INTER-ISLAND

Heritage and Aloha pave the way to the Inter-Island Surf Shop in Kapahulu, Honolulu just back from the sands of Waikiki. Once inside the Hawaiiana and nostalgic décor time warp you straight to the 1950s and 60s of surfing’s Golden Age. The memorabilia-lined walls tell legendary tales of the highest surfing order in this carefully curated surf shop museum. From Duke Kahanamoku days with Tom Blake to Dick Brewer, John Kelly, Mike Diffenderfer, Sparky, Lightning Bolt, Ben Aipa and so many more.

Owner Barry Morrison has for over 4 decades piloted Inter-Island Surf Shop in Hawaii. What started in 1959 as a serious surfboard factory has flourished and cross stepped through the decades with style. The one and only Hawaiian flagship store is alive and well today offering vintage and modern Inter-Island surfboards, selected apparel and surf necessities.

Barry has been there, lived it, surfed it and continues to do so with undying passion and wave-powered stoke. Any time you can spend with Barry, guaranteed he will have a story to tell for the ages. You never know who will be at the shop saying “Howzit!”, oftentimes the most familiar faces in surfing and Hawaii.

The shapers associated with Inter-Island through the decades are just as legendary as the surfers who called the boards magic. Some were famous as both.

Among them were many young Honolulu locals who worked or surfed for Inter-Island Surf Shop. To name just a few:

Kenny (Bones) Johnston, Conrad Canha, Rodney Gerard, Herbert Chun, John R.K. Clark, Frances Aiona, David Nuuhiwa, Raymond Patterson, Eric Parker, Jack Eberly, Manong, Harry Sonoda, Roland Sonoda, Fred Hemmings, Barry Kanaiaupuni, Kenny Tilton, Boots Mathews, Ben Aipa, Jack Shipley, Chris Green, Jim Philips and more…

A shapers lineage at Inter-Island Surf Shop through the single fin longboard era through big waves and on to the shortboard revolution are: Mickey Lake, Joe Kuala (aka Joe Kitchens), Sparky, Mike Diffenderfer, Dick Brewer, John Kelly Jr., Ben Aipa, Reno Abellira, Eric Maurus, Jim Philips, and Mark Liddell to name just a few. Pivotal early surfboard models include the Sparky Nose Concave and John Kelly Hydro. Another memorial model was “The Disc” shortboard era flip tip shaped by Dick Brewer and ridden by Reno Abellira.

Makai Fins is honored to represent and continue the Inter-Island legacy through Europe and beyond. We hope you enjoy our Hawaii 9-0 fin collaboration.

For more Inter-Island Aloha and stoke click here.