Standing upright on a board and navigating the surf with a lightweight paddle is wildly popular in the islands. It’s called STAND-UP PADDLING , or SUP, and it has been revived on the islands in the past few years, quickly spreading to the mainland and beyond.
Originating in Waikīkī about 65 years ago, “BEACH BOY SURFING,” as it was known then, was commonly used to get around on the occasional flat day in Waikīkī and for taking pictures of visitors learning to surf.
Today, some of Hawai‘i’s surfing greats (Laird Hamilton, for one) have latched onto the sport, taking the idea to a new, more rigorous level.