Surfboarding

The history of surfing is shrouded in the mists of time, as the origins of surfing are unknown.

The art of surfing, called he'enalu in the Hawaiian language, was first observed by Europeans in 1767, by the crewmembers of the Dolphin at Tahiti; however, surfing was a central part of ancient Polynesian culture and predates European contact. The chief was the most skilled wave rider in the community with the best board made from the best tree. The ruling class had the best beaches and the best boards, and the commoners were not allowed on the same beaches, but they could gain prestige by their ability to ride the surf on their extremely heavy boards.