Ethel Kukea
Ethel Kukea, one of a handful of first women competitive surfers, dominated women’s competition in the 1950’s. She won the inaugural Makaha International Surfing Championships in 1955 and with a repeat performance won again in 1956. Ethel Kukea was a pioneer of womens surfing, inspiring future generations of women such as Marge Calhoun and Rell Sunn.
Ethel, a native Californian, began surfing in Corona del Mar in the 1930’s with her brother Lorrin “Whitey” Harrison. She moved to Hawaii, married Joseph Kukea and had 2 sons, Joseph and Kahele, and a daughter Mele. She continued to surf and was a member of the Waikiki Surf Club.
In 2011 Ethel Kukea was inducted into the Hawaii Waterman Hall of Fame for surfing and paddling.
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