Oahu Vacation Packages – The Place Which Gave Surfing To The World
Oahu with its huge sea waves has long been acknowledged as the birth place of surfing. He`e nalu as surfing is known in the Hawaiian language has been around for ages. The earliest reference to it is found as petroglyphs on lava rocks. There are many chants dating back to 1500s about surfing. These chants narrate stories of great feats that the surfers had.
References have also been found in the journals written by Captain James King, 1779. Surfing as we know has been around for quite some time. Here is a little background on surfing history.
The Hawaiian Tradition of Surfing
In ancient Hawaiian society, surfing pervaded every aspect. It touched the social structure, religion and even myths. Surfing was done on long narrow hardwood boards.
Surfing was such a major part of the ancient Hawaiian society that it even finds mention in the code of taboos, kapu. The Kapu defined the social strata, the royals and the commomners. The surf zones were not untouched from these taboos. Specific beaches were allotted to the chiefs, ali’I and the commoners, maka ai nana, could use beaches specified for them only.
The Demise of Surfing
The play activities of Hawaii, surfing, hula and others saw a decline during the 1820s with the advent of Christian missionaries. They imposed a puritanical code and work ethics. The Kapu system was overthrown by the favorite queen of Kamehameha, Ka`ahumanu and the beaches were freed for everyone, but for more than 150 years no one enjoyed them.
The Resurrection of Surfing









