Outrigger Canoe Club

The Outrigger Canoe Club was founded in 1908, it aimed to be a place where it could mark as a headquarters for water sports in Hawaii: surfing, swimming, outrigger canoeing. It heightened ancestral practices, ensuring their vibrant home of the canoe could be on the shores of Oahu. It all started with a deep concern for the accessibility of Waikīkī Beach, Hawaii's iconic surfing ground, which was increasingly being privatized by hotels and private residences. The water was slowly becoming more accessible from locals and became a luxury to the visitor, so things seemed out of balance. There was a urgent need to preserved the beaches and make it more assessable to people on the island.

Alexander Hume Ford, a man from South Carolina, recognized this urgent need. With the support of prominent Honolulu businessmen, Ford envisioned and established a club at Waikīkī, a place where "men and boys could ride upright on the crest of waves." 

In May 1908, this vision materialized. The Club secured an acre and a half of prime beachfront property, strategically located between the Moana and Seaside Hotels (the present-day site of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel). The land was leased from the Estate of Queen Emma for a remarkable amount, $10 per year, it was amazing to have support for the Club's mission. The property was blessed with a natural lagoon, fed by the Apuakehau Stream, which channeled waters from Manoa, Palolo, and Makiki Streams directly into the ocean, offering access to some of the best known surfing spots in the Hawaii.

The Club's initial physical structure was comprised of a clubhouse, two grass houses, and an area for the canoes. It was creatively repurposed from a defunct Kaimuki zoo and transported to the grounds by dedicated Club members who did the heavy lifting and offloaded what was needed off of borrowed trucks. It served as essential storage for the outrigger canoes, while the other provided dressing rooms. It also had expansive lānais (verandas) for both structures that quickly became central viewing hubs in the area as well as places for social activities. The social atmosphere would foster the camaraderie that would later go on to define the Club.

In 1914, The Pavilion Fire at the Outrigger Canoe Club, the fire tragically destroyed the roof of the pavilion and engulfed it with flames. The structure was rebuilt, and the Hau Terrace was enlarged in the updated areas of the structure.

The Outrigger Canoe Club has welcomed a host of notable members throughout its history, but perhaps none as iconic and celebrated as the late Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. Born in Waikīkī in 1890, Duke, a legendary four-time Olympian and the "Father of Modern Surfing," joined the Club in 1917. He remained an active and beloved figure within its ranks until his passing in 1968, embodying the very spirit of Hawaiian water sports and a bridge between ancient traditions and global recognition.

Years went by and the Old Outrigger Canoe Club House would gradually give way to mother nature and fall into disrepair. Termite infestation and dilapidation led to its closure by the Board of Health. Faced with severe financial difficulties and unable to secure a loan, the Outrigger Canoe Club would make the decision to likely need to close its fdoots. There was one leader on the Board of Directors who through the club a life line by the name Walter Macfarlane. He did this by raising funds for a new clubhouse through the sale of bonds that was innovative for its time and it garnered the necessary support needed to demo the old building and build a new one. This time around it would be a state-of-the-art facility designed by the renowned architect Vladimir Ossipoff, which opened its doors in 1941.

The Birth of Beach Volleyball: Beyond its foundational commitment to surfing and outrigger canoeing, the Outrigger Canoe Club is also famously credited with the invention of the sport of "Beach Volleyball". This dynamic sport, which began as a casual pastime on the Club's sands, would grow to become a global phenomenon. Over the years, the Outrigger has supported and developed players and teams to show their dedication to sports on the sands and in the water.

In 1963, the Queen Emma Estate lease would expire. This necessitated a significant move, and a portion of the neighboring Elks Club property at Diamond Head was leased, signaling a new chapter for the Outrigger. Here, another state-of-the-art building, also designed by Vladimir Ossipoff, was constructed.