HAKMAN
SURF LEGACY
THE
Jeff (tan board) sharing a wave at Sunset with his father (blue board)
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Early adopters to a novelty sport
In 1954, as modern surfing was beginning to capture the world’s imagination with pioneers like Duke Kahanamoku; Harry Hakman, a fisherman and diver, found his calling in the sea. For Harry, surfing wasn't a sport. It was a connection and way of life.
In 1956, he passed that understanding to his young son, Jeff Hakman, in the waters of Palos Verdes, California. What began as a father teaching his son would soon grow into something far greater.
In 1960, Jeff went to Kauai for the first time, stayed at Coco Palms and surfed with the Wailua Beach Boys. He surfed the islands’ legendary waves, and something shifted. Hawaii didn’t just impress him — it claimed him.
By 1961, the Hakman family had relocated to Makaha, Hawaii, where Jeff was mentored by Buffalo Keaulana in the proving grounds of big-wave surfing. At 15 years old, Jeff had already conquered Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay — waves that defined courage in the surfing world.
Then in 1965, at just 17 years old, Jeff won the very first prestigious Duke Kahanamoku Invitational — a historic victory that cemented his place among surfing’s elite.
He would go on to win the first Pipeline Masters and earn the nickname “Mr. Sunset” for his dominance in the powerful waves of Sunset Beach.
But competition was only part of the story...
LEFT: 13-year-old Jeff being interviewed on the beach after a surf contest
RIGHT: Jeff receiving his winning trophy from Duke Kahanamoku
MR. SUNSET!
Shaping Global Surf Culture
In 1976 as professional surfing began to expand worldwide, Jeff won the Bells Beach contest in Australia and while there, got the licence for Quiksilver. Jeff founded the brand in America and Europe during surfing’s most explosive era.
He wasn’t just competing – he was influencing how surfing looked, traveled, and evolved internationally. Over time, the Hakman name moved beyond wins and accolades and became woven into the fabric of modern surf history.
A proud Jeff showing Gerry Lopez one of his first runs of board shorts from his newly launched Quiksilver line
"We weren’t trying to build a company. We were just trying to make better boardshorts for ourselves and our friends."
1960s-70s
While many champions chased titles, Jeff helped shape the culture itself.
Passing the Torch
1960s-90s
In the late 1960s and into the early 70s, Jeff served as head instructor at Hawaii Holiday Summer School, guiding more than 110 students from around the world. Throughout the 1970s, he continued teaching in Waikiki — passing on Hawaiian ocean knowledge to the next generation.
In the 1990s, he partnered with Michael Clamp to create one of the first surf schools in Biarritz, France and introduced what he called the “Thrill of the Glide.”
While Jeff was teaching around the world, the third generation of
THRILL OF THE GLIDE
Signage from Jeff & Michael's surf school in Biarritz, France
Hakmans was already growing up in the water. Jeff's son, Ryan was surfing by four years old on the beaches of France and Australia. In '93, they returned to Hawaii and Ryan grew up in the waters of Hanalei, shaped by the same waves that shaped his father.
Ryan started competing and winning state championships and later on traveled around the world competing. He later won the Hawaii State Longboard Championship and, at 16, began teaching surf lessons himself in Hanalei.
Ryan above the lip
Ryan & Jeff still doing what they love
A LIVING LEGACY
Surfing.
Art.
Community.
In 2020, Ryan opened ‘Ohanalei Gallery in his hometown of Hanalei, Hawaii.
Partnering with a close friend, he created a local space dedicated to surf history, art forms, and storytelling — rooted in community.
The space supports local artists, shapers, photographers, and longtime friends through collaborative creative projects. It hosts surf film nights, brand launches, community events, and conversations that keep surf culture grounded and connected.
From shaping bays to screening surf movies, it reflects the same values the Hakman legacy was built on — authenticity, creativity, and respect for where it all began.
Outside the gallery and beyond lessons, Ryan still surfs regularly with his father. They shape boards together, test designs, and continue the search for the next great ride — the same continuous chase that has defined the Hakman name for decades.
The legacy isn’t static. It’s lived — in Hanalei, in the water, and within the community.
‘Ohanalei isn’t just a gallery. It’s a gathering place.
'OHANALEI GALLERY
5-5088 Kuhio Highway
Hanalei, HI 96714
Still rooted in Hanalei. Still sharing the thrill of the glide.
Today, Ryan Hakman leads the lessons himself. Raised in Hawaii and surfing since early childhood, he teaches the same principles passed down from his father and grandfather — humility, timing, and patience. Students learn how to read the lineup, time the sets, paddle with purpose, position themselves in the water, and respect the break. The history of Makaha, Sunset, Waimea, and Pipeline isn’t shared for effect — it lives within each lesson, shaping how Ryan teaches through three generations of experience in Hawaiian waters.
That lineage extends beyond family. Before 2026, the surf school was proudly owned and
TODAY–IN THE WATER
Full Circle — A Lineage Beyond Family
operated by Russell Lewis, a legendary figure whose influence spans generations. Ryan and Russell share a long-standing relationship that began when Russell was one of Ryan’s early coaches. That mentorship helped shape Ryan’s foundation in both surfing and instruction, making the transition of the school a true full-circle moment.
With over four decades of experience, Russell has helped develop some of the most recognizable names in surfing,
including Mick Fanning, Bethany Hamilton, Alana Blanchard, and Tatiana Weston-Webb, along with national champions such as Mathea and Sanoa Olin, Legend Chandler, Tiger Abubo, and Rylan Beavers. His career spans 45 years of coaching and 49 years of shaping surfboards, alongside a competitive journey that began in 1970. He has also served as an accredited Level III judge since 1990.
Ryan worked under Russell as a surf instructor for years before
purchasing the business in 2026.
Today, Ryan and his wife Chala proudly own the surf school, carrying it forward with deep respect for its roots and the generations that built it. They are honored to continue a tradition grounded in knowledge, integrity, and connection to the ocean.
Today, Russell remains an active and respected presence in the surf community—continuing to shape boards and coach the Hanalei Surf Team—while Ryan and Chala carry the legacy forward, committed to inspiring future generations to experience the Thrill of the Glide.
You can still find Russel most afternoons in Hanalei mentoring the next generation on the sport of surfing
Ryan and Chala with Russell on January 28th, 2026, right after handing over ownership of the surf school
Ryan Hakman, owner and operator of Hakman Surf School, present day at Hanalei Bay
HAKMAN SURF SCHOOL
