Collectors Scene
Surf stuff auctions

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer

Assorted memorabilia will be for sale at Saturday's auction. Kyle Sackowski • The Honolulu Advertiser

If you're lucky.

Very lucky, according to the promoters of the first-ever surf auction in Hawai'i. That's because your competition will be coming in from both coasts of the Mainland, Australia, Japan, countries far flung and possibly outer space. And these competitors will arrive bearing mucho moolah.

"It's going to be the most unique auction and gathering of the international surfing fraternity that Hawai'i has ever seen," said Bernie Baker, surfing photographer and contest organizer. "There are lots of big-time surfing industry movers and shakers coming in for this.

"What's on exhibit there is going to be an unbelievable treasure trove of surfing history in Hawai'i."

The Duke's last board is only one of dozens of surfboards and tons of surf collectibles and memorabilia that will be on the auction block tomorrow at the Hawaiian Islands Vintage Surf Auction at the Blaisdell Center's Pikake Room, next to the three-day Hawaii All-Collectors Show.

We're talking everything from balsa planks, Waimea full elephant guns (designed in the 1950s to ride the big waves on the North Shore) and '70s Lighting Bolts to vintage surf books, artworks, Greg Noll decals, posters, old price lists and such covetous goodies as an "Endless Summer" first screening program signed by the stars and ... (take a deep breath here, folks) ... an original 7-foot "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" poster (opening bid, $1,000).

The oldest item of the lot is a solid wood board that Baker literally unearthed about 20 years ago when he was clearing a home lot on the North Shore. The startled surfer took the unusual find to an expert at the Bishop Museum, who told him it was built between 1890 and 1905, he says.

"I'm absolutely excited about this auction," said Honolulu wood board collector Andy Taam, who manages Town & Country Surf Shop at Ward Warehouse and who considers himself one of the little players who will attend the auction.

"I've been to surf auctions elsewhere, and this one blows them away. This is where surfing began, and the boards in the auction are awesome. It's going to be a fun day for passionate, crazy collectors like me."

Kelika Ragragola, who works at Strong Current Surf Design in Hale'iwa, will be there, too, along with his boss, John Moore, owner of the business, which displays lots of surf memorabilia of its own.

"I don't know if I'll bid, but I'll definitely want to look," said Ragragola. "What I'm most interested in is surfboards and things from the 1950s. Nowadays, it's all about making money. But that period was classic. That was back when surfing was 100 percent fun."

Still, 10 percent of the proceeds from this auction will benefit the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association Junior Guard Program, says auction producer and surf promoter Randy Rarick.

"We got a full spectrum of 80 years worth of surfboards," said Rarick. "We also have a silent auction, for lower-end items. There is something for everyone. There are items that will go for $20, and other items that will go for $20,000.

"We have a lot of personalized memorabilia that was signed by surfboard riders, and I have boards of some of the surf stars. There are things as funky and kitschy as an old Duke Kahanamoku Restaurant 'Suck 'em Up' T-shirt. Of course, the Duke's last surfboard is the most famous."

But possibly not the most expensive. One thing that could bring even more is item No. 35, a longboard made in 1930 by a California construction company called Pacific System Homes. This baby, which bears Adolf Hitler's favorite symbol, is appropriately known as the "Swastika Model" ( the company later deep-sixed the swastika, says Rarick).

"It is a super-collectible board," said Rarick. "I had a guy call up and offer me 12 grand for it before the auction. I told him no, because the auction is a fund-raiser. We're trying to raise as much money as we can."

What do people do with these things? Rarick says it depends on the buyer. Some like to actually ride the vintage boards. Others dig the assorted surf memorabilia, posters and artworks.

"Generally, these things are what we call wall hangers," he said. "The high-end guys buy them to put them on display, like a work of art."

Since this is a first of a kind auction for Hawai'i, the outcome is anybody's guess. Rarick says with all the months of labor that went into it, "it better make money."

All the same, Rarick is careful to hedge his bets.

"I'm just saying this is the first and only surf auction in Hawai'i," he said. "I'm not telling anybody this is the first annual surf auction in Hawai'i."