What is a Kahuna?

The Practice of Becoming a Kahuna of Surfboards: Feeling Sensations

I am not saying I am a Kahuna. Not for a moment am I imagining that. I bow down. I honour the ancient Hawaiian surfboard artisans and I will go to my grave honouring this practice. I am not a Kahuna, but I will always aspire to be one.

Alaia, Noosa Heads pic by Moonwalker

At Wegener Tool Co. I hope to share what I have learnt, about the practice of Kahuna surfboard design. Kahuna is an Hawaiian word; master of an important skill, an important person. For example, top physicians, canoe makers and surfboard makers were included in the Kahuna class. To become a Kahuna was to be elevated to a higher status in the structured ancient Hawaiian society, which was a big deal. The master surfboard builder was a ‘Kahuna Kalai papa he’e nalu.’ John Clark, states in his book Hawaiian Surfing, the master alaia shaper is a “Kahuna Kalai papa alaia he’e nalu,” which translates as “Skilled craftsman who specialises in making alaia surfboards.” (John R. K. Clark, Hawaiian Surfing, 2011)

In my opinion, using the Hawaiian name Kahuna gives respect to Hawaiian culture, ancient and modern, and recognises their incredible skills as surfboard makers and surfers.

The first time I visited the ancient surfboards in the annex of the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, I was utterly astonished at their complexity and workmanship. Seven years later, after making over five hundred alaias and two olos, I revisited the ancient boards and more carefully measured them. Again, I was astonished by their design. For example, each board was clearly made for an individual. They were custom shapes.

While at the museum a disagreement of the proper pronunciation of ‘Alaia’ took place and the highest authority in the museum said, “I do not worry about the pronunciation, I am just so pleased that surfers are again using the word alaia, and thinking about our history”. I am also very happy that surfers are finding the deepest roots of surfing and appreciating the history.

The practice of becoming a Kahuna of surfboards involves feeling sensations. 

The first step is to feel the way the elements of the surfboards move through the water. You must feel the board on the wave and understand how the shape of the board creates the sensation you are feeling.

The Kahuna needs to link the sensation of the surfboard moving through the water to the surfboard shape, and then translate this knowledge to communicate it with others. This is the big picture. The hard part; you need to feel the interaction of the board with the wave, understand the board, and measure the actual shape of the board so you can reproduce the feeling. I can tell you this is far more difficult than you probably think!

I hope to pass on my knowledge and experience to you, as I have spent a lifetime learning these things. You need good tools, two sets of good tools.

First are the mental tools. Second are the physical tools. Find out more about Tom Wegener here