Who Was Donald Takayama? His Life and Surfboard Designs
Donald Takayama was a Hawaiian surfer and surfboard shaper who founded Hawaiian Pro Designs. Known for his longboards, competitive surfing, and work with Joel Tudor, he helped carry traditional longboarding into a new generation.
If you have seen the Takayama name on a longboard or a set of Halo fins, you have seen part of that history. His career connected Waikiki surfing, California’s early boardbuilding industry, and the return of longboarding after the shortboard revolution.
From Waikiki to the shaping room
Takayama grew up surfing in Waikiki before moving to California to work with Dale Velzy. He went on to shape for Jacobs, Bing, and Weber, building a career that combined time in the water with time making boards.
He also had results in the water. Takayama finished runner-up twice at the U.S. Championships and won the U.S. Masters title in 1971, 1972, and 1973.
Hawaiian Pro Designs and the longboard comeback
Takayama founded Hawaiian Pro Designs and shaped both shortboards and longboards. His customers included professional surfer Joey Buran; his later work with Joel Tudor became an important part of his longboard story.
When longboarding came back after the shortboard years, Takayama helped bring classic noseriding designs to a new generation of surfers. Noseriding means walking toward the front of the board while staying balanced on the wave.
Noseriding is still a big part of how his boards surf today.
He was honored as a Surf Pioneer by the Surfing Walk of Fame in 2013. That recognition reflects a career spanning competition, craftsmanship, and surfboard design.
Watch Donald explain the Halo Fin
Donald told us he designed the Halo Fin to add pivot and tighten a board’s turning radius. In our video he also walks through how fin size and placement change the way a board turns.
The takeaway is simple: try different sizes and positions. Moving the center fin forward gives more pivot, and moving it back gives more drive through turns.
For more detail, read our guide to the Takayama Halo Fin system and longboard fin sizing guide.
Where can you find Donald Takayama designs today?
Four of his surfboard models are built today in Thunderbolt Red and Black constructions, along with two of his fin designs. Red and Black are construction names, not colors.
- DT-2: an all-round longboard for small to good surf.
- In The Pink: a classic noserider.
- DT Egg: a mid-length egg for easy paddling and smooth rail turns.
- Scorpion 2: a shorter mid-length that paddles fast and turns quickly.
- Halo fins and the DT Flex Fin: his fin designs for longboards and mid-lengths.
Come see them at our shop at 320 Ward Ave, Suite #111, Honolulu, HI 96814, call or text (808) 597-9055, or email sales@hawaiiansouthshore.com.
Donald Takayama: common questions
When was Donald Takayama born, and when did he die?
Donald Takayama was born on November 16, 1943, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He died on October 22, 2012, in Escondido, California, at age 68.
What was Hawaiian Pro Designs?
Hawaiian Pro Designs was the surfboard company Donald Takayama founded. His work under the label included boards for professional surfers and longboard designs associated with Joel Tudor.
Did Donald Takayama design the Halo Fin?
Yes. Donald told us he designed the Halo Fin to add pivot and tighten a board’s turning radius, and you can watch him talk about it in our video above.
What Donald Takayama designs are still made today?
Four of his surfboard models, the DT-2, In The Pink, DT Egg and Scorpion 2, are built in Thunderbolt Red and Black constructions. His Halo fins and DT Flex Fin are also still made.
Looking for the fins Donald designed? Shop Takayama Halo Fins.
