In celebration of Donald Takayama: Donald and the Hawaiian Invasion
The 1967 United States Surfing Championships with Duke Kahamoku (seated) and (left to right) Mike Purpus, Herbie Fletcher, Donald Takayama, Corky Carroll, Skip Frye and Steve Bigler Donald and the Hawaiian invasion It was because of Donald that other big name Hawaiian surfers came to Hermosa Beach In 1950, the first issue of Surfer Magazine hit the stands with a bitchin’ photo of Donald Takayama in full flight, crouching with his front foot extended toward the nose racing through a thick Ala Moana bowl. I was a 12 year old eighth grade gremmie drooling over the photo while choking down a Hostess Twinkie during lunch at Pier Avenue Junior High (now theHermosa BeachCommunity Center). I wasn’t alone, with Billy Ray James, Dru Harrison, John Baker, Don Craig, Mike Stevenson, and Sparky Hudson all climbing over my back to get a closer look at Donald’s classic style. The following Friday night Bruce Brown, of Endless Summer fame, showed “Slippery When Wet at Pier” Avenue Auditorium. It was my first surf movie and Bruce’s, too. Dale Velzy helped Bruce finance a trip toHawaiito shoot his surf team. The highlight was when they found a spot just pastSunsetBeachwhere the Velzy Team tore it…
Read this story on easyreadernews.com