Surfing pioneer and iconic surfboard designer Donald Takayama died Monday morning. He was 68.
Takayama was not in good health after suffering a heart attack while surfing some years ago on Molokai. He had settled on the island for a time before returning to California, friends said.
At age 12, Takayama, who was from Waikiki, saved money from a paper route, bought a ticket to Los Angeles and started shaping surfboards for Dale Velzy.
Takayama later shaped for Weber Surfboards and eventually started his own surfboard business, Hawaiian Pro Designs.
"His reputation and respect as a shaper increased over the years and solidified, making him one of the most popular longboard shapers," said Steve Pezman, a California friend.
Pezman, co-publisher of Surfer’s Journal, said Takayama also helped to serve as a mentor to surfers like David Nuuhiwa in the 1960s.
His board design helped to revolutionize the concept of longboard riding, enabling professional surfers like Nuuhiwa to do long-nose rides and maneuver with ease along the face of waves.
Takayama was also a competitive surfer, finishing runner-up in the U.S. Surfboard Championships in 1966 and 1967. He also appeared in a number of surfing films, including Bruce Brown’s "Barefoot Adventure" in 1960.
Pezman said Takayama brought a bit of Hawaii with him to California and enjoyed cooking for parties and barbecuing Hawaii food favorites, including teriyaki chicken.
Hawaii surfer Allen Wicklund said Takayama allowed a number of island surfers to borrow his car and stay at his home near San Diego in the early 1970s, as they prepared to enter surfing contests.
One of those Hawaii surfers, Larry Bertlemann, took first place in the world surfing competition in 1973.
"He was a happy-go-lucky guy. He was a nice guy," said Wicklund, a part-owner of Town & Country Surf Shop.
