If you were cruising Waikiki Beach in the 1950s and looking to rent a board, chances are you'd check out Hale Auau Surfboards. Located in the heart of Waikiki, across the street from the old Biltmore Hotel, Hale Auau offered surfboards and canoes to rent. For the groms, fresh from the airport, you could also pay for an instructor to paddle out with you. In 1956, renting a surfboard for an hour cost $1.00 - and getting the board along with an instructor was $3.00. Oh how the times have changed!

Hale Auau Surfboards was started by surfer Earl Akana. Not only did he have surfboards and outrigger canoes, he also boasted the Catamaran Alii Kai, which he claimed was the biggest and fastest in the Hawaiian Islands. Several of his instructors were surf legends who competed in International Surfing Championships back in the day: Edward Whaley, Wata Watanabe, Mud Werner and Junior Kahele. Although it's true that Hale Auau Surfboards, and other businesses like it, contributed to the commercializaion that swept through Waikiki in the 50s and 60s, Earl and his crew were sincere ambassadors of aloha. And like they're ad in 1958's Makaha Surf Program said, "We love you, tourists. Honest we do!"  

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