SANTA CRUZ — Members of the local surf community and lovers of Santa Cruz history gathered at the mouth of San Lorenzo River on Main Beach to paddle out together on a foggy Saturday morning in honor of three Hawaiian princes — David Kawananakoa, Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole and Edward Keliiahonui — who introduced surfing to the people of Santa Cruz 140 years ago to the day.

“The three Hawaiian princes brought us the sport of kings — surfing,” legendary board shaper Bob Pearson told the Sentinel. “We are passionate about surfing. Santa Cruz is Surf City and this is where it all started in 1885. We’re going to paddle out and honor the three princes and what they did and the surfing culture of today. We want to show our respect and our appreciation.”

In July 1885, the Hawaiian princes, who were attending Saint Matthew’s School in San Mateo, paddled out at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River with olo-style long boards made out of local redwood, which forever changed the culture of Santa Cruz.

The yellow, green and red Kanaka Maoli native Hawaiian flag flies next to the Hawaiian state flag during Saturday’s ceremony on Main Beach. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel) 

The Princes of Surf: Paddle Out at the Rivermouth served as a celebration of the Hawaiian royals’ legacy and to highlight the new exhibition at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History called “Princes of Surf 2025: Heʻe Nalu Santa Cruz,” which opened Friday.

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At the river mouth Saturday, replicas of iconic surfboards made by Pearson were on display in the sand, being held by other iconic members of the Santa Cruz surf community, including Kim Stoner, Peter Mel, Randy Gray and Bob Pearson’s daughter Kaila Pearson. Stoner held a balsa board, Mel with the 16-foot-tall replica of an 1830 board from Abner Pākī — a high chief under King Kamehameha III — Kaila Pearson with a replica of a board rode by Princess Kaʻiulani, who surfed with the three princes and Gray riding a 1920s-era board in the style of Hawaiian surfer and Olympic medalist Duke Kahanamoku.

“We’re going to have them blessed and then we’re getting them in the water,” Pearson said.

Before the blessing of the boards, the Sentinel spoke with community members at the ceremony about the importance of honoring the legacy of the princes, such as Santa Cruz resident Joni MacFarland.

Redwood replicas of the Hawaiian Princes’ surfboards created by legendary Santa Cruz surfboard maker Bob Pearson were at the center of Saturday’s paddle out. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel) 

“We wouldn’t really have surfing here without them,” said MacFarland. “I don’t think this town would be what it is without them. I have met a lot of people here through surfing and it’s a whole community of young and old. There are water people and non-water people. All the water people usually connect together.”

Dancers with the Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance then blessed the boards and performed traditional hula dances that honor the sea, the sun and of course, surfing.

“It’s important what we do because we are helping to preserve and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture, values, music and language through hula in our community,” said Charmaine Moniz with the Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance. “It’s really important to keep their culture alive and really make it known. The Hawaiian people are a beautiful people.”

After a solid waxing, the four Santa Cruz surfers paddled out into the relatively calm ocean to circle up alongside other local surfers. At the shore, community members admired the surfers from afar, including Santa Cruz resident Stefani Cinquini.

“The boards are beautiful and I’m going to check out the exhibit at the museum later,” said Cinquini. “The ceremony and the dancing bring a connection to the community, I feel, which is pretty awesome.”

The feeling of connection was mentioned by many who attended the ceremony, such as Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History Deputy Director Marla Novo.

“It’s wonderful to honor this 140th anniversary that really ties to our collective history of Santa Cruz,” said Novo. “And just being in community with people to not only share what happened 140 years ago, but how we connect with each other and make history together.”

Pearson added, “It was a heartfelt ceremony. The Te Hau Nui School of Dance made it so special. The whole thing was just amazing.”

As the group of surfers came back in, the Sentinel spoke with 11-year-old surfer Christiana McGeragle, who attended the ceremony with her mom, Rhea McGeragle. Christiana was stoked to paddle out alongside the old-school surfers and surfboards, and honor the legacy of the Hawaiian princes.

“It felt amazing,” she said. “Surfing makes my life peaceful and happy.”

Rhea McGeragle mentioned that Christiana is involved in numerous extreme sports and will be participating in a 30-day surfing challenge through Surfline this fall.

“She is so grateful to even meet these guys,” she said. “She wants to promote kindness and doing good through surfing.”

After the paddle out, Harbor High School surfing coach Steve Wait talked about how surfing changes people’s lives and connects them.

“There’s a sense of family,” said Wait. “And a lot of us have changed our lives to center around the tides and the swells. I arrange my whole work life around surfing. This was an amazing time. Just to be able to touch the boards was like, wow.”

As he emerged from the water with the balsa board, Stoner said that he felt the spirits of the princes out on the water along with other Santa Cruz surfers who have passed, such as Mac Reed.

“His spirit was out there with us along with the princes,” said Stoner. “The fact that they introduced surfing here, not just to Santa Cruz or California, but the whole Western Hemisphere, is very symbolic. I feel honored to be a part of this and share the history with this event and the exhibit at the Museum of Art & History.”

The “Princes of Surf 2025: Heʻe Nalu Santa Cruz” exhibit is on display through Jan. 4, 2026, at the Solari Gallery on the second floor of the museum, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz.

For information, go to Santacruzmah.org.