Who is Donald Takayama?

The Takayama Halo fin, named after it's designer, the legendary board shaper Donald Takayama.

The Halo Fins are designed so you can turn the board from the center and give you more speed. It's been our #1 Selling for over 15 years now.

Takayama started surfing during his kindergarten year at Waikiki Beach on the south shore of Oʻahu, Hawaii. At 45 pounds, his 95-pound redwood surfboard was too heavy to carry home. Takayama decided he would have to keep his surfboard at the beach, so he buried it in the sand for safekeeping.

Dale Velzy discovered Takayama while surfing at Mākaha Beach. Velzy noted that none of the young surfers were attending school and told Takayama that if he ever got to the mainland, there would be a job waiting for him.

Takayama may have been the world's first professional surfer.

Takayama was a well-regarded waterman, an artist in his craft, and an ambassador to the sport of surfing.

Takayama was hailed as one of the “25 Surfers Who Changed the Sport” in Surfer Magazine.
Takayama was inducted into the International Surfing Hall of Fame in 1991.
Takayama was honored and inducted into the Surfer's Walk of Fame in July 2007