiment.
Tom Morey, maybe with Mike Doyle, did some kind of limited edition Ali’i > (sp?) board run maybe 20-25 years ago. Don’t recall if it was faithful > recreation or modern interpretation. Either or both guys always thinking, > always ahead… Although not as ancient as olo bords etc, a few years ago Paul Gross shaped a foam/glass replica of a Simmons spoon(a 10 footer.) It was faster than a runaway train, but a little tuff to turn.The point being we were able to get a certain degree of feeling what it would be like to ride an original one.A very fun experiment!
Although not as ancient as olo bords etc, a few years ago Paul Gross > shaped a foam/glass replica of a Simmons spoon(a 10 footer.) It was faster > than a runaway train, but a little tuff to turn.The point being we were > able to get a certain degree of feeling what it would be like to ride an > original one.A very fun experiment! Matt, I think that the highest honor one could ever give to the designers, shapers and riders of very old, rare or fragile surfcraft would be to exactingly document their history, materials, construction, weight and dimensions (crossectional, too)… and then replicate them in period materials for actual (modern) use, however originally intended. The spinoffs from such an approach are fascinating to consider. Dale
…without history how could we possibly shape (or mold) the future? Tom>>> Matt,>>> I think that the highest honor one could ever give to the designers, > shapers and riders of very old, rare or fragile surfcraft would be to > exactingly document their history, materials, construction, weight and > dimensions (crossectional, too)… and then replicate them in period > materials for actual (modern) use, however originally intended. The > spinoffs from such an approach are fascinating to consider.>>> Dale
I just came across this thread…I thought it was about a brand name of board, initially (“kapu surfboards”…DUH!) - so I gave it the low attention span. Glad I finally tuned in! I have several things to say about what I’ve just read, here. First - to AJL - regarding what that hawaiian speaker said to you…that rap that all poi pounders, feather capes, and similar artifacts should all be removed from the display cases of the Bishop Museum - and put into active use (that “collecting” is - basically - a western (or "haole{what she was really driving at} phenomenon…and that it dishonors the spirit of the implements collected)…IS PURE BULL!!! (and the message delivered in an arrogant fashion, to boot!). I am half Hawaiian - have lived most of my life in Hawai’i, and I can tell you from personal experience that I (and ALL hawaiians) have benefitted - GREATLY - from the preservation of (what’s left of ) our culture. Had it not been for the elder Bishop, in the 1800’s (a haole man, mind you) - there may have been nothing (and I mean NOTHING) left of our hawaiian antiquities. While it is trus that the Hawaiians had a great respect for their tools and implements, their watercraft,and vestments - saving what’s left from our early past is absolutely CRUCIAL. Saying that these items should be taken out of their cases (and probably ministered to by some authoritative group - like the O.H.A. {what that speaker PROBABLY wanted}) - and actually USED for utilitarian purposes (I can see ceremonial purposes, once in a while) - is selfish, MORE disrespectful, and dangerous. I dare say that this woman’s rhetoric has even racial (RACIST, really) undertones. (where she was REALLY coming from!). This type of “lecture” is something I will, absolutely, NOT tolerate! She was, basically, telling all of you in that audience that “Haoles” (or white people, in this context) have no respect. This is pure trash, and I apologise for her, AJ…she does NOT represent how All Hawaiians feel. (especially not me). Somewhere in the 1970’s, during our “Hawaiian Renaissance”, a lot of people became “authorities” on Hawaiian culture. A people subjugated - relearned their language…became all “nationalistic” and PROUD (and RIGHTFULLY so) but since then, you’ve got all these pseudo-spiritual, “voodoo-esque” type people coming out of the woodwork - spouting Hawaiiana (CONCOCTED Hawaiiana), and fairy stories about the glory days of old Hawai’i…much of it INACCURATE. These people get all puffed up with pride - but they have more of that than the actual facts. What that woman was spewing at you folks came across as if she was some official representative of the Hawaiian people who “knew better about what to do with Hawaiian antiquities ‘than you direspectful, western haoles’” (MY WORDS, but I know EXACTLY what she meant! I have seen this veiled behavior all my life). If that woman was Hawaiian or part Hawaiian - SHAME. This is not what we are really about. I know for a fact that the Bishop Museum has a staff of proud Hawaiian anthropologists/archeologists - that is to say, Hawaiians who are anthropolpgists(et al) of Hawaiian culture. these people would be the first ones to set a lady like your speaker, straight. I have, personally, seen a lot of rare hawaiian artifacts (and there aren’t many) - unappreciated, “un-shared” with the public -rotting away in some people’s homes ( not all of these people haoles, mind you) - not being cared for properly- because these people, allegedly, “knew what is best”. If it weren’t for the curators saving some of what we Hawaiians were about, we wouldn’t know anything concrete about our past, or have any physical record of what we were. With respect to Early or rare Hawaiian surfboards, ( or ANYTHING rare, for that matter) - any time yuo “use” something - there CAN be consequences …so don’t cry if you wreck a priceless antiquity if you put it to it’s “intended” use. I’ve “talked” with Dale Solomon about this very thing (maybe mike still has those “letters"in the archives)). I have actually 'ridden” a couple of early hawaiian surfboards - circa 1850’s - this was a special gift and favor to me - granted by a close friend who knew the full ramifications of what he was about to do…letting me out on the reef with his priceless boards. I took a great chance out there. While it was spiritually uplifting and important to me, it could have had disastrous results. (By the way, my friend’s never ridden the boards, himself {and no one after me}). I am a VERY lucky person. I was exhilirated, but also nervous, and - ultimately - a little guilty. tht board had to be carefully rinsed, and redried. it swelled a little, and eventually went back to it’s original shape …WE THINK!?! But the board was out of water for over 150 years - usually sealed with kukui nut oil by the early Hawaiian rider(s)…so these boards were subjected to who knows what kind of shock. You “change” something, it’s not the same as it was. (sounds dumb, but it’s as simple as that). It is - at that point - not accurate to history. This is why historians/curators/anthropologists/archeologists in a museum setting are so crucial and valuable to the preservation of a culture and it’s artifacts. this is what these people know best…it’s their passion (like we are about surfing). these people are better qualified to care for antiquities than a layman. / I have also seen an ancient hawaiian surfboard rotting in some guy’s backyard in Wailua - riddled with termites. is this an appropriate end for something that was once ridden with love by an early hawaiian, and , actually, once prayed over when built?! THAT is asin! (MY eyes almost fell out of my head when I saw THAT one)! Yeah, it is DEFINITELY O.K. to keep a board or two in the museum! / Finally, thank-you, DALE, for your accurate and informative words regarding the subject matter. once again, right on the money (and beautifully put)…“the (Bishop) museum was meant to augment (the children of Hawaii’s) education and instill a greater pride in their Hawaiian heritage.” AMEN !!!..Aloha No,… Tom.