Surf City legend, ‘Pops,’ passes on

RICK FIGNETTI

Last month was a tough one as a legendary figure, known to Surf City

residents as “Uncle” or “Pops”, David Nuuhiwa Sr. passed away in

Hawaii with family at his side.

Mr. Nuuhiwa was a Waikiki Beach Boy back in the day and was known,

along with Duke Kahanamoku, for helping bring the sport of the

Hawaiian Kings, surfing, to the eyes of the many tourists and

serviceman that visited the islands in the early ‘30s.

Mr. Nuuhiwa also trained hard in the world of martial arts, and

quickly moved to the top. It’s been heard that he won a couple of

death matches and knocked out a charging bull with a single punch. He

was known as a “Grandmaster” and became one of the top instructors in

the world, with many devoted world-class students surrounding him.

The island of Hawaii considered him a king, and Pops would spread

his traditional Hawaiian blessings at canoe events and races, martial

arts tournaments and surfing contests.

David Sr. had a son, David Jr., who learned to surf back in those

early days, mostly on the South Shore of Hawaii, and was a natural.

As the story goes, David Jr. quickly gained notoriety in the surfing

world as the king of the nose, the best nose rider of the time. He

was even considered the world champ back in the ‘60s with his

incredible skills.

When big time surf contests hit the West Coast in the early ‘80s,

with huge crowds at the OP Pro, Mr. Nuuhiwa Sr. was the man, running

the security with his students working for him while his son surfed

in the contests. As the years went by, Mr. Nuuhiwa Sr. was still in

control and a familiar sight, even as late as last year’s U.S. Open

of Surfing. His wife Lilly and daughter Melody, who worked at the

contests too, are also vintage, friendly faces seen every year.

The thing that was always a sight to see and will be really missed

is the blessing “Pops” put on the contest site every year. Dressed in

traditional Hawaiian priest wear, he would pray for a safe surf event

with no injuries and would walk the contest site, blessing it with

sacred tea leaves in hand.

Mr. Nuuhiwa knew most of the local surfers at the pier, and if

anybody had an injury or problem over the years, he had the healing

hands or advice that would help out. He commanded respect from

athletes of all sports and showed many how to respect themselves.

The last year, though, his health really started going downhill as

he battled stomach cancer. He was supposed to be inducted in the

Huntington Surf and Sport Hall of Fame this summer, but due to his

illness, they moved it up and inducted him last December. The

ceremony, which was attended by many of his students, friends and

family, was followed by a big luau at Dana Point with all the

traditional foods of the Hawaiian Islands.

Uncle David will be greatly missed by all he touched his heart

with, and I myself know that he’s helped me along with my travels

through the surfing world too. He was 82, and if anybody could say

they led a full life, he could -- all the way ‘till the end.

Definitely a legend who was inspirational to many!

The United States Surfing Federation will be up in Ventura this

weekend at California Street as the 2004-05 season continues. The

waves could be good, as it’s been firin’ there on the last couple

swells. There have also been reports of Rincon going off last week

and Blacks Beach down south with some mackers of 15-foot-plus faces,

wow.

That’s it for now. See ya, Fig over and out.

* RICK FIGNETTI is an nine-time West Coast champion, has

announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last 11 years and has been the

KROQ-FM surfologist for the last 18 years, doing morning surf

reports. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at

(714) 536-1058.