Anybody have information/history about Sparky, shapes with Hawaiian Rush label? I just saw second used Sparky today at Classic Surfboards, two weeks ago at HIC, Kailua. Both were simply Gorgeous! I think used to live in same condo as Spark, he was rebuiling a classic T-Bird, still shaping, yeah.
Sparky definitely falls into the master shaper category. I don’t know him personally, but have seen him on occasion. He seems to be a rather mysterious shaper/guru type of person. I had a friend who waited a year to get a board from him. I’ve seen his work going as far back as the original Inter-Island Surfboard days (he probably goes farther back than that), and have seen his name was mentioned in Greg Noll (Hawaii shop) ads. I remember seeing some of his nice clean roundpin and diamond tailed single fin shortboards in the mid 70’s at Surfline Hawaii. I know a couple guys who won’t ride anything but Sparky longboards. Have you seen the www.inter-island.com website? Some info about him there…
wierd I thought Sparky had maka…
I know he had some financial problems in the 90’s
Anyway If the price is right and they are in good shape they are a good buy.
Older Sparky’s are treated with as much respect among those in the know as a good Ole longboard or Brewer/Reeves classic… You don’t see they around much…
I believe Hawaiian Rush is Jay Rush’s shop in Kakaako, not to be confused with Tropical Rush in Haleiwa where I shop.
Anyway older Sparky’s are like gold to the Waikiki boys.
Hey Foamy…
Who’s this guy on Inter-Island writing about my home break?
I also thought Inter-Island used to be on South Street past the old G&S shop by Lex Brodies?
Oneula, wassamatta you! “Maka” is eye, “make” is dead.
Sparky’s boards are indeed highly regarded classics. Most of those I’ve seen are old style rounded bottom egg rails, though there are a few newer shapes.
He was always hard to keep on time, due to cocaine and some far less desirable habits (this advisory from another longtime shaper who I will not name, but learned the craft from Sparky).
The shop on the mauka side of Queen Street near Lex Brodie’s was Harold Iggy’s “Surfboard Shaping Company” (he closed that location years ago) and the building was torn down. Prior to that it was Rich Parr Surfboards, until Rich shot two guys of the three that broke through his door to beat him up. One guy died, the other wounded, the third (finally) took the hint and high-tailed it down the street. Go Rich. Go to jail. (He’s out now).
Weber had a shop around the corner on Ward Avenue, long gone. South Shore is makai a few blocks on Ward; Jay Rush was in the general area but relocated a few years ago… there were others. I can’t quite recall where the G&S shop was, but I vaguely recall having seen it, what, thirty years ago?
Auwe! I apologize… I should wash my mouth out with soap for the misspelling and thinking that Sparky was gone…
What would my KSBE teachers think of this lazy hawaiian mouth…
Anyway, I remember Iggy’s shop in Pearl City by the power plant(maybe this was later). I bought 2 boards from him in 72-73 when Bobby Owens was working the counter(still have 1). I also remember buying wax from Craig’s little hole in the wall (T&C) store across from PCT. Much better than the white parafin we got from woolworth’s.
G&S had a shop on South in the early 70’s my best friend was a floor sweeper. Used to tell me tales of Jim “Wildman” Neese, and Terry Fritz sleeping in the back.
Iggy still makes some fine boards… I hear they’re tough to get as though… not as tough as good a Sparky I bet.
I first met Sparky when me and Jim Phillips were around 16 years old.This was around 1964 I guess.Jim and I were building backyard boards in the Hickam Air Force Base hobby shop.I was basically Jim’s grom-helper-flunkie.Jim shaped me a board and we decided to get a pro glass job at InterIsland.Sparky was the main shaper and was really nice to us kids.That was the first real shaping room I ever saw and I was pretty intimidated.Chris Green was the glasser and he called Jim’s shape a bumpy piece of shit.I will never forget how pissed Jim was and to this day he goes ballistic if you even mention it.I am glad to hear Mr. Sparky is still around. RB
Hey One’,
The guy writing about your home break is Barry, who owns the rights to the Inter-Island name and logo. I think he’s a local haole, really nice guy. He used to manage the Wave Riding Vehicles shop when it was on Koko Head Ave. in the 80’s. A Three’s regular, I’ve only seen him riding Sparky shapes, mostly old style, volan glassed single fins, with a classic style. Like I mentioned earlier, a totally nice guy, he is the connection to get an Inter Island/Sparky shape.
I couldn’t stand it, so I went over Pali to look at the Sparky at Hawaii Island Creations in Kailua.
Yep. Still there, more beautiful than I’d remembered, perfect condition. 10’0", bright red with yellow stripes, single stringer, and that great Hawaiian Rush label with Kamehameha in the red&yellow feather cape. Asking $650.
The one at Classic Longboards on Kapahulu is yellow, can’t remember length (arrrugh) but less than 10". Asking $540. Maybe I’ll swing by tomorrow and take a better look. That might be a great price, yeah. Any suggestions about what to look for, ask about, for value, or is that a dumb question? Especially since these two boards are simply beautiful (sigh). Anybody got $1,200 to drop on a coupla possible treasures (smile)? Both are pencil-signed on stringer.
Now I wanna find out where Inter-Island is doing business. Phonebook just shows a PO box. I remember when Sparky told me that the shop was closing down and would have to move, then later he said they found a place and were moving everything over. That was maybe 2 years ago.
Those are good prices for a real Sparky…
You want to compare go to RussK’s shop on Kapiolani and look at what BK or George Ku are charging for a 10’0 RussK… Pretty close to $1000.
Basically I’d check the glass job to see how strong it is. The rocker etc but if it’s a true Sparky the lines should be clean. It’ll be an ultimate do everything board like Ole’s are…
Too bad I just blew $800 for a 6’6" Alexander Gemini
A 10’ Sparky would be a good additional to any ones quiver…especially for anyone surfing town, you’ll raise alot of eyebrows in the lineup.
Thanks FoamDust…
Don’t remember this guy but I thought my friends coined the term “neva in eva again…”. He seems to know alot about the spot though. I thought Chris Green along with Dickey Delong worked at the (Surfline?) surfshop on Piikoi that eventually became the clothier JAMsWorld (Dave Rochlan).
As I recall Chris Green worked at a lot of different shops on Oahu.He was a real good glasser.I wonder if he is still around?We used to surf over at Eva Beach in the early sixties.Never found any good waves though.As I recall it was real shallow and reefy like Sand Island.We lived on Hickam Air Force Base and used to take the Pearl navy shuttle boat to Eva.We were too young to drive.We also surfed a lot at Barbers point.Our parents would drop us off and leave us.It was Navy back then with lifegaurds so we couldn’t get in to any trouble.We did get busted for having a bottle of wine stashed in the bushes though.Grounded for two weeks.Jim Phillips was too smart to get caught.Sorry for the Ramble…just another Geezer shooting the sh#t.
That wasn’t my shape! It must have been another kook haole’s board, not MINE, Brukkah. Bumps, I don’t got no stinking bumps
Thats funny JKP.Plus that board was Needle Semi-Gun.I could hardly surf but I wanted that board so I would look cool surfing 3 foot mush at Barbers Point.Nice to hear from you Jeem.
I was in HI AUG 06 and stayed with friends of mine who are close with sparky their quiver is the best all i know is the sparky i rode was the best longboard ive ever ridden no compairison, sparky was last shaping off of king st in whikiki but if he still is i dont know
Sparky, great and classic shaper. A Sparky or an Ole in good condition for sale is a real find, and should be scooped up immediately. Ole is still shaping away here on Maui, so a new board from him is still available. The last I spoke with Sparky, he was no longer shaping, so if you find one, grab it! Yep, Sparky had some tough times, but seems to be doing okay these days.
Barry Morrison does own the rights to the IISS label, and I second the fact that he is a super nice guy. He does have quite a quiver of classic Sparky’s.
Trips to the old Inter Island shop was always a special treat in my small kid day’s. Stoked me out of my head.
Do not think that I have ever had the pleasure of seeing one of Jim Phillip’s shape’s. There is a rumor on the coconut wireless that one or two are headed down to Maui in the near future, and I am waiting to check them out when my friend brings them on Island.
aloha barb,
yep Sparky no longer shapes, stop to take care of his mother. yes, barry owns the rights to the logo and has many of sparky’s shapes on computer disc. The last shaping room Sparky used was on the corner of Punahou and S.King street (little room-part of Ho’s automotive). If you see a ten-speed bike locked to the gate…sparky was shaping. Bummer…no more original handshaped sparky’s. The room is now occupied by Alvin…one of hawaii’s best surfboard glassers. Alvin was the head laminator for Jay Rush, then moved to Laminations hawaii. Not sure if Alvin still works for lamination HI. Alvin glassed most of sparky’s boards.
I have a 9’8" single fin handshaped (sparky) and glassed by alvin. With the original interisland logo and sparky logo. great ride.
I had the pleasure of watching sparky shape some of my custom order (many years back). His skil 100 planer…looks like a cheese grater (the back shoe is cut off,right at handle…and hundreds of holes drilled every where)
Call Barry, he has lots of new computer shaped sparky boards. If you get to know barry, he might even release rice paper laminates? He has a website.
Ive known sparky 4 40t years ... i worked with him at surfline and partyed many times .He is the best... He also builds race cars and just finish one Maby he'll shap a few more But that will be all ..Im lucky He showed me how to shape..When he stops I'll start ! alright!
A couple of years ago I ran into Sparky and Barry at City Mill. Barry said Sparky was looking for misc items to fix up his shaping room. Barry’s words were “he’s threatening to start shaping again.” I asked Sparky if he ever let people watch him shape, and he said “that’s like asking to watch me jack off, ain’t never gonna happen”. That was so funny.
He finished restoring his classic 1965 Mustang Coupe several years ago, so we thought it might be time that he’d get back to shaping. Hasn’t happened as far as I know.
I hope he makes a few more before it’s too late, but a couple of my friends got the last of his boards and they weren’t as happy as they were with older boards. The rockers weren’t the same.
I see Barry out at Diamond Head every now and then. He’s such a cool guy, he looks after several people including Sparky. His newer boards are Brewers, and he was down to 9’4" or 9’6" from 10’.
That cool .. Your right about sparky I feel really lucky He let me use his templits Plainer annd gave me clues also his adaboy!! But I just shaped For self sadisfaction.,afew friend,brothers and a few customs threw the shop I made it clear I didnt want to do this for a living.Randy rarick,Buddy dumphy and Aipa also took intrest in teaching me . Thanks 4 your Imput .PS. I Grew up surfing shark country in eva beach. And I surf Publics all the time Mabe I see you uot there Or at cliffs I'll Be on a blue and clear 9-2 russ K Aloha Brada
Aloha dreadog, I grew up surfing Shark Country. My grandfather’s family built the houses fronting that break. The red/brown house right in front was my dad’s uncle’s house (Sonny Cordes). The green house where the Farm’s lived was originally owned by the Roxburgs, and the house next to that was owned by my dad’s other uncle Kui Ching, who owned tire recap service. After that was the Ewa Plantation park where Coreno lived then the Del Monte park. Closer to sea wall was auntie Emma’s house then the Okamura’s. I was friends with Dale when we were kids, and still friends with John. Randy Rarick would come down to Shark Country on those rare days when it was really good. Mrs. Farm was friends with the guy that owned Surfline and now the Pua/Jams clothing company. I think Randy knew the Farms because of that.
I have probably seen you at Cliffs since I surf there a lot now. I go back and forth from right hands to mansions, but have been riding the mansions side more lately. I’ll surf Queen’s, but I don’t go to Publics much. I don’t know that reef too well and it’s a trip when the rocks start popping up in front of you. I ride home made boards from 5-8 up to 8’+ some are wood veneered.
A couple of years ago, when I first met Barry, Sparky was trying to get rid of the extra parts he had for his Mustang. If you know anyone looking for 1966 mustang parts, he may still some stuff to get rid of.
Barry is also an Ewa Beach kid, his dad was in the military, so he lived at Iriquois Pt. or down by that side of Ewa Beach in the early 60’s. He knew a lot of the guys that surfed in Ewa Beach in the early/mid 60’s.
Take Care, and I hope to meet you one day.
glad to hear back from you I lived 3 houses from silva storeright on the beach from 1964 to 1970 then moved to Kailua. I was bumed to move But it all worked out.My dads Archie Kaaua My sis laurie ,cambel hi mabe you know them .I got to go surf now .looks like a small bump at publics Talk to you later aloha
Me my dad my sister and mom would all be surfing