-Life as a Hawaiian Surfboard Artisan & Shaper–
To some surfing is transcends the actual act of doing it. It embodies far more than dropping into waves and gliding along them. No, surfing encapsulates far more than that.
Take the culture itself. Laid back vibes, good tunes and exotic locales are all elements many would consider part of a good surf lifestyle.
Add in the countless film and travel documentaries along with all of the surf related home décor and clothing brands and it becomes clear that this sport truly represents far more.
However, there is one more central element to it all. Quite possibly, it is the most important aspect. I am referring to the actual surfboard itself.
From a practical usage standpoint, this makes sense. Then if you factor in the lines, shapes and colours used to create them, the boards themselves have come to represent true art in both their construction and design.
Ever wonder what it would be like to be involved in such artistry as far as the shaping and designing goes? What skills would you need? How challenging is it? What are the rewards?
Well my guest on this episode has such answers because that is exactly what he does in the birth place of surf, Hawaii.
Introducing
Stephen “Hoku” Kupihea is a Honolulu, Hawaii based owner of Hoku Surfboards. A Hawaiian surf shop and surfboard brand carefully cultivated and grown through his own passion for all things surf related.
In the Beginning
At the start of it all however, Hoku spent 18 years as a professional chef before leaving the food industry to start his own business. Hoku Surfboards was officially founded in Kaka’ako, Honolulu, Hawaii in March 2021 during the height of the pandemic. Those uncertain times strangely enough offered Hoku an opportunity to follow his dreams as a shaper.
In his youth, he began surfing at a young age, but his shaping journey began in 2016 as an apprentice under master shaper Arthur “Toots” Achinges. What started as a desire to shape boards for his personal use quickly became an obsession.
Guided Mentorship
Hoku developed an unending curiosity and willingness to push his own limits in the pursuit of this craft. His teacher, Toots was generous enough to take him under his wing. Through that tutelage, Hoku was able to hone his own skills as a shaper.
During that time, he also exposed himself to the opportunity to learn how to glass at Dust and Fumes in Waipahu under the guidance of Alex Nguyen.
Toots and Alex taught Hoku how to navigate the entire process of making a surfboard, from start to finish.
Hoku Surfboards is Born
However, as the old adage goes, one can only be a student for so long and eventually Hoku knew the time had come for me to embark on his own journey.
Nowadays, he can be found continually striving to pay homage to his mentors by paying attention to every detail and giving each of his clients the best board he possibly can. His ethos is built around the feeling that it’s important to always respect the process and remain true to the craft.
Native Hawaiian Culture & Influence
Hoku is proud to represent Native Hawaiians in the shaping world and share his culture through the boards he creates. It is his hope that the art and history of surfing and shaping can be perpetuated through future generations.
Acclaim
Finally, and most definitely worth noting is a common refrain heard from others when referring to Hoku’s own character and work. Simply put, he’s a rad guy who does rad work. So much so, a renown Hawaiian surf artist— Heather Brown—glowingly endorsed and recommended him for this very podcast.
Receiving such respect and praise from his mentors, peers and those in the Hawaiian surf community have become the norm for this emerging board shaping artisan.
Reasons to Listen
In this talk, we cover a number of issues ranging from his own personal journey into the world of shaping, the craft itself, his influences and even some existential exploration as far as how his views on life and living are influenced by his association with the ocean.
For anyone who is interested in barreling into the world of shaping and surfing, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better person than Hoku to break it all down with such levity and insight.
A Memorable Quote from the Episode:
“Surfing is a lifestyle. In having culture intertwined into it, I couldn’t ask for anything better. I’m living the best life creating something to give to the surf community, my island and my home. “
Hoku Kupihea
Check out the Video Conversation:
For those who desire to view the full video conversation of this discussion, you can do so via Youtube.
Words of Wisdom:
Hear from Hoku as he shares advice to those looking to get into the world of surfboard shaping.
Discover More
For those interested in learning more about Hoku and his work, you can find and connect with him through Instagram:
Keep Listening!
I hope you enjoyed the episode. For more, check out additional episodes here!
